Sergio Aguero admits he isn’t convinced by Manchester City’s recent surge and is refusing to jot down Arsenal off within the race to win the Premier League title.
The Gunners hold a five point advantage at the highest of the table following Sunday’s emphatic 4-1 north London derby victory against Tottenham.
City, nonetheless, have a game in hand and look like within the technique of constructing momentum on the business end of the season.
Saturday night’s win over Newcastle was greeted with unusually passionate celebrations by Erling Haaland and Pep Gaurdiola who will understand how ominous the sight of the City juggernaut build up a head of steam can be to Arsenal.
Aguero, winner of 5 Premier League titles during his time at City, fears his old side face a difficult task to overhaul the present leaders who’re made from sterner stuff that the edges which have finished runners-up in each of the last three seasons.
He told : https://stake.com/: ‘It’s not a matter of a weak mentality. Not now, at the very least, when the team has a really complete, balanced squad with rather more experience than within the recent past.
‘They’ve been through this before and narrowly missed out. And today you may see that they’ve a stronger mentality. The young players have grown up, they’ve brought in some excellent players, and it shows.
Your football fix
Metro‘s Head of Sport James Goldman delivers punchy evaluation, transfer talk and his tackle the week’s biggest stories direct to your inbox every week.
Join here, it’s an open goal.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to an online
browser that
supports HTML5
video
‘[Gyokeres] had an initial period of adjustment, but in recent months he has found his best form and rediscovered his scoring touch. He’s a really complete and powerful striker.
‘Arteta has proven himself to be an important manager. He has built a solid team that knows the best way to play and is now all the time in contention for the title. Let’s remember what number of years it has been since Arsenal won the Premier League.
‘And the way close they’ve come to doing so lately. I believe in the event you ask Arsenal fans, they’ll want Arteta to remain on the club for a very long time to return.’
The meeting between the 2 teams on the Etihad, scheduled to happen in mid April, could yet prove decisive and Aguero knows his old side will fight until the tip.
Who will win the Premier League
He added: ‘It’s essential since it sends a signal to the team at the highest that they will’t chill out and that they’re being hot on their heels. It’s not the identical fiddling with an enormous lead because it is with a smaller one. We’ve seen that lately. City never gives up.
‘They sustain the pressure on the teams above them. And so they’ve often come from behind to win the title at the tip of the season.
‘City has been very consistent lately. All the time fighting at the highest and winning titles.
‘There was a major changeover, with key players corresponding to Kevin and Gundo leaving, but once the brand new players settled in, the team responded. And it’s difficult to all the time be within the fight.
‘How will you not feel threatened by a team that never stops fighting and has also managed to win the Premier League in recent times?
‘It’s essential to do not forget that match against Arsenal on the Etihad. It’s an excellent opportunity to take points off them and shut the gap. But first there are the previous matches. It might be pointless if we don’t beat the teams ahead of us. It’s one step at a time.
‘That’s the way it was done previously and that’s the way it must be done now. Pep has plenty of experience in these end-of-season scenarios and I believe he’ll have the option to convey that to the players.’
MORE: Jamie Carragher makes daring Man Utd prediction after win over Everton
MORE: Rio Ferdinand says Arsenal star is ‘sacrificing parts of his game’ under Mikel Arteta
MORE: Paul Scholes accuses Arsenal star of being ‘too emotional’ after derby win over Tottenham