I mean this is ridiculous. It has been a really good title race and could still be. As another poster mentioned, Arsenal have won 10 of their last 11 games and have been outstanding during that period. Liverpool have wavered since the United game but their form (certainly results-wise) has been excellent for a while.
Wasn't an intentional jinx, I swear.
Let's be honest - is anyone really surprised? They have the best squad. That has been obvious from the start of the season.
Honestly, yeah I am a little surprised. I thought they looked well off it a few months back. I still don't think they're playing particularly great.
They have the best squad. Liverpool and Arsenal's squads don't come anywhere near. And they have the best manager. They are quite literally a machine with 115 Charges holding them up.
The best squad on paper but they’ve been without their best creative outlet for most of the season, and struggled when Rodri was out for a few weeks as well. I think if you take everything into consideration, Arsenal have been able to field their best XI more than any other competitors this season and the major losses you have taken were down to pure choking, like the back to back defeat to West Ham/Fulham and today, rather than any real fatigue or squad deficiencies.
Looking at Liverpool’s form and Arsenal’s run in its hard to see how either will stop City
Exactly. All the teams will drop more points yet. The one thing that really does my head is when the so called experts predict the results for the title run in, and not take into account the injuries, suspensions, form and pressure when assessing games in a few weeks.
I agree we have been relatively fortunate with injuries compared to others, but I would also argue that we have a weaker squad overall. The reason I think we "choke" is because we're quite clearly the least experienced team, and our manager is a baby compared to Pep and Klopp. Experience counts for a whole lot, and IMO we've learned from our mistakes from last season, but still have a way to go if we're going to better Pep.
Exactly. The revelling in Liverpool "being out" of the race pre Arsenal game was very premature.
You asked was I shocked? Yes, I felt they looked off it a few months back.
Yeah, that's true. But I think Arsenal with another good window in the summer could run them close next year as well. Liverpool will probably struggle quite a bit without Klopp. But this year is hardly over yet. Many games left and apart from Arsenal no team have managed to win more than six games on the bounce.
City always look "off it" early in the season but do just enough to keep pace. Then go on an insane run the last couple of months. Again, they have a superior squad to everyone else, it's not even close.
The season isn't over yet but it feels like we've all seen this before. I don't see anyone catching City now they are ahead.
Again, I've agreed with your assertions regarding their squad etc. You asked me, for my opinion, regarding whether I was shocked that they now look like winning it again. The answer is yes (obviously with the terminology "shocked" being hyperbolic in this particular instance).
Its mostly Pep that is the difference, he is just an insanely consistent league manager.
Thanks to Palace, it's been an excellent evening.
The problem is, City are often considered favourites even when they're trailing (as we seen when they were 3rd and 3 points behind just a week ago). We've seen them 6/7/8 points behind Liverpool/Arsenal in previous years and come back to win the league.
Do you now accept these were wildly inaccurate predictions?
Yes, I have been truly humbled.
They have lost a lot of that experience though with Gundogan and Mahrez leaving and the robot is malfunctioning currently. They're favorites but you just don't know if they'll see it through this season as well. If either of Liverpool or Arsenal win all their games (rather unlikely), I think they'll win it.
It's so weird when you see Skrtel come into the shot.
Yeah they should have edited Van Dijk’s face in there. Would have been perfect.
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