Wayne Rooney, the former captain of Manchester United, has shared his thoughts on the upcoming games between Arsenal and Manchester City, stating that they will be crucial in determining this season's title race. The recent midweek draw of Arsenal against last-placed Wolves has added more excitement to the Premier League title race. Despite leading by just five points over Manchester City, Arsenal has played one game more and is facing a potential challenge in their upcoming match against Tottenham on Sunday.
On the other hand, Manchester City is on a high after securing four consecutive wins in all competitions and is expected to put pressure on Mikel Arteta's team with a win against Newcastle United on Saturday. It is clear that there will be many twists and turns in the coming matches, but everyone's attention is already on the key few weeks ahead, starting next month. This is when both teams will face each other multiple times in a short period of time.
March's Carabao Cup final will see Arsenal and City go head to head, followed by a crucial league clash at the Etihad in mid-April. In between these two matches, there is a possibility that the top two teams in the league may also meet in the Champions League quarter-finals, provided both teams make it through their round-of-16 ties.
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Rooney, a five-time Premier League winner, believes that these upcoming games between City and Arsenal will determine the outcome of the title race. Speaking on the Wayne Rooney Podcast, he stated, "I think a big factor will be if they meet in the Champions League. The emotions surrounding those games, the Carabao Cup final, and the league game at the Etihad will play a huge role. The team that comes out on top in those matches will win the league."
When asked to make a title prediction, Rooney gave a nod to Arsenal, but only just. It is clear that both teams have a tough road ahead, and every game will be crucial in deciding the outcome of the title race.
However, not everyone is keen on indulging in title talk. City manager Pep Guardiola brushed off questions about the title race in his press conference on Friday, stating that his only concern at the moment is their upcoming game against Newcastle. Arteta, on the other hand, has already moved on from Arsenal's disappointing result against Wolves and is fully focused on their next match against Tottenham.
He stated, "What I have seen is a tremendous reaction, and it's no surprise. When you lose points in an unexpected manner, no one can really understand it. But that's in the past now. We are focused on writing our own destiny and moving on."
