Arsenal
Arsenal celebrate their win against Sporting Lisbon
Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn believes that Gunners will NOT care about Manchester City’s slump.
The North London side have gone head-to-head with Pep Guardiola's side for the Premier League crown over recent seasons, only to fall at the final hurdle in each of the last two campaigns. Arsenal are once again among the contenders this time around.
They sit fourth and nine points behind leaders Liverpool. Elsewhere, rivals City have gone through a dramatic slump over recent weeks.
Guardiola’s side had lost five games in a row in all competitions before letting a 3-0 lead slip against Feyenoord in the Champions League. Winterburn though believes that the Arsenal stars will not be paying attention to City’s slump.
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Asked if they will be encouraged by the storm clouds over the Etihad, he replied: “Not around game day not unless they’re playing against them. Players are pretty ruthless. Really they are only interested in their own form and what they’re doing.
“There may be after the midweek games be a little bit of discussion ‘didn’t see that coming’. There might be some people not sure what’s going on there.
“There might be some players being with their national teams who might have the odd phone call. But I think most players concentrate on their own form and their club’s form and don’t really worry too much about what’s going on with the opposition.”
City’s dismal form could slump to new lows this weekend. They travel to Anfield for a clash with table-topping Liverpool. Another defeat would put them 11 points behind the Reds but Winterburn has warned of ruling City out this early in the season.
Pep Guardiola
Manchester City are now six without a win ( Image: Getty Images)
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He added: “I think Man City have probably had it a bit like Arsenal with injuries and loss of form as well. Did anyone see it coming? Probably no they didn’t.
“Football is a strong mental game as well as individual talent and when you have that bit of doubt, that can take away your power. And that’s happened at Man City but don’t write them off, they’ve got a good manager with excellent players. I think we’re all looking to see how they react from now until the end of the season.”
Arsenal will be aiming to force themselves back into contention this weekend. The Gunners take on another of Winterburn’s former clubs, West Ham, at the London Stadium. Arteta’s side won 6-0 in the same fixture last term.
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