Manchester City midfielder Rodri believes Arsenal will push his team all the way in the title race once again this campaign.
The Gunners finished two points behind the champions in May, having also been a close second during the 2022/23 season and, speaking about Mikel Arteta’s side, Rodri said that City will need to be at their best if they are to clinch another league championship:
“They (Arsenal) have done great. I would say they’re at the same level as us and for sure, they’re going to be there.”
“They’ve shown their character and that they can fight until the end. We expect the same team – a team that can win 20 games in a row so we will have to push ourselves to our limits again if we want to win the title.”
The bookies back Rodri’s comments
City remain favourites at the bookmakers to seal their fifth title in a row, with many pricing them at 11/10 to finish top. However, Arsenal are not far behind in the odds, with the majority rating them at 7/4.
The two clubs are the standout contenders for the Premier League crown, with Liverpool having been priced a distant third at 11/2. Not many believe that Manchester United, Tottenham, Chelsea or Newcastle stand much of a chance.
City can’t rest on their laurels
As Rodri points out, the Cityzens are likely to be pushed all the way by Arsenal so if they are not at their best, they could find themselves trailing their rivals.
In recent years, Pep Guardiola’s side have usually started the season slowly. That hasn’t been the case so far this year, having won the Community Shield and their first league game. That can only bode well for the rest of the campaign.
Find out who is in Manchester City’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here
