A potential title decider takes place at the Etihad on 26 April. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
3. The game at the Etihad
When Manchester City came to the Emirates, the matchup seemed bigger than ever. The game was fairly even, and one could say Arsenal were the better team for most parts of the game. However, unforced errors on the defensive end cost the Gunners three points. Despite the previous disappointment, Arteta’s side have all the tools, skills and intangibles necessary to win at the Etihad later this month which dwarfs the previous encounter.
Once again, a draw may be good enough to retain first-place status. Arsenal fans should be excited and confident heading into that fixture assuming the team takes care of West Ham and Southampton.
Arsenal are in a good position. To see a draw at Anfield as a blow to the Gunners’ success shows how far the entirety of the club has come in only a matter of seasons. Arsenal still have one hand on their first Premier League title in two decades and fans should be backing the team down the stretch.
the media appear to believe the reigning champions will now take the title</a> – or are more likely to do so. This is undoubtedly a slight overreaction.</p>
<h2>3 reasons why Arsenal are still the favourites in Premier League title race</h2>
<div id="attachment_133484" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-133484" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/04/11/3-reasons-arsenal-are-still-favourites-in-title-race/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1481007001.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1481007001.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1481007001-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">The Gunners threw away a two-goal lead at Anfield. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>1. Anfield draw is not a bad result</h2>
<p>For Gooners who were happy with a <a title="Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal: 3 talking points as Gunners falter in title race" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/04/11/3-reasons-arsenal-are-still-favourites-in-title-race/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/04/10/liverpool-arsenal-3-talking-points-title-race-premier-league/" rel="">draw at the fortress which is Anfield</a>, it may feel that the world has forgotten that Manchester City lost there in October.</p>
<p>While the Gunners did score two goals relatively early in the game, sharing the points when Liverpool is at home is never a bad result. Therefore it is surprising that some view the weekend’s result as a traumatic blow to Arsenal’s title hopes when considering the season as a whole.</p>
<p>Arsenal remain at the top of the league with an albeit relatively smaller cushion. Any Arsenal fan or Manchester City hater would have begged for this to be the stage Mikel Arteta’s squad would be nearing the end of the campaign.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/04/11/3-reasons-arsenal-are-still-favourites-in-title-race/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 reason why Arsenal are still favourites </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_133286" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-133286" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/04/11/3-reasons-arsenal-are-still-favourites-in-title-race/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1250351605.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1250351605.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1250351605-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Mikel Arteta’s side are where they are for a reason. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>2. Trust what you see</h2>
<p>Arsenal are simply magnificent. The play from the back, the immaculate midfield, the formation that turns a front three into a front five at times, and the juvenile enthusiasm that runs through the entire club are all felt and seen on game day.</p>
<p>It is not an outrageous position to think City are capable of winning the league – they have done so four times in the last five seasons – it is unfair, however, to see them as the favourites at this stage. The young Arsenal team have simply been unstoppable. The biggest advantage the Gunners have is their ability to regroup and go again.</p>
<p>One can be sure the <a title="3 takeaways from Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against Liverpool" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/04/11/3-reasons-arsenal-are-still-favourites-in-title-race/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/04/11/3-takeaways-arsenal-draw-liverpool/" rel="">draw at Anfield</a> will do little to demoralise this excellent crop of Arsenal talent whether that be on the bench, on the pitch or in the dugout.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/04/11/3-reasons-arsenal-are-still-favourites-in-title-race/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 reason why Arsenal are still favourites </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_133254" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-133254" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/04/11/3-reasons-arsenal-are-still-favourites-in-title-race/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2150,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1246608211.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2150" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1246608211.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1246608211-768x516.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">A potential title decider takes place at the Etihad on 26 April. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2>3. The game at the Etihad</h2>
<p>When Manchester City came to the Emirates, the matchup seemed bigger than ever. The game was fairly even, and one could say Arsenal were the better team for most parts of the game. However, unforced errors on the defensive end cost the Gunners three points. Despite the previous disappointment, Arteta’s side have all the tools, skills and intangibles necessary to win at the Etihad later this month which dwarfs the previous encounter.</p>
<p>Once again, a draw may be good enough to retain first-place status. Arsenal fans should be excited and confident heading into that fixture assuming the team takes care of West Ham and Southampton.</p>
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<p>Arsenal are in a good position. To see a draw at Anfield as a blow to the Gunners’ success shows how far the entirety of the club has come in only a matter of seasons. Arsenal still have one hand on their first Premier League title in two decades and fans should be backing the team down the stretch.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
