Man City have learnt from Liverpool's biggest mistake - Arsenal should be afraid

07 May 2023 , 01:00

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Pep Guardiola has quietly built a Man City side that could be together for years

I've got bad news for those clubs who are already dreaming of catching Manchester City next season…they’re not getting any weaker any time soon.

I’m a huge fan of what Arsenal have done this season, I’ve genuinely enjoyed watching them, and genuinely admired the balance which Mikel Arteta has brought to a side that has balance, and a little bit of everything as a team.

Newcastle too, have been good watch, and I like the way Eddie Howe has started from the back to give them a massively solid base to launch a physical and pacey attack…and no doubt, they’ll be stronger next season.

Liverpool can’t be as bad either, I have absolutely no doubt Jurgen Klopp will recruit well in the summer and give them the missing ingredient in their midfield. Manchester United could take a couple of years, but they’ll grow.

Sounds good on paper doesn’t it? At least four teams improving, and putting pressure on the Champions-elect to try and ensure the Premier League doesn’t become a one horse town like the French Ligue 1.

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Yet if you look at the age profile of City’s team, then they have almost by stealth, got themselves a squad that still has years left in it.

Outside their back up keeper - my former team-mate Scott Carson, who’s making me feel bloody ancient given I packed in about 15 years ago! - they only have four players over the age of 30 in their entire squad…and one of those is Kevin de Bruyne, who’s among the best in the world.

They have six players aged 23 or under who’ve made at least 20 appearances this season. Add Dias and Rodri to that, and they’ve got almost an entire outfield team with many years left in them.

Kevin De Bruyne is one of the few Man City players above 30 - and remains one of the best in the world (Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Yet that’s not the reason I’d suggest the rest should be fearful. You don’t get a squad profile like that by accident. It’s by design. And I’ve been told they are hyper-aware of maintaining a young that young profile.

In fact, I’ve heard they have looked at Liverpool’s experience this season, and are determined not to repeat the same mistake of letting players get old together.

That is why I expect them to go out and sign players to line up mid-term replacements for the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan this summer. The time to strengthen is when you’re at your strongest, because that’s when you have your biggest appeal.

Look at Liverpool. They may have thought they were safe in assuming Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain - who are in that middle age bracket - would play a strong role in their squad, but have been awol.

It means they had a huge gap between their veterans and the kids of the next generation, with the resulting inconsistency largely down to that. It also means they could struggle to recruit right at the very top, with no Champions League on offer.

City will be looking at that, and believing if they can bring the right players in, and gently introduce them into the team over the next season, then can dominate for, well, as long as Pep Guardiola wants to stay.

That’s not to say Arsenal and Newcastle can’t put more pressure on next season. Both have taken big steps this year and I don’t want to take anything away from them.

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You look at Newcastle, and they will undoubtedly get the backing in the transfer market from their owners, and they’ll have Champions League football to offer, no doubt. They’ve also got a massively intimidating atmosphere at their ground, because their fans are so passionate about their team.

You’ve seen what that does for Liverpool at Anfield, and Newcastle can have the same effect next year, while I think Arsenal are an exciting young side who are young enough to grow.

But I’ll tell you what. At the start of next season when the bookies post their Premier League odds, City will be favourites again. Overwhelming favourites. They’ll keep on winning, no doubt.

Look at the past few years, Liverpool have been bloody incredible for four or five seasons, but have one title to show for it. And I don’t see that changing any time soon.

Robbie Fowler