Is Arsenal Now Manchester City’s Most Important Rivalry?

In recent years, Manchester City has emerged as one of the most dominant forces in English football, regularly competing for domestic and European titles. Two clubs, Liverpool and Arsenal, have increasingly been viewed as their chief competitors, but which team is Manchester City’s biggest rival now?

To understand this dynamic fully, it’s essential to evaluate the historical significance, the nature of their recent encounters, and the players’ and coaches’ perspectives over the last few years.

Historical Context: City vs Liverpool

The rivalry between Manchester City and Liverpool has grown to be one of the fiercest in English football, especially since 2017. City and Liverpool’s rivalry is characterised by intense title races and direct battles for supremacy. It truly intensified under the management of Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp, two of the finest football minds of the era.

Liverpool has consistently been the team that has challenged City’s dominance over the last decade. The 2018/19 and 2021/22 seasons stand out in particular. In 2018/19, the two teams were separated by just one point at the top of the Premier League, with City finishing on 98 points and Liverpool on 97. The race for the title that season came down to one of the closest margins in the league’s history, demonstrating how evenly matched these two teams are.

Additionally, both teams have enjoyed significant success in Europe. Liverpool won the Champions League most recently in 2019, while City clinched their first European title in 2023, cementing their status as one of Europe’s elite clubs. These battles in both domestic and European competitions have fueled a rivalry that is not just about domestic football, but about competing for the title of the best club in Europe.

What differentiates Liverpool from Arsenal, as pointed out by City midfielder Bernardo Silva after a heated 2-2 draw with Arsenal last month, is Liverpool’s record of winning major trophies.

“Liverpool have already won the Premier League. Arsenal haven’t. Liverpool have won the Champions League. Arsenal haven’t,” Silva said, pointing out the palpable difference between City’s duels with these clubs. The implication is clear: Liverpool has consistently been a formidable rival on all fronts.

The Rise of Arsenal as a Challenger

While Liverpool’s rivalry with City is deeply rooted in recent history, Arsenal’s challenge to City has grown in the last two seasons. Under manager Mikel Arteta, a former assistant to Guardiola, Arsenal has transformed into a serious title contender. The 2022/23 season saw Arsenal push City for much of the campaign before faltering late, ultimately handing City the title.

The rivalry between City and Arsenal has been stoked by a combination of tactical battles and a shared history between the clubs’ managers. The transfers of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from City to Arsenal in 2022 added fuel to the fire, with both players playing crucial roles in Arsenal’s resurgence. Arsenal’s growing competitiveness has led some to view them as City’s closest domestic rival at present.

However, this budding rivalry has been marked by a different type of tension. City players like Manuel Akanji have accused Arsenal of employing “dark arts” tactics to disrupt City’s rhythm during matches, referencing Arsenal’s approach in their 2-2 draw last month.

“You can call it clever or dirty,” Akanji said, alluding to Arsenal’s physical and defensive tactics, often seen as negative football aimed at frustrating City’s free-flowing play. This represents a stark contrast to the open, attacking football that characterises City’s matches against Liverpool.

A Tale of Two Rivals

Ultimately, both Arsenal and Liverpool represent significant challenges to City, but the nature of these rivalries is distinct.

Liverpool, with their rich history and recent successes, are seen as the more accomplished rival. The title races between City and Liverpool have been some of the most intense in Premier League history, and their head-to-heads are often spectacles of attacking football.

This dynamic has been shaped by both clubs consistently challenging for the biggest prizes, both domestically and in Europe. The rivalry is built on mutual respect between Klopp and Guardiola, as well as the quality of their teams, which often results in matches that are decisive in the title race.

Arsenal, on the other hand, are a newer rival to City. Their resurgence under Arteta, combined with their aggressive transfer strategy, has made them a formidable competitor in recent seasons. However, as Bernardo Silva pointed out, Arsenal’s lack of silverware compared to Liverpool undermines their claim as City’s biggest rival. The recent encounters between City and Arsenal have been marred by accusations of negative football, with City players expressing frustration over Arsenal’s tactics.

Verdict: Liverpool Still the Bigger Rival

As of right now, we feel that Liverpool remains Manchester City’s biggest rival. The history, intensity, and quality of their encounters, particularly in title races, make Liverpool a more significant adversary. The close title races, the battles in Europe, and the attacking football that defines their matches give this rivalry an edge.

Arsenal, while increasingly competitive, lacks the history of success that Liverpool has. Although their rivalry with City has grown in intensity and importance, particularly with Arsenal now regularly contending for the Premier League title, they are yet to reach the heights that City and Liverpool have scaled in recent years.

As Manuel Akanji and Bernardo Silva’s comments suggest, Arsenal may frustrate City with their tactics, but Liverpool consistently push City to their limits in direct, open battles for supremacy. The combination of trophy success and consistently thrilling football keeps Liverpool ahead of Arsenal as the bigger rival to City, for now.