Manchester City’s April form is proving to be a significant factor in the Premier League title race, as their unbeaten record in the month over the past four years bodes well for their pursuit of glory. City secured a 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge, demonstrating their springtime form.
City’s Dominance in April
Manchester City’s record in April in the past four years reads: played 23, won 19, drawn four across all competitions. The league title is now “in their own hands”. True, it’s also in Arsenal’s hands. But City’s hands look steadier, meatier, more tightly coiled on the rope.
There were almost 51 minutes gone when Nico O’Reilly scored the opening goal with a close-in header right in front of the City fans. It was almost a free header, goalkeeper still on his line. Mainly it was a moment with a sense of wider forces in motion.
The sun had lingered in that corner, sneaking in over the lip of the stand, just enough to bathe the City fans in thin yellow light as O’Reilly ran towards them, an academy boy celebrating a potentially title-swinging goal. City would go on to score three times in the space of 17 minutes, Marc Guéhi and Jérémy Doku adding the others, as Chelsea’s midfield and defence parted like a shop-worn bead curtain.
Arsenal Under Pressure
This season has often felt like a prelude to something happening, a pre-narrative. Every time it seems like some decisive turn is about to emerge the action has simply meandered on.
It has already been hard to watch Arsenal’s contortions, from surely the most agonised nine-point title lead ever assembled, to the invertebrate defeat by Bournemouth at home on Saturday. Lose in midweek, lose to City next weekend and Arsenal now have the chance to lose an entire quadruple in 16 days and six matches. There will surely be more twists.
Maybe those remaining games should be pixelated, or come with some kind of trigger warning. This is how it can go in the league now.