One week ago, Arsenal and Manchester City were both regarded as title contenders in a four-horse race. The landscape has changed dramatically since then and when the teams meet at the Emirates Stadium in today’s evening kick off, only one team retains the look of potential Champions.
While the Gunners capitulated to a rampant Chelsea, conceding 6 goals with no reply at Stamford Bridge, the Sky Blue juggernaut swept away relegation bound Fulham with contemptuous ease at The Etihad Stadium. A week may be a long time in politics but in footballing parlance 7 days is all it takes to make or break a season long campaign.
The subsequent games in midweek only served to emphasise the respective directions that both teams are headed in the league. As City destroyed any trace of dignity belonging to the team formerly known as Man U with a 3-0 away win, Matty Flamini’s last minute comedy own-goal condemned Arsenal to a home draw against lowly Swansea.
A team riding a wave of momentum at the business end of the season against a team that has foundered on the rocks of negative expectations. Football is a results orientated business and simple conclusions on the basis of gaining/losing three points can be deceptive when the bigger picture comes into view.
Arsenal’s history is a rich tapestry of survive and prosper. One of the ‘big guns’ of English football, the Gunners have the core values of tradition, stability and innovation that has overseen several cycles of success during their 128-year history. A golden era in the 1930s, initiated by the legendary manager Herbert Chapman, saw the “Bank of England” club win 5 league titles and two FA Cups while cementing their place at the top table of English football.
Coincidentally, City also won their first league title is the 1930s but have only won 2 since (compared to Arsenal’s 13) and have played second fiddle to their more illustrious neighbours for what seemed like forever. A club that moved up and down the leagues like a yo-yo, City fans were once renowned for the fatalist sense of humour and could be relied upon to find the darkest clouds in amongst the silver linings.
By emulating the ‘Chelsea’ template, of spending enormous amounts of privately sourced money to achieve success, City have sprung out from United’s shadow and now look favourites to win their second Premier League title in 3 years. Bankrolled by the Sheikh Mansour-led Abu Dhabi Group, City used the advantage of being able to move into a ready-made and a publicly-funded City of Manchester Stadium. This enabled them to concentrate their investment in the playing side of things.
At the other end of the spectrum Arsenal were dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st Century on the back of financial prudence and the continual trading of players. The price of following a strategy of ‘self-sufficiency’ has meant that although the club has a magnificent modern stadium, it’s been almost 9 years and counting since the Arsenal last lifted silverware. All the while, the club’s most successful ever manager Arsene Wenger is depicted as a perpetual loser.
Don’t get me wrong, money has always been a key determining factor in regards to success in football. It’s just that when you have the ability to spend the equivalent of a small nation’s gross domestic product on a group of ball jugglers, then it becomes impossible to compete in that market on an equal basis.
As things stand, whatever the outcome of today’s match things look promising for both clubs in terms of the bagging of silver pots. With City looking a good bet for the title, Arsenal have their best chance in ages to win the FA Cup. The difference is that while City, due to their financial outlay, are expected to do it, Arsenal have a chance of redemption and an opportunity to make sense of all the sacrifices that have been made.
I will leave it for you to decide which triumph would taste the sweeter?
