Kai Havertz celebrates scoring Arsenal’s third objective towards Tottenham throughout the first half. Photograph: AFP/File
LONDON:
Arsenal should banish their premature bout of title race nervousness because the wobbling Premier League leaders head to Tottenham for the north London derby.
Manchester Metropolis can pile stress on the Gunners with a win towards Newcastle, whereas Michael Carrick heads to Everton aiming to bolster his bid to turn into Manchester United’s everlasting supervisor.
AFP Sport appears to be like at three speaking factors forward of this weekend’s motion:
Saka expects Arsenal to hit again
Defiant Arsenal ahead Bukayo Saka is adamant his facet will ultimately “recover from the road” and finish their trophy drought.
Mikel Arteta’s males are in peril of blowing a commanding place within the title race after successive attracts towards Brentford and Wolves left them with simply two wins of their final seven league matches.
The Gunners squandered the lead in each matches, with Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at backside of the desk Wolves particularly galling as they conceded a stoppage-time equaliser having led 2-0.
Arsenal are 5 factors away from second-placed Manchester Metropolis, however Pep Guardiola’s workforce have a sport in hand and can host the leaders in April.
After permitting Metropolis to overtake them within the 2023 and 2024 title races, the north Londoners, who have not gained silverware because the 2020 FA Cup, face pointed questions on their potential to deal with the mounting stress.
Saka is aware of Arsenal should silence the doubters by getting again on observe at arch rivals Tottenham on Sunday.
“I imagine the subsequent few years are going to be the years that we recover from the road, and we’re capable of win trophies and make historical past for this membership,” Saka stated.
“We’re again the place we belong, preventing for every part.”
Man Metropolis ‘on the hunt’
Tijjani Reijnders has warned Arsenal that Manchester Metropolis are primed to pounce after the leaders allowed them again into the title race.
Victories over Liverpool and Fulham have put Metropolis in place to capitalise on Arsenal’s stoop.
Pep Guardiola’s facet will transfer two factors behind Arsenal in the event that they beat Newcastle on the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, placing further warmth on the leaders earlier than the north London derby 24 hours later.
“The temper’s been good, nevertheless it was additionally good earlier than. After all we have dropped some factors as effectively nevertheless it’s good and we’re on the hunt and we hold going,” Reijnders stated.
“We’ve got to see after all, but when we hold going like this, who is aware of?”
Carrick has Man Utd on the rise
Wayne Rooney has backed Manchester United interim supervisor Michael Carrick to take the job on a everlasting foundation.
Former United midfielder Carrick was appointed till the top of the season after Ruben Amorim’s sacking in January.
He made a dream begin as United beat Manchester Metropolis 2-0 in his first sport in cost and adopted up with a 3-2 win at Arsenal.
4 wins and a attract his first 5 video games on the helm have lifted United into fourth place forward of their journey to Everton on Monday.
Rooney, United’s all-time main goalscorer, believes his former team-mate may very well be the one to lastly stabilise a troubled membership that hasn’t gained the title since 2013.
“We have been there and tried totally different managers – (Jose) Mourinho, (Louis) van Gaal, (Erik) ten Hag and (Ruben) Amorim – and for me Carrick is smart,” Rooney advised The Overlap.
“Having somebody there who is aware of the membership and cares for the membership makes an enormous distinction. Michael is managing the entire squad and managing them effectively.”
