Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez and Matheus Nunes of Manchester City celebrate the first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Luton Town at Etihad Stadium on April 13, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Manchester City continue to chip away at one Arsenal advantage in Premier League title race

The latest Arsenal news as their Premier League rivals attempt to knock them off the top of the Premier League table

by · football.london

Arsenal must be wary of the goal difference advantage, especially after Manchester City's most recent result in the final weeks of the season. Mikel Arteta's men had reclaimed top spot at Liverpool's expense last weekend, though only down to their superior goal tally and inferior number of goals conceded.

Both were on 71 points, while the Gunners' goal difference was 51 and Liverpool's was 42. That remains the case as both teams take to the field again on Sunday, but Man City were given a head start this week with their fixture against Luton Town pencilled in for 3:00pm on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola's men took full advantage, scoring after only one minute before carrying on to a 5-1 thumping of their relegation-fighting visitors. It made sure they sat in first for the time being and were ready to stay there should their challengers trip up.

The reigning champions' result also means the gap in goal difference between them and Arsenal is now reduced from 11 to seven and will be difficult to build back up again, at least this weekend.

Fourth-placed Aston Villa will offer an entirely different challenge for Arsenal. They are one of six teams to concede less than 50 goals during the current campaign and have ambitions of playing in the Champions League next year, so they won't ship goals without a fight.

Across City's six remaining games, half are against teams situated in the bottom half of the table, and those in the top half currently occupy eighth, ninth and 10th. Arsenal, on the other hand, have been dealt a tougher run-in on paper, as they are still to face London rivals Tottenham and Chelsea, as well as Manchester United, on the penultimate weekend of the season.

READ MORE: Bayern Munich suffer fresh injury blow ahead of Arsenal Champions League tie

READ MORE: Graeme Souness picks Premier League Footballer of the Year ahead of Martin Odegaard

That is why it is imperative for Arteta to drill the message into his squad that every goal will count in this fight for the title.