In a candid revelation, Manchester City’s chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, acknowledged that an early-season loss to Arsenal was the defining moment he believed City would clinch their fourth consecutive Premier League title.
Throughout the 2023/24 season, Arsenal posed a formidable challenge to City’s title defense, pushing the competition to the season’s very last match.
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Despite Arsenal’s triumph over Everton, Manchester City’s win against West Ham ensured they secured the top spot over the Gunners.
Seasons often have pivotal matches that are later seen as turning points in the quest for the championship. For Al Mubarak, it was the October defeat at Emirates Stadium that stood out.
The game’s lone goal was netted by Gabriel Martinelli in the 86th minute. In an interview on City’s official website, Al Mubarak pinpointed this match at Emirates Stadium as the catalyst for their title success.
“Arsenal away,” he said when talking about when he know the club would win the league title again. “We didn’t play particularly well. We didn’t play particularly bad.
“I think it was an off game by our standards. But I don’t think we deserved to lose. If you remember, we lost with that deflected goal in the last minutes.
“I said, this is why we’re going to win the league. Today, I know how this team is going to react going forward and I know we’re going to win the league.”
A 0-0 draw at the Etihad in March means that Arsenal were unbeaten by City throughout the campaign. The Gunners also came out as winners in a penalty shootout in the Community Shield back in August.
