Lauren: All the pressure is on Man City
Manchester City's Marc Guehi (right) celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, London. Picture date: Sunday April 12, 2026.
by Graeme Jackson
Sunday Apr 19, 2026. 11:27
Premier League legend and former Cameroon national team player Lauren Bisan-Etame Mayer has emphasised that all the pressure is on Manchester City ahead of their blockbuster clash with Arsenal later today.
Man City welcome league leaders Arsenal to the Etihad Stadium for a clash that could well define the rest of the title race: the Citizens are six points behind but have a game in hand, and know that a home win will put them right back in contention.
Lauren, who played for the Gunners from 2000 to 2007 and won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups with the North London club, believes Mikel Arteta’s side need to stick to the principles that have brought them to the cusp of a first championship in over two decades.
“What I believe is that we have to stick with our principles,” the former Indomitable Lions star told talkSPORT.
“We know that it’s not going to be an easy game, play against Man City because they’re doing well.
“However, I believe that you have to go with the conviction and with the belief that we can win this game. Come on, lads.
“I mean, I won’t stand saying that, OK, we know that we lost the cup, we lost against Southampton, we lost against Bournemouth.
“However, all those noises that Man City are coming, Man City are coming, Man City are coming. And what? We are on top of the league.
“We are six points clear. So we have to go over there and think that we can win this game because the big pressure is on them.
“We are top of the league with six points clear. So if we win our games, we become champions.
“They are the ones that they have the big pressure because they have to win all the games and wait for Arsenal to lose.”