The race for the English Premier League title: chaser or chaser? How to deal with pressure

For Manchester City and its coach Pep Guardiola, finishing the season strong to win the title is nothing new. Two seasons ago, they were unbeaten in their last 23 league games, winning 19 of them, finishing second, two points behind Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.

City are also accustomed to increasing the pressure before their title rivals play.

In the last 15 games City have played the day before Arsenal, Guardiola’s side have won 11 of them, with three draws and just one loss – a 2-1 defeat at Newcastle in November.

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown, a three-time Premier League winner, believes how Arsenal, runners-up in each of the last three seasons, handle the pressure will determine their season.

“It’s normal to want something badly, and sometimes that can help you,” Keon said. “But there is plenty of time to learn from him.

“They haven’t been in that position where they’ve been in front so much. It’s almost about a reset here, which is what they’ve talked about in the past. If we were starting the season over, you’d just go after your opponent and just finish the job.”

“You also have to trust your teammates at the moment. You have to try to create a steely and calm resolve.”

Steve Bruce, who won three Premier League titles with Manchester United in the 1990s, said: “Arsenal have shown remarkable consistency so far.

“Every game, no matter where you play and who you play, it becomes difficult, especially if you are in the title race and especially if you are Arsenal, because they haven’t won it for a long time.

“What you want at this time is for top players to perform well. I was lucky enough to play in a team where a certain French player stood out – we always thought Eric [Cantona] “It’ll get us out of trouble.”

Joe Hart, a two-time Premier League title winner with Manchester City, added: “There will be a lot of questions, a lot of hype around Arsenal – that’s life at the top. Don’t worry, you have to live in your own world.”

“They know what’s coming in their rearview mirror. Arsenal have been in this situation before, and they know what they have to do.”