Man City should consider ruthless summer transfer in battle with Arsenal FC

Only those with the biggest of third eyes predicted Arsenal to be Manchester City's biggest title challenger this season.

Most pre-season predictions pegged City as clear winners with perhaps only old foes Liverpool and big-spenders Chelsea able to put up any sort of resistance. But out of nowhere Arsenal have emerged as the biggest contender to the throne and led the way for the vast majority.

It was only a late wobble from Mikel Arteta's side, a mere three draws, that opened the door for the relentless machine that is City to charge over them and retake top spot. When facing down a side as near-perfect as Pep Guardiola's, you can't put much of a foot wrong as the most minor of slips can see you career off a cliff.

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The Gunners were a complete surprise this season. They were considered not a threat enough for City to sell both Gabriel Jesus and Aleks Zinchenko to North London. They finished 24 points behind the Blues last season down in fifth. But their drastic improvement, even if they couldn't quite maintain their new high level right to the end, means they look set to return to the elite level for the foreseeable.

One thing is for sure, Arsenal will catch no one off guard next season. The board at the Emirates deserve immense credit for sticking by Arteta when the hounds were circling during difficult months and though there has been a massive leap in progress this year, the project is still far from finished.

A return to Champions League action will bring an even more gruelling season and a big summer is on the horizon. They have proved themselves capable of challenging at the top, now will they capitalise on it and push even further?

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