Former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy has pinpointed a critical advantage he believes Arsenal hold over Manchester City in this season's gripping Premier League title battle.
Arsenal's Commanding Position
The Gunners strengthened their position at the summit with a hard-fought 3-2 away victory at Bournemouth last weekend, a win sealed by a brace from Declan Rice. This result marked a fifth consecutive league triumph for Mikel Arteta's side.
Their lead was extended to six points after reigning champions Manchester City conceded a dramatic, injury-time equaliser to Enzo Fernandez in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium. Arsenal, who have finished as runners-up in each of the last three campaigns, are now in a powerful position to clinch their first league crown since the famous 'Invincibles' season of 2004.
The Fixture List Factor
While Arsenal's formidable home form has been a foundation of their success, they also boast the division's best away record. This is particularly impressive given they have already visited four of the five teams directly below them in the table.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Murphy argued that the remaining fixture schedules heavily favour the North London club. 'They (Arsenal) have played a lot of the big boys away from home; only City are left,' he stated.
By contrast, Pep Guardiola's Manchester City face a daunting list of away fixtures in the second half of the season, with trips to Tottenham, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea still to come. The pivotal head-to-head clash at the Etihad between the two title rivals is scheduled for April.
Defensive Strength vs. City's Vulnerability
Murphy also highlighted a perceived defensive frailty in the current City side as a key differentiator. 'When I watch City, even in the Chelsea game, they do brilliant things but then all of a sudden there are gaps all over the place,' he observed.
'They have been on a good run, so you can’t discount them, but defensively, you feel that you can score against them. When you watch them, they give up chances and Arsenal generally don’t – they have the best defence.'
Murphy further praised the depth and quality within Arsenal's squad, citing the impact of players like Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze as evidence that Arteta can rotate his attacking options without a drop in quality, keeping key men like Bukayo Saka fresh for the run-in.
The title race continues this midweek as City aim to close the gap with a victory over Brighton on Wednesday. Arsenal, meanwhile, face a stern test of their own just 24 hours later when they host the defending champions, Liverpool, at the Emirates Stadium.
