City Xtra
·2. Oktober 2024
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Yahoo sportsCity Xtra
·2. Oktober 2024
Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City players have been told that this season will not be their year for success in the Premier League after four titles in a row.
That is the belief of Arsenal and England international, Bukayo Saka – just weeks after he and his Gunners side failed to cause the ultimate disruption of Manchester City’s title plans at the Etihad Stadium.
Having led a contest between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium for the majority of the afternoon, a nine-man Gunners defence formed by Mikel Arteta alongside football’s ‘dark arts’ was ended by John Stones in the eighth minute of additional time.
Manchester City’s follow-up draw against Newcastle United at St James’ Park, and Arsenal’s dramatic 4-2 win over Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium, has ensured that both sides remain unbeaten and on 14 points in second and third respectively.
However, the ultimate confidence appears to be stemming publicly from within the Arsenal camp, as one of their key men has issued a clear belief or warning to those of a Manchester City persuasion this week.
Speaking after Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain on matchday two of the UEFA Champions League league phase on Tuesday night, Bukayo Saka told CBS Sports that he feels as though the ongoing campaign is Arsenal’s for success in the English top-flight.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on us, but I do think this is the year,” the England international winger admitted. “We have been close for the past two years and we are getting closer, but, yes, hopefully this will be the year.”
Saka continued, “There is a lot of hunger in my belly. In previous years we have finished runners-up (to Manchester City), but that spirit in me is that I want to win this season and I believe in myself a lot.”
Manchester City have broken record after record in the last few seasons under their Catalan mastermind, with the last campaign becoming the ultimate culmination of Pep Guardiola’s project in English football.
The Etihad Stadium club became the first side in the history of English football to claim the top-flight crown in four consecutive seasons, defeating Arsenal in pursuit of glory for the second consecutive campaign.
The ongoing season is likely to present the ultimate challenge for Guardiola and his players however, as they hope to claim yet more major silverware without the presence of defensive midfield metronome, Rodri – who is ruled out for the rest of the season through injury.