Are the Gunners finally breaking their bottling curse?

IT might have taken Mikel Arteta 35 games, but Arsenal finally unleashed!

The jitters at the Emirates are gone as Arteta decided to play Declan Rice at the no. 6 (defensive midfielder) and used both Leandro Trossard and Eberechi Eze in interchangeable roles to play scintillating football.

This opened up a six-point gap between the Gunners and Manchester City before Pep Guardiola’s squad kicked a ball next.

This is Arteta channelling his inner Guardiola rather than his inner Jose Mourinho.

Arsenal approached this game looking to entertain rather than play to lose.

Arteta gave his starting 11 freedom, allowing Viktor Gyokeres to play his best game for Arsenal.

Previously isolated, the newly unleashed Arsenal gave support to the Swedish striker as he recorded two goals and an assist.

Not only is the gap six points, but it is also a healthy goal difference.

The pressure has now returned to City as this title race could be decided on goal difference.

Arteta now probably hopes that his squad can maintain this momentum and play the remaining games with this attacking freedom.

It definitely removes the nervous atmosphere among fans and allows them to enjoy football again.

Over to you now, City.

For the first time in a long time, Manchester United have done the double over Liverpool. The showdown between the two most successful clubs in England only demonstrates one thing – both are below their best and will not be contenders anytime soon.

Maybe another round of investment in the summer could change it all, but with the current squad, there is plenty to improve on.

It was Arne Slot’s 19th defeat for the season, and it equalled Rafa Benitez’s record from 2005.

The difference between 2026 and 2005 is one thing, Liverpool won their fifth European Cup that year and there is nothing else for Slot’s team to play for except the Champions League spot.

United did not need to do much to defeat Liverpool as even basic tactics in sitting deep and occupying the space left behind by the full backs were sufficient.

Funny that Slot did not have the personnel to counter this.

United have now secured qualification for next year’s Champions League after that 3-2 victory.

One could consider that the club are back where they belong, but there are still plenty to improve on.

The true test awaits playing twice a week, and how the new manager manages it, or will it be Michael Carrick moving forward?

Lots for the management to ponder. One thing is sure, qualification for Europe will not happen under Ruben Amorim and giving him the sack early in the season has proven to be a masterstroke by the management.

The fans are now hoping for more of it to come if United really want to compete for the title again. As of now, they are behind both Arsenal and City.

Tottenham Hotspur were thrown a lifeline as West Ham lost three-nil to Brentford.

Luck definitely was not on the Hammers’ side as they hit either the post or the bar three times throughout the game.

The win allowed the Bees to leapfrog Chelsea and Brighton, but they’re still one point behind Bournemouth in the league table.

Keith Andrews probably hopes his team can sustain this form, as a European spot would be a great season for a manager who just got his coaching licence before the season started.

Roberto De Zerbi’s men took the lifeline given to them by Brentford by winning at Villa Park against a much-changed Aston Villa side.

Villa have the Europa League semi-final to prepare for and rested key players against Spurs.

By winning 2-1, West Ham are now in the relegation zone, as destiny is back in Spurs’ hands. All they need to do is match West Ham’s record, and the Lilywhites can play another season of Premier League football if this happens.

Victory for Spurs can be attributed to the hard-working men De Zerbi put up front to press and press Villa’s backline relentlessly. Spurs are definitely fighting, as shown in the squad.

It is funny that it takes a change in management to bring out the fire from the squad.

The goal now is to sustain this effort and hope for better days at the end of the season. We have reached a crescendo for the season. The ball is now in City’s court to show what they are made of.

United have qualified for the Champions League, and Liverpool need another win to follow suit. This will benefit one group – us, the fans!