Arsene Wenger says that Arsenal’s goalless draw with Manchester City at the Etihad will prove to be a major turning point in the Premier League title race.
The former Arsenal manager spent 22 years with the Gunners, winning three Premier League titles along the way. Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal came close to winning the league last year and are once again on the charge for glory this season, looking to secure the club a league title for the first time in 20 years.
Arsenal were top of the league heading into last weekend’s round of fixtures and were handed a major morale boost when Liverpool lost to Crystal Palace, but Arteta’s side were dealt a major blow of their own as Aston Villa produced a dramatic late show to win 2-0 at the Emirates.
Defeats for Arsenal and Liverpool handed Manchester City the initiative in the title race, with Pep Guardiola’s side now two points clear with six games to go.
Wenger believes that Arsenal’s defeat to Villa on the weekend was not the moment that they lost control of the title race, but rather their goalless draw at the Etihad at the end of March.
Wenger felt the three points were there for the taking and failure to capitalise will prove costly in Arsenal’s bid for Premier League glory.
“It was a complete surprise,” Wenger told beIN Sports when asked about the Villa defeat. “You know that when you play for the championship at home with eight games to go and you have the opportunity to make a difference, you have to take it.
“The surprise of the weekend is that City have their nose in front again. Nobody expected that. Of course, one could have a bad result but not the two and that is surprising. Arsenal still have an advantage with their goal difference.
“So even if City have a draw and we win, we’d be in front of them. The frustration was a bit on the day [they drew at City]. You didn’t know after the game. OK it was a good point and a well-fought point because City didn’t create much.
“I get as well the feeling that if they had pushed more, the three points were available there. You’ll know at the end of the season, usually when you play against a big opponent and you can finish him off, you want to do it.”
