Nathan Ake: Arsenal still favourites for Premier League title after Manchester City go top
- Heinrich Griessel
- 16 February 2023
Nathan Ake is convinced Arsenal are still in the driving seat for the Premier League title despite Manchester City's crucial win at the Emirates Stadium.
City were 3-1 victors on Wednesday night as Pep Guardiola's reigning champions returned to the summit for the first time since November 5.
Kevin De Bruyne pounced on an error from Takehiro Tomiyasu to brilliantly open the scoring, with Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland wrapping up the win after Bukayo Saka's penalty had drawn the hosts level before the break.
City now sit top of the table on goal difference but crucially, according to Ake, Arsenal still have a game in hand as they push for a first league title in 19 years.
Asked if the win makes City favourites for the crown, the Netherlands defender replied: "No.
"They (Arsenal) still have a game in hand so they still have three points on us so we don't want to get carried away, we will keep doing what we are doing, go game by game and take it from there.
"We knew beforehand it was going to be a very big game and we just wanted to win the game and get the three points and we did."
While Arsenal are without a league title in almost two decades, City have won four of the last five and Ake feels that could work in their favour having hit the front.
"It is always what you want," he replied when asked if City could gain a psychological edge from going top.
"We know there is still a long way to go, they have a game in hand but for us it is good to come to a tough place like this, get the win - that is important.
"It is small margins, it was so tight and both teams can create something out of nothing. We still have a long way to go but we do have that (title-winning) experience."
