Chris Sutton has offered a firm and somewhat unexpected view ahead of one of the most significant fixtures of the Premier League weekend, insisting that Manchester City will not overcome Arsenal despite recent form suggesting otherwise.
With the title race approaching its decisive phase, Sunday’s encounter carries enormous weight. While it may not mathematically determine the destination of the trophy, it has the feel of a defining moment.
Victory for either side would not just add three points to their tally, but also deliver a psychological advantage that could prove crucial in the closing weeks of the campaign.
City travel into the contest buoyed by a strong showing against Chelsea, where they struck three times in the second half at Stamford Bridge.
That result reinforced the sense that Pep Guardiola’s side are gathering momentum at precisely the right time.
In contrast, Arsenal arrive under pressure after suffering a third consecutive domestic defeat, the last one at home to Bournemouth, a result that has raised questions about their staying power at the summit.
Yet Sutton is not convinced that the recent narrative tells the full story.
Arsenal’s resilience could prove decisive
Speaking ahead of the match, Sutton acknowledged the criticism directed at Arsenal’s recent performances, particularly in attack, but argued that the broader picture remains encouraging for Mikel Arteta’s side.
“Everybody will be writing Arsenal off at the weekend because of how insipid they were in terms of their attacking play,” he said on BBC 5 Live Sports.
That lack of cutting edge has been evident in recent weeks, with the fluidity and sharpness that defined Arsenal’s earlier displays appearing to have stalled.
However, Sutton believes the focus on their struggles going forward has overshadowed a key strength that could shape the outcome against City.
“And I understand that to some extent, but Arsenal are brilliant out of possession. Defensively they are absolutely exceptional.”
It is this defensive solidity that Sutton sees as the foundation for a potential response and what will make it impossible for City to earn the maximum point on Sunday.
Even during their recent setbacks, Arsenal have retained a structure and discipline that makes them difficult to break down. Against a City side that thrives on control and precision, such resilience could be vital.
Sutton went further, suggesting that internally, the mood within the Arsenal camp may be far more optimistic than outside perception would suggest.
“In many ways, if you’re in the Arsenal dressing room you’re loving it because they’re probably due something to go right for them in the final third.”
He pointed to the expectation that their attacking combinations will soon rediscover their rhythm.
“They’re probably due sort of the combination play to click. Arsenal are right where they want to be.”
Questions remain over Manchester City’s consistency
While much of the build-up has centred on Arsenal’s dip in form, Sutton also highlighted reasons why City should not be considered overwhelming favourites.
“Manchester City, as good a team as they have been in recent weeks, they got walloped in the Champions League against Real Madrid and I think in the Premier League, they dropped points against West Ham in recent times.”
These results serve as a reminder that even a side of City’s quality is not immune to setbacks.
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Their heavy defeat to Real Madrid on the European stage exposed vulnerabilities, while dropped points domestically underline a degree of inconsistency that could yet prove costly.
Sutton’s argument is not that City are lacking quality—far from it—but rather that the perception of their superiority may be exaggerated when viewed against a wider run of results.
In a match of such fine margins, any lingering doubts could become significant.
He also cautioned against drawing sweeping conclusions from Arsenal’s loss to Bournemouth, suggesting that the reaction to that result may have been overly simplistic.
“Everybody’s just looking at that performance against Bournemouth and viewing that, that Arsenal are going to crack. I don’t think it’s that simplistic.”
