Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis are locked into yet one more title race. The final two occasions the 2 golf equipment have finished battle for the highest spot, Metropolis have come out on high. As Guardiola groups invariably do when locked in a white-hot title race.
Certainly, in 2022-23, Arsenal got here up quick by 5 factors as Metropolis gained the title, and the next season, they pushed them remarkably shut, heartbreakingly ending with simply two factors fewer than their title rivals.
At present, the Gunners are 4 factors clear on the high of the desk, however one stat about Guardiola’s profession ought to strike worry into his former disciple Mikel Arteta.
Each time Guardiola is in a title race, he wins it. That feels like a daring declare that wants some backing up, and we now have the stats to just do that.
Guardiola has did not win the title in simply 4 seasons since he turned a coach in 2007. Of these 4 seasons, after 26 matches (the present quantity performed within the Premier League) the title had basically already slipped Guardiola’s grasp.
In 2011-12, as Barcelona supervisor, Guardiola noticed Jose Mourinho’s Actual Madrid 10 factors clear at that stage. In his Premier League profession with Metropolis, the Spaniard was 10 factors again in 2016-17, 22 factors again in 2019-20 and 19 factors again in 2024-25.
In these seasons, Barcelona completed second, and Metropolis completed third, second and third once more.
Each single season of Guardiola’s managerial profession, apart from these three, the Catalan coach has gained the title. That’s 12 seasons in complete in Europe’s main leagues and one within the Spanish fourth tier whereas managing Barcelona B.
That signifies that each time he’s been not less than inside 5 factors of the chief at this stage of the season, as is the case now, Guardiola has lifted the title.
Some of the spectacular of these profitable seasons was in a fierce battle with Liverpool in 2018-19. After 26 video games, the Reds topped the desk by three factors.
By the point the ultimate sport of the marketing campaign got here round, Metropolis had been one level clear on the high, and each they and Liverpool gained on the ultimate weekend, which means the Residents saved their one-point hole for one of many closest Premier League finishes ever.
On the 26-game stage in 2022-23, Metropolis had been 5 factors behind Arsenal, who maintained that hole till they slipped on matchday 30, drawing 2-2 to Liverpool whereas the Residents beat Southampton 4-1.
The Gunners had been 2-0 up earlier than Liverpool dragged the sport again, and the next week, Metropolis reduce the hole to 1 level as as soon as once more, Guardiola’s aspect gained and Arteta’s drew.
Either side drew within the thirty second sport of the season, earlier than Metropolis beat Arsenal 4-1 within the thirty third to take the lead for the title, ultimately stretching that to 5 factors by the tip of the marketing campaign.
Whereas the Gunners are within the lead in the intervening time, there’s no assure they gained’t be caught by Metropolis. Earlier years counsel that Metropolis will surge previous their title rivals earlier than the season is up. It’s simply what Guardiola groups do.
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