Having cruised through another test in the Premier League title race by comfortably beating Bournemouth 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal effectively passed the ball back to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City\u00a0side.<\/p>\n
There are two tests left for the Gunners, and none would currently be bigger than the critical clash against Manchester United away this coming Sunday.<\/p>\n
With Guardiola\u2019s City still undeniably in the driving seat \u2013 having a game on hand while knowing that if they win their three remaining games then they’ll be champions for a remarkable fourth campaign in a row \u2013 Arteta and his men will be focusing intently on doing the job of winning their remaining games first so as to put pressure on City, knowing fully well their mammoth test at Old Trafford next week could prove ultimately decisive.<\/p>\n
Despite continuing to underwhelm under beleaguered boss Erik ten Hag, a doggedly persistent United side could spring an unexpected surprise come next Sunday, although, on current form, the Gunners will be brimming with quiet confidence. However, no one in their right mind would ever dare foolishly write off the unpredictable Red Devils and Arteta is totally cognizant of that, having fallen to defeat before at Old Trafford over the years.<\/p>\n
Strategically, Arteta will already be fine-tuning the details of his game plan down to the proverbial tee at London Colney in preparation for the test that awaits his side. And the key area the Spaniard will continue to focus on will be defense, a position which has stood Arsenal above the rest so far this season, eclipsing their toughest rivals Manchester City even in this aspect.<\/p>\n
Arsenal hold the best defensive record in the league by some distance with two games left, conceding just 28 times compared to Man City\u00a0(33) who sit second in that regard. And this is primarily due to the almost impenetrable defense forged by William Saliba and Gabriel, further reinforced by the calming presence of David Raya behind them.<\/p>\n
It was, after all, United’s own legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson who had once emphatically pronounced that “attack wins your games, defence wins you titles”.<\/p>\n
And who knows \u2013 that could prove to be the ultimate truth come the end of the season with Arteta knowing the Gunners have no options but to be at their best defensively in their remaining two games to have any real chance of winning the title, if City do not slip up in their own remaining three games at all.<\/p>\n
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