Arsenal are once again attempting to overturn Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. For the past two seasons, Mikel Arteta’s men have fallen agonisingly short of winning a first title in 20 years, and the task to overthrow them doesn’t get any easier.
City managed to make it four in a row when they pipped the Gunners to the post in May but after some big summer deals and yet more improvement on the pitch, Arteta was able to push Pep Guardiola even further. They now have the challenge of going one step more and reaching the summit themselves.
It promises to be a big summer in this sense for both camps. Arsenal are aiming to make the most of their positive momentum while City yet again look to go where nobody has ever been before. It makes for another transfer window of key decisions.
Here, football.london has taken a look at what City have been up to so far and the impact it might have on Arsenal.
De Bruyne exit
Kevin De Bruyne has admitted that it could soon be time for him to leave Manchester City. Speaking to Dutch publication HLN, he said, “I still have one year left on my contract, so I have to think about what could happen.
“My eldest is now eight years old and knows nothing but England. He also asks how long I will play for City. Once the moment comes, we will have to deal with it in a certain way.”
An exit for the Belgian would be a significant blow to City after he managed four goals and ten assists from just 18 appearances last season. He has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.
“At my age you have to be open to everything,” he continued. “You’re talking about incredible amounts of money in what may be the end of my career. Sometimes you have to think about that.
“Then you have to think about what that could mean next. But at the moment I haven’t had to think about that yet.” He finished: “If I play there for two years, I will be able to earn an incredible amount of money. Before that I had to play football for 15 years. I may not even reach that amount yet.”
Alvarez also out?
De Bruyne isn’t the only one who has been linked with a move away though. Julian Alvarez is also said to be attracting attention, this time from Spain.
The Argentine is reportedly a top target for Atletico Madrid after they moved on from Girona’s Artem Dovbyk. It is suggested in Marca that even though Diego Simeone’s side cannot compete financially with City, they are looking to try and take advantage of any possible opportunity and have started their attempts to bring Alvarez.
Madrid, it is written, will try and sway Alvarez not with finances but game time and the chance to make himself the main man. It is also theorised that Kylian Mbappe’s arrival at Real Madrid could force Rodrygo out of the door and toward City, therefore adding yet more competition for Alvarez.
