Why European Ambition would not help Manchester City and Arsenal in Title chase

The UEFA Champions League resumes on Tuesday and both Arsenal and Manchester City are two competing teams in Round of 16 along with defending champions Leicester City – a team that is fighting for survival in the English Premier League. Arsenal play Bayern Munich on Wednesday on the road at the Allianz Arena whiles Manchester City prepares earnestly to face AS Monaco at home at the Etihad. The FA cup fifth round resumes on the weekend of February 18^th and 19^th with both teams playing Huddersfield and Sutton United respectively. With all these packed fixtures on the cards with competing from Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, teams that have at least six days between matchdays, can they compete for the Premier League title?

Manchester City moved up to second place on the log on Monday after defeating Bournemouth at the Vitality stadium. Though Pep Guardiola and his charges won the match through a Raheem Sterling goal and an own goal by Tyrone Mings, an early injury to Gabriel Jesus made the day a bitter-sweet moment after his exploits in the early days of his Premier League adventure. The English Premier League is heating up for the top four with Manchester United finally closing in on an entrance after settling for sixth place in a matter of months.

AS Monaco has been in fine form in the French Ligue One with a rejuvenated Radamel Falcao who looks nothing like the player who once played for Manchester United and Chelsea in an abysmal two years in the English topflight. Pep Guardiola was seen at the Parc des Princes with Assistant Coach Mikel Arteta monitoring Leonardo Jardim’s side.

Manchester City and Arsenal Have Different Ambitions in Europe This Season

Pep Guardiola and his charges started the English Premier League better than any other team but the taste of draws became consistent with the teams rhythm and has made winning the title more difficult unless Conte and his charges loosen its stance like they did against Burnley at the weekend.

With the English Premier League just eight points away for City and Pep Guardiola having reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in his seven years in football management, he would like to join the likes of Jose Mourinho, Ernst Happel, Ottmar Hitzfield, Carlo Ancelotti and Jupp Heynckes as managers who have won the competition with two different teams.

Arsenal and Arsene Wenger is focused on eliminating Bayern Munich from the UEFA Champions League after failed attempts in the 2004/05, 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons. At the fourth time of asking, Arsene Wenger would love to get one over Carlo Ancelotti, a manager who has five Champions League titles to his credit, two as a player and three as a manager. Carlo Ancelotti also hopes to be the first man to win the trophy with three different teams  whiles Arsene Wenger hopes to take his team to their first quarter final since eliminating FC Porto in the Round of 16 in 2010.

Manchester City and Arsenal have great ties to play which throws the title in the hands of Chelsea. The title is Chelsea’s to lose and if these two teams come back to challenge for the title then this would be one of the most memorable comebacks in the Premier League’s history.