Manchester City moved top of the Premier League table on goals scored after beating Burnley 1-0 and now Arsenal will have the chance to respond and go six points clear themselves
Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki of Manchester City after the Premier League match between Burnley and Manchester City
Erling Haaland sent Manchester City top of the league on Wednesday night(Image: Getty Images)
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Former Manchester City star Micah Richards believes that Arsenal's chances of winning the Premier League will be defined by their upcoming games against Atletico Madrid. The Gunners face the Spanish side over two legs in the Champions League semi-final while also trying to wrestle back control from City in the league.
City moved top of the Premier League on Wednesday night with a 1-0 win over Burnley, which relegated Scott Parker's side. Erling Haaland's goal was enough to earn three points at Turf Moor and put City ahead of Arsenal on goals scored.
Pep Guardiola's side will now turn their attention to an FA Cup semi-final against Southampton on Saturday, giving Arsenal the chance to move ahead in the league. Arsenal have home league games against Newcastle and Fulham sandwiched around the away leg of their tie against Atletico.
Diego Simeone's team will pose a tough test for the Gunners and Richards thinks the physically draining nature of the game in Madrid on Wednesday, and how Arsenal deal with it, could have knock-on effects in the title race.
"You would expect Arsenal, with the form they've shown this season, to beat Newcastle and Fulham, but it's about what the Atletico Madrid game takes out of them," Richards said on Sky Sports. "I believe they can beat them. But have they got enough grit and determination to win all of those games? They've got the quality.
"When we talk about Arsenal, it's all this 'they've bottled it' on social media. They've not bottled it! They just opened the door for Man City. It's still in their hands, they can do it.
"It's just about what those games in the Champions League take out of them, because Atletico Madrid and Simeone are going to grind them down."
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 19: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola greet each other before the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta are fighting it out for the Premier League title(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
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Richards went on to say that he believes Arsenal will go six points clear of City in the league by beating Newcastle on Saturday and Fulham next weekend, with Guardiola's side not in league action again until facing Everton on May 4. However, he thinks that City's experience of such pressurised situations will be crucial in determining the title.
"I always said that, in the Arsenal game, if Man City can stay within three points and come into this game tonight and make it equal, I believe Man City will win [the title] because they will win the psychological battle because they have leaders and they have experience going into it," Richards said.
"I had to draw on the top players in my squad who have won things before. I had to rely on them. And when I look at Arsenal, they've got great players and great talents but I'm looking at who they can turn to when they need to get through? At the weekend, those big chances (against City) were when you need big players and that's what Man City seem to do more often than not.
"Look at the managers. Arteta has won the FA Cup and Pep has won multiple leagues, Champions Leagues, whatever, so you've got the experience from the manager as well. You can draw on that experience. Arsenal are a fantastic team, but it takes more than that to win the league."
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