Man City 3-0 Fulham: Pep Guardiola’s side close in on leaders Arsenal
The full-time celebrations of a group of City players for a clean slate epitomized the unity that had been built and the character they were able to display.
The result at Anfield appears to have given City and Guardiola renewed faith that they can beat Arsenal this season, even if they haven’t been very good.
City have the know-how to get the job done, having been among the best in six of the last eight seasons, while Arsenal hope it won’t be a familiar story for the last three seasons as they finish runners-up.
Former Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given told BBC Radio Live: “Maybe there are still vulnerabilities that we haven’t seen in the past, but I think they still have the arsenal to go on a mad run and go unbeaten and things like that.
“It’s not that big of a statement to say that. The way they won on Sunday, the psychological side of it. They said, ‘This is ours.’
“There’s a belief in the whole club and the fans that thinks, ‘You know what, we still have a great chance.’ That will give them belief for this match.”
The weight of expectation will be on Arsenal’s shoulders before they face the Bees, and you’ll be in for an uncomfortable night’s sleep after seeing City dismantle Fulham in a clinical first-half display.
But Arsenal know they can respond by taking three points at the G Tech Stadium and the exciting prospect of a nine-point lead awaits them if they follow that up with a win over bottom team Wolves next Wednesday.
The two sides will meet in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, March 22 and will have the chance to deal the first direct psychological blow.
Recent history shows that seven of the last 12 EFL Cup winners have won at least one other trophy in the same season; This underlines the importance of claiming the trophy at Wembley next month.
They are scheduled to meet at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League in April, but the competition could see them face each other three times if they progress in both the Champions League and the FA Cup.
While Arsenal did not transfer anyone in the January transfer window, City added Antoine Semenyo, who has already scored five goals, and England national team player Marc Guehi, who contributed to their clean sheet.
Guardiola said his team had “grown” and added: “We were together, we were calmer with the ball, we did good work inside and outside. [runs]. I can say that the position is not perfect for Nico O’Reilly and Phil. [Foden] but sometimes he is in better positions but overall he is really satisfied.
“We suffered a lot at Fulham and today after Anfield it was very challenging both physically and emotionally but we talked a lot and I said ‘guys we have to do it again’ and we did it.”
