Manchester City face futile pursuit, Aston Villa seek survival as Premier League season resumes

In bizarre circumstances Manchester City would have lengthy since relinquished their Premier League crown to Liverpool. Yet on Wednesday, days earlier than the summer time solstice, Pep Guardiola’s aspect will step out on the Etihad Stadium hoping to delay Liverpool’s inevitable coronation some time longer. Three months after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down Britain and left Liverpool agonisingly near sealing the title, motion resumes as City host Arsenal and Aston Villa welcome Sheffield United — the primary of the 92 Premier League fixtures crammed into the subsequent 5 weeks.

It can be a poignant night, with each video games performed inside empty stadiums and marked earlier than kickoff by a minute’s silence for the greater than 40,000 individuals to die of the virus within the UK.

Both managers suffered personally through the tragic weeks that put soccer matches into perspective. Guardiola’s mom died from COVID-19 whereas Mikel Arteta, who left his put up as Guardiola’s assistant in December to handle Arsenal, caught the virus in March however recovered.

Once the whistle blows, nonetheless, the aggressive juices will kick in and their focus can be solely on the subsequent 90 minutes.

In some ways Wednesday’s conflict is extra essential to Arsenal.

While City are 25 factors adrift of runaway leaders Liverpool, who want two wins to safe their first title since 1990, Arsenal’s burst of type earlier than the shutdown means they’ve pushed themselves into rivalry for a top-five end.

As if this Premier League season was not unusual sufficient, City’s European ban for breaching UEFA monetary guidelines signifies that as a substitute of needing to complete within the top-four to assert a Champions League spot, fifth is prone to suffice.

Arteta had revived Arsenal earlier than the shutdown, the Gunners unbeaten in eight league video games, successful three in a row.

They could also be ninth, however are solely 5 factors behind fifth-placed Manchester United, having performed one recreation fewer. Even although that recreation in hand is at City, keeper Bernd Leno thinks the circumstances favour the Gunners.

“We can surprise City because nobody has the rhythm. I’m sure we can have a good start,” he stated. “Mikel (Arteta) knows every player and he knows the manager better than anyone.”

Unlike Arsenal, Villa entered the shutdown in freefall with 4 consecutive defeats, leaving them second from backside.

This could really feel like a contemporary begin although and a win over Sheffield United would see Dean Smith’s aspect leapfrog three golf equipment into 16th spot.

The unhealthy information for Villa, nonetheless, is that Sheffield United can be hugely-motivated, understanding three factors would raise them to the heady heights of fifth.