Arsenal ready for title push, Man City face Liverpool test

(FILES) In this file photo taken on November 5, 2020 The electronic scoreboard displays the Arsenal club logo (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

Arsenal enters the final furlong of the Premier League title race with a clash against Leeds on Saturday as they bid to be crowned champions for the first time in 19 years.

Second-placed Manchester City cannot afford to stumble in a marquee match-up against Liverpool, while the battle to avoid relegation is heating up.

AFP Sport looks ahead to a crucial weekend in the top flight after the international break.

Arsenal fuelled by ‘powerful’ bond With 10 games to play, Arsenal are in pole position to win their first title since 2004 after reeling off six successive victories to build an eight-point lead over Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta’s side have played a game more than the champions and still have to travel to Manchester to face Pep Guardiola’s team on April 26, but they have the destiny of the title firmly in their grasp.

Few would have expected Arsenal to be so close to glory after they blew their attempt to finish in the top four last season.

Arteta has worked wonders with a humble squad short of superstars but filled with team-first workaholics who buy into their manager’s desire to have a group of players who enjoy being around each other.

“We have the right level of competition and cooperation because they really want to help each other, but they have to challenge each other as well,” Arteta said ahead of Leeds’ visit to north London on Saturday.

“The secret is probably the unity and togetherness that they have between them.

“They love to spend time with each other, they love to play with each other. That’s very powerful.”

Man City braced for Liverpool showdown Manchester City are refusing