Why Arsenal Are Still Title Favourites Regardless of Result Against Man City

• Arsenal welcome Manchester City to the Emirates in a potential title decider on Wednesday, February 15
• Mikel Arteta’s side will be hoping to avoid a third successive game without victory when they take on the defending champions
• The Gunners are still leading the pile, but defeat to City would see them displaced at the top for the first time in months
• Regardless, there are several reasons why Arsenal should still be considered title favourites, regardless of how they perform against the Citizens

Premier League fans will be treated to another apprentice vs Master edition as Arsenal welcome Manchester City to the Emirates on Wednesday.

It is the first Premier League encounter between the two sides this season, and unlike other campaigns, this one has an interesting twist to it.

Arsenal have somehow mounted a serious title charge which initially looked like a bluff in the summer, but half the season in, Mikel Arteta’s side is surely favourite to win a first title in nearly two decades.

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Are Arsenal getting “tired”

In recent weeks, however, Mikel Arteta’s side has experienced a spectacular dip in form and are currently winless in their last three games across all competitions.

They will feel their last game, a 1-1 draw against Brentford, should have ended in a win, and Mikel Arteta was the first to declare he wanted his side’s 2 points back rather than an apology, as per BBC.

There isn’t much Arsenal can do about it now, and focus has to shift to the crunch game against Manchester City, which is in some ways a must-win for the Gunners.

Ahead of the game, there has been talk that perhaps the intensity of being title contenders is finally catching up to Arsenal, who are experiencing a now familiar ‘February slump’.

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Having sat at the top of the table since November, Arsenal has seen their eight-point gap at the top reduced to just three, and now an unbeaten home run will be put to the test against Manchester City.

City may have the advantage at this stage of the season as they are accustomed to these intense title races which they have emerged on top more often than not.

What happens if Arsenal lose?

In the worst-case scenario where Arsenal are beaten by Manchester City on Wednesday, it would see Pep Guardiola’s side reclaim top spot, albeit having played a game more than the Gunners.

The result would be a blow in Arteta’s title surge, but it would not necessarily mean the end of their challenge since mathematically, the title race would still be in Arsenal’s own hands with the game in hand.

Arsenal’s next Premier League games after the City clash are against Aston Villa, Leicester, Bournemouth and Fulham. On paper, the North Londoners are favourites in all these games.

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Putting into consideration the fact that Man City are desperate for a Champions League, Arsenal might have a slight edge in the title race simply because they have less to worry about, especially after exiting the FA Cup.

Man City could line up without Erling Haaland

Sport Brief also reported on how Manchester City could line up against Arsenal without the services of Erling Haaland.

The City summer signing is believed to a be a doubt for the clash after he suffered an injury during their weekend meeting with Aston Villa.

The star forward collided with Villa's Emi Martinez midway through the first half and had to be withdrawn as he was unable to see out the rest of the match.