Arsenal has made a strong start to the Premier League season and holds a promising title race position. Club legend Thierry Henry discussed the topic in a recent interview, stating that Arsenal needs to remain vigilant of Manchester City in the title chase and admitting he was "impressed" by Pep Guardiola’s side’s recent performances.
After 11 league games, the Gunners top the table with 8 wins, boasting a 4-point lead, as Mikel Arteta’s team goes from strength to strength. However, the last round favored City: their 3-0 convincing win over Liverpool turned heads, while Arsenal dropped points with a 2-2 draw against Sunderland.
Despite the Gunners’ favorable position, Guardiola’s team is gathering momentum, and Henry expects this to threaten Arsenal’s title prospects: “I was impressed (by the last game). I never thought Guardiola would allow wingers to cut inside during the build-up phase so early, nor did I anticipate him playing the left winger on the right. This would have been impossible in his previous tactical systems—for example, when playing at home against Manchester United, both wingers converged on the same side of the ball.”
“Guardiola has found a way to break the deadlock. He has confirmed his starting lineup: Jeremy Doku is clearly locked in on the left, while Cherki or Savio are flexibly used on the right. When Phil Foden returns to form, the game changes—though I think he is better suited to the right No.10 role, where he can cut inside and cause damage with his left foot.”
“We are still waiting for Rodri to return to his best form, which is a slight deficiency, even though Nico González performed well against Liverpool. Now Nico O’Reilly is gradually living up to expectations, and the front line has a monster who can score with his eyes closed.”
Although Liverpool is the defending champion, they have had a poor start to the season. Henry believes City will be the last opponent his former club wants to face: “As an Arsenal fan, the last thing you want is this team breathing down your neck, because they know how to win titles. Seeing Man City regain form is disturbing for Gunner supporters—they are clearly about to go on a winning streak.”
"Guardiola previously had to cope with integrating two new assistant coaches and a new tactical system. During City’s adjustment period, it was Arsenal’s golden opportunity to pick up points and pull ahead—and that’s exactly what happened. But the title race has always been a marathon."
