A victory against Manchester City is not only a big step forward for Arsenal in the Premier League title race, but also proof that coach Mikel Arteta can shine at the right decisive moment.
The great battle between the top two teams at the Etihad is not a mandatory match to win against Arsenal in the current context. A draw is still enough for them to maintain the gap with Man City, making the opponent no longer have many opportunities to make mistakes in the final stage of the season. However, for Arteta - when his contract is only one year left - a victory will be a turning point.
However, Arsenal needs to be cautious with their approach towards a draw. The draw with Man City in March 2024, when Liverpool was leading with a 2-point gap, was once considered a positive result. That was a disciplinary reaction after a 1-4 defeat a year ago, but in the end Man City still won the championship with a close gap.
This is the familiar model under Arteta. Arsenal has progressed, but still lacks decisive momentum. He needs an affirmative victory, needs to prove that he can get the team through difficult times. And in their most important match after many years, that needs to happen.
Although the "Gunners" have improved significantly in more than 6 seasons under Arteta, they have only won one title - the FA Cup in the early stages of his leadership. Defeats in cup tournaments, including the Carabao Cup finals and European semi-finals, show that the team still lacks bravery at a crucial time.
This season, Arsenal also stopped in the FA Cup quarter-finals against Southampton. In the Premier League, they have only won 12 points against the "Big Six", while on average champions usually reach about 18 points in direct confrontations.
Defeating competitors does not always determine everything, but big matches are where titles and positions are shaped. "To win the championship, you must defeat a direct opponent" - this view is increasingly true for Arsenal today.
From May 2023 to August last year, Arsenal had a 22-match unbeaten streak against the "Big Six" group - a league record. However, they have not yet been able to convert that advantage into a title. This is paradoxical when The Gunners are strong enough to compete with any opponent, but still lack moments of explosion to decide the season.
Arteta's reign is often compared to Gareth Southgate in the England national team. Both rebuilt from a weak foundation and moved closer to success, but have not yet been able to touch the title.
Meanwhile, Arteta also has to compete directly with Pep Guardiola - who created a dominant era in the Premier League. Each confrontation is a big challenge, where the student must find a way to overcome the teacher.
With the contract only one year left, the question is how long can Arsenal wait for the final breakthrough. And therefore, the match at the Etihad is not just a championship race, but also the biggest test for Arteta's ability.
