Premier League title showdown will test Raya and Donnarumma's ability - and bottle

Approaching this weekend’s crucial meeting between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad, Arsenal fans could be forgiven for being slightly perplexed as to why there is so much discussion about the prospect of them ‘bottling it’.Such accusations are simplistic at the best of times. But if bottle is relevant, there’s no particular evidence that City are any more reliable. This is a team who have won only five of their 13 Premier League matches in 2026, letting the lead slip against a managerless Chelsea side, and dropping points against Nottingham Forest, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur — the sides currently placed 16th, 17th and 18th. Under Guardiola, City have an excellent record at this stage of the season, but this is a much-changed team, particularly in defence.Advertisement