Winning the Premier League is a significant achievement for every English club. First of all, it's one of the most prestigious football titles in the world. Lifting the trophy means the team has beaten other top-tier clubs in a tough 38-match season.
The Premier League title also carries several financial benefits, including prize money, more commercial opportunities and increased exposure to the winning side. It can draw talented players and build a winning culture, helping the title winner achieve sustained success over the coming years.
Arsenal and Manchester City continue to fight for the trophy, although it's hard to predict which side will emerge victorious. The fight also offers immense betting opportunities. In this article, we'll discuss whether the Gunners can resist the pressure and win the league after 19 years.
Arsenal: The team nobody expected to go all the way
It has been a fantastic season for Arsenal. The fourth season for Mikel Arteta at the club's helm has seen the Spanish manager show his full potential. The Gunners reached the first position in the league after the third round and have since stayed at the top. The team dropped to second place in September, though only after the Manchester City fixture was postponed due to Arsenal's Europa League fixture against PSV.
Reaching the top is no coincidence. First of all, the team finally has enough strength in depth, which was something it lacked in previous seasons. Losing an important player, like Zinchenko or Partey, could have been a significant issue for Arsenal, but Arteta ensured he was covered in all positions. There was a slight shortage of players up-front, with the Gunners relying heavily on Bukayo Saka. Leandro Trossard was brought in January, and his ability to play in multiple positions made him an excellent addition to the squad.
The title race is far from being over, and according to the Mirror, several vital areas could determine the Premier League winner.
Versatility is another plus for Arteta and his men. Players like White, Zinchenko, Saka, Smith Rowe, and Jesus can cover more than one position, with their skill sets further adding to the team's on-pitch performance.
However, despite the new arrivals, it seems that Arsenal still faces some problems with squad depth. Against Liverpool, the substitutions caused a change of formation mid-game, which didn't turn out to be a smart move. Jakub Kiwior played his second Premier League match, and the lack of his experience was apparent.
Arsenal has been using an attacking style of play this season, failing to produce a goal in only two matches. Also, the team from London scored three or more goals in 15 games in 2022-23. Overall, the Gunners are a huge favourite to win the Premier League.
Manchester City features quality but lacks consistency
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But lifting the trophy will be everything but easy. Manchester City is eyeing its ninth league title, while Pep Guardiola wants to claim his fifth one. The Citizens have a fantastic team, one of the strongest in Europe, led by Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez, Riyad Mahrez, and Jack Grealish. The star of the team is the Norwegian striker Erling Haaland. The 22-year-old player has scored 30 goals in his debut Premier League season and continues demonstrating record-breaking performance. He’s also crucial in helping the Citizens defend the last year’s title.
Despite trailing Arsenal at the moment, the Premier League odds say that Manchester City is still the favourite to end the season at the top. The team has scored the most goals in the league and has the second-best defence in the competition. In the only game Arsenal and Manchester City played in the Premier League this season, the Citizens won 3-1 at Emirates Stadium, with De Bruyne, Grealish and Haaland each scoring a goal.
City will face Arsenal in a derby match at Etihad Stadium later this month, and it could be a decisive match for both teams’ title ambitions. In April, the Citizens have several important games in the FA Cup and the Champions League. Still, Guardiola has plenty of quality players at his disposal to deal with the demanding schedule. Ultimately, the squad depth could tip the scale in Manchester City’s favour.
What are the factors that will influence the 2023 EPL Champion?
Manchester City still has the chance to win three competitions. In addition to the Premier League and the FA Cup, the Citizens will be eyeing their first-ever Champions League trophy.
They will face Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals, looking to go all the way this year. There's no room to calculate at this stage of the competition, meaning Guardiola won't have the opportunity to rest his best players.
As Robbie Keane predicted for Metro, the player quality should be enough for the City to overcome its rivals.
On the other hand, Arsenal has been eliminated from European games, and the team's only chance to win a trophy this season is through the Premier League. The two teams are six points apart, while Manchester City has played 29 games - one less than Arsenal. The game in hand is an away fixture against Brighton, but if the Citizens win at the AMEX Stadium, they'll come within three points from their rivals.
It brings us to the upcoming duel at Etihad Stadium on April 26. If Manchester City beats Arsenal, the two sides will be even on points, and the overall goal difference will decide the new champion if the two teams finish tied on points for first place in Premier League.
Arsenal will play two London derbies, against West Ham and Chelsea. Both will be looking to stop their arch-rivals from lifting the trophy. There's also a game against Newcastle at St. James' Park. On the other hand, Manchester City will face Chelsea, but the current Blues' form won't be enough to cause any problems for the Citizens.
The Premier League is one of the best football competitions in the world, and whatever happens in the remaining games, one thing is sure: there won't be any shortage of excitement.