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Emmanuel Petit is worried Arsenal could mentally collapse against Manchester City if they are unable to see off Sporting CP in the Champions League next week.
The former Gunners midfielder believes momentum, belief and resilience are all on the line, with defeat potentially damaging confidence at the worst possible moment.
🏆👀 I am feeling __% confident that Arsenal will win the Premier League title this season…
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In the past, Arsenal have crumbled in the big pressure moments in the Premier League title race, and if they were to exit the Champions League, he thinks the whole season could crumble.
Now, with pressure mounting, the North London club face a match that could shape their hopes in both the Champions League and Premier League.
Emmanuel Petit says Arsenal must beat Sporting to avoid collapse vs Man City
Emmanuel Petit is adamant that Arsenal must beat Sporting to avoid a mental collapse in the following game against Man City.
The French legend think that Mikel Arteta’s team could implode if they were to lose to Sporting in the Champions League next week.
“When you look at the schedule, when you look at what’s happened in recent weeks with Arsenal, I always try to put myself in the players’ shoes,” Petit told AFTER FOOT.
“I think: okay, I’ve won 1-0, the second leg is at home, but three days later, I have to go and play at the Etihad Stadium.
“Knowing that Manchester City have a game in hand, and there’s a strong chance they win it, so the nine-point gap becomes six.”
Petit has warned his former club that Pep Guardiola’s team are going to be giving everything to win, as a draw or defeat would all but confirm the Gunners as champions.
Predict the score of Arsenal vs Sporting CP second legđź‘€
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“It’s going to be very difficult at the Etihad, because I think the Citizens will go all in. It’s their joker if they lose or draw that match, Arsenal will be champions. But if they win, that doubt creeps back into their minds,” he added.
“So if Arsenal slip up in the match three days before facing City, honestly, we’ve seen over the last three years how they can mentally collapse.”
Arsenal did well to bounce back from defeats to City and Southampton to win 1-0 away at Sporting, but the real mental test will arrive over the coming weeks.
Bournemouth will be a tough game for the Gunners, and so will the second leg against Sporting, so Arteta’s side must be ready to show real character.
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