Arsenal's title prospects look stronger by the week, and Alan Smith believes the gap will widen unless Manchester City tighten up at the back. The former Arsenal striker, speaking exclusively to Man City News courtesy of Best Betting Sites UK, delivered a blunt assessment of the champions' recent wobble.
Smith's verdict: Arsenal could pull away
Smith, whose playing days at Highbury give him a natural affinity with the club, did not hide his view that the momentum now sits with the side he used to represent. He suggested that if Enzo Maresca's team cannot correct their defensive problems, Arsenal could run away with things. It is not a verdict City supporters will enjoy, but it is one that carries a certain weight given the events of the past few weeks.
The warning comes at a time when City's early-season results have started to show cracks. Smith recalled that a few weeks ago the side had a 100% record, which prompted a sense of optimism. Since then, he says, there have been one or two frailties and one or two mistakes. That is not an unfamiliar story for a team adjusting to new leadership, but it is one that needs addressing quickly.
"Marc Guehi's been left out, which isn't ideal for him, or for the message it sends out, really."
Smith also pointed to the omission of Marc Guehi as a factor that has not helped matters. The defender's absence, in his view, sends an awkward message and has coincided with the team leaking goals. It is a situation that Maresca will need to manage carefully if City are to rediscover the solidity that underpinned their recent success.
The former Arsenal forward went on to say that at the start of this season he did not like the phrase "it's Arsenal's to lose." That reluctance, however, now looks harder to maintain. Smith admitted that if Arsenal continue in their current vein, it will be difficult for anyone not at their best to keep up with them. It is a pointed observation from a man who knows what it takes to challenge at the top.
Firepower is not the problem
Smith was quick to acknowledge that Maresca has plenty of firepower at his disposal. The issue, he argues, is that there will be times when the attack is not firing, as was the case against Brighton last weekend. On those occasions, he says, you need to be able to rely on your defence. So far this season, City have not looked particularly secure at the back, a contrast that is stark when set against their title rivals.
Arsenal's 1-0 win at Anfield offered a clear example. Smith highlighted that victory as evidence of the Gunners' ability to stay strong for 90 minutes at one of the most difficult grounds in the country. It is the kind of resilience that City have yet to demonstrate consistently this term.
The challenge for Maresca is to find a better balance, so that even when things do not go to plan, his side can secure narrow victories or at least draws. The coming weeks will offer a test of that ambition. City travel to Nottingham Forest in their final game before the international break, before a run of fixtures against Fulham, Arsenal, Leeds and Brentford. Arsenal, meanwhile, face Hull City at the Emirates this weekend, followed by trips to Newcastle and Tottenham and a home meeting with City.
Smith's comments will not be music to the ears of City fans, but they reflect a genuine concern. The champions have the attacking talent to hurt anyone, but unless the defensive issues are rectified, the advantage may indeed lie elsewhere.