Can Manchester City STILL WIN the Premier League? 👀 Frank Leboeuf thinks so! | ESPN FC

0:00 The city then close the gap on Arsenal at the top of the table.

0:03 Arsenal away against West Ham on Sunday.

0:06 They'll go into that tie [music] two clear of Manchester City.

0:10 For more on this, let's welcome in Frank Leboeuf.

0:13 Craig, you hit the nail on the head.

0:15 This was not a 3-0 win for City.

0:18 Well, it was a 3-0 win, but it didn't feel like a 3-0.

0:20 Yeah, no, no.

0:21 And as I said before they got on the scoresheet,

0:23 it looked like, you know, Toney could have put Brentford ahead.

0:27 I thought Brentford would have And we were talking on yesterday's show,

0:30 I thought Brentford would have been a little bit more front

0:31 foot and a little bit more open, but they were not.

0:34 They were They did open up in the second half, but they were more resolute.

0:38 They defended deeper, and that made it difficult for City,

0:40 who were taking all these touches again.

0:42 Yeah.

0:42 You know, and Toney was guilty today,

0:44 got taken off, but there was no space to operate,

0:46 and it felt like City were almost trying to walk it in.

0:49 It took Doku once again to do something a little bit special.

0:52 Albeit, he got a bit of luck with the the bad pass that came back to him,

0:55 but the finish was was was fantastic, and that sort of got them off and running.

0:59 Then obviously obviously Haaland bundles one in, and Mbeumo finishes it off,

1:03 and it's over to you, Arsenal, who play West Ham tomorrow, your old team.

1:08 I can't see it.

1:08 I just I can't see West Ham beating Arsenal,

1:12 but they are fighting probably with Tottenham

1:15 head-to-head for for the remaining spot.

1:17 You know, Forest are not out of it.

1:18 So, they have got a lot to play for, but they really lack quality.

1:22 And I just Although City have piled the pressure on, I'd be surprised if

1:26 we were sitting here tomorrow at this time and West Ham had beat them.

1:29 I just can't see it happening.

1:30 I At At times in this game, I thought you saw the best of City,

1:34 but then you see why they're trailing as they are,

1:36 why they're they're they haven't secured the this title race.

1:40 And controlled large spells of especially early on up against Brentford.

1:45 At times, Brentford didn't seem to to have a kick,

1:47 didn't to to Craig's freezing,

1:49 weren't playing on the front foot, but then you see City defensively.

1:53 We had those two shots at shots.

1:55 The the first I I'm I'm with Craig in that I didn't think much of it.

1:59 I thought it was a poor touch from Shadow to start with.

2:01 The second, I am not at all convinced [music] by that.

2:05 Quite easily could have been given.

2:07 Both could have easily have been given.

2:08 And had they been given, I'm not sure there was enough to overturn it.

2:12 So, you see this kind of poor defensive side of Manchester

2:16 City that continue continue to haunt them all season long.

2:20 Got away with it today just to keep themselves in in in this title race.

2:25 But this is is is why I think City have shown themselves,

2:29 at least thus far, to be second best.

2:31 Frank Doku's having a lovely time at the moment.

2:35 Yes, indeed.

2:37 Uh and and and I I'm was so happy that he was here today because otherwise

2:42 [snorts]

2:42 Yeah, that was a kind of game that I saw today.

2:44 You know, that was that was insane.

2:46 I was hoping that Doku would get all the balls, you know,

2:48 to make sure that he can attack and show us some entertainment.

2:52 But otherwise, the others I was so disappointed.

2:55 And uh I'm thank you, Mr.

2:56 Doku, to have made my my one my 90 minutes quite I quite quite okay.

3:02 But um I was unhappy with the with City.

3:05 Uh yesterday we talked with Craig about the tactic

3:07 that Brentford will will have and that they they they would open up and and try

3:12 to play but maybe should Manchester City better.

3:15 In fact, they had the right tactic where they they kind

3:18 of parked the bus and City was unable to create almost anything.

3:23 For me, it's a clear penalty on the first uh foul on Shadow

3:26 because uh there is a real push and when you're at a full speed,

3:29 it's you cannot control yourself and and it's a real push from Nunes.

3:33 But well, it's football, so it's full of us of other decision, but whatever.

3:39 But I really was disappointed by City.

3:41 The fact that they keep on being so slow on the last third,

3:45 not having any runs around to make sure that they can do something.

3:51 And again, they have they have only the cool

3:55 we can create something change the pace of the game, otherwise is very flat.

4:00 But but but in fairness they've put themselves

4:02 in a position okay they they stuff that up against Everton

4:05 and that's why they're in this position where they're

4:07 sitting uh sort of waiting to see what happens tomorrow.

4:11 But they've maneuvered themselves without playing brilliantly

4:13 into the position again where the fast one

4:15 and you know I don't think it will happen but if you know you never know.

4:18 If Arsenal somehow lose tomorrow Yeah.

4:21 they'll probably win the league.

4:22 Yeah.

4:22 So it's not you know after after was it Monday's game or whenever it

4:26 was against Everton uh the position they're

4:29 in is they've chucked the ball back over

4:31 into Arsenal's court and if they lose

4:33 Arsenal that is then City will feel confident

4:36 about winning two games uh or three games whatever it is to win the league.

4:41 Uh let's just remind you having stand at the bottom

4:44 of the table because West Ham obviously are

4:46 fighting along with Spurs for survival so West Ham

4:50 very much with something to play for tomorrow as well.

4:53 They won't roll over against the league leaders.

4:56 Frank I'm just wondering if what happens today with that win for City

5:00 psychologically has any effect on Arsenal going into the clash on Sunday.

5:06 Yeah it's always a a big pressure when you know that you

5:09 have to win because it's not even a draw away from home.

5:12 You have to win and against the team

5:14 well which well fighting for for for their survival

5:17 and and that's going to be tricky

5:20 for Arsenal because they have no other choices.

5:22 They know if they draw um Manchester City which I think

5:25 is going to play on the on Wednesday if they win they're

5:28 going to go first and it's going to be hard to for them

5:31 to catch them back so um Arsenal has to win know

5:35 the pressure but I think they handled it pretty well after

5:38 they they lost against City Manchester City was for one day first

5:43 and because Manchester City didn't play Arsenal they they had a chance

5:47 to to go back uh in the first position and they did that.

5:49 And they they handled the pressure pretty well.

5:52 I guess I don't see Arsenal losing against West Ham, but a draw is possible.

5:56 And a draw is impossible for for Arsenal.

5:58 So, the pressure will be there.

6:01 Uh it's going to be intense for both teams for different reasons,

6:03 but uh I think it's going to be interesting to watch.

6:07 A a draw, of course,

6:07 means it would then go down to goal difference uh if they all win out.

6:11 Shaka, you've been banging on all the day that you

6:13 think West Ham are going to get something from this game.

6:14 I think there's every chance.

6:16 Uh listen, West Ham are where they are and deservedly so.

6:20 The only reason they are not relegated at this point

6:23 is because since losing to Nottingham Forest first week of January,

6:26 West Ham have lost one game at at home.

6:30 Um Manchester City dropped points uh at West Ham.

6:34 And all of a sudden they've put together a bit

6:36 of a fight building on that on that home form.

6:39 I'm kind of understanding West Ham and a lot of the psychology around that club.

6:44 They welcome teams who are flying,

6:47 who are looking to lift titles coming

6:49 later on, and and just playing party pooper.

6:52 I I think that plays into to their wheelhouse.

6:56 Um this is is Don't take this for granted if you're Arsenal.

7:00 So, what are you saying, Shaka?

7:00 What score are you going for?

7:02 Hm?

7:03 What score are you going for?

7:05 I'm I'm backing my old club to get something out of this.

7:08 that the game's not at Upton Park, don't you?

7:11 It is, right?

7:11 No, it is.

7:12 It is in No, not Upton Park.

7:13 At West Ham.

7:15 Yeah, I know, but You're talking as if it's the Upton Park.

7:18 [laughter]

7:17 It's the Upton Park atmosphere and playing teams don't want to go there.

7:20 But, they have lost one game since the since the first week of January at home.

7:26 I'm expecting Arsenal to flex their muscles tomorrow against this West Ham team.

7:31 As at this moment in time, the best team in England.

7:33 They're in the Champions League final.

7:35 Uh I'm expecting them to to boss this game and and win this game.

7:40 an argument to say we haven't really seen Arsenal flex

7:42 their muscles against an opposition that's had something to play for?

7:45 Would you say they flexed their muscles against Atleti?

7:48 You know, we wrapped

7:48 thought I thought I thought Arsenal were outstanding against Fulham.

7:52 And and But Fulham were on the whole better.

7:54 Right.

7:55 This is my crazy question.

7:56 Okay, so now, if Arsenal play anything like we saw opposition opposition aside,

8:01 like we saw against Fulham,

8:03 I think they cruise through these last three games of the season.

8:05 And and it's in in no real doubt.

8:08 I don't think Arsenal have put together

8:11 two performances like that back-to-back all season long.

8:14 So, while you you take the Fulham result uh

8:17 as as a standalone result and and what it is,

8:21 there's there's still question marks as to whether

8:22 Arsenal can or will do that in back-to-back games.

8:26 did flex their muscles in a sense against Atleti.

8:28 It wasn't in a footballing entertainment sorry way,

8:34 but it was in a just nothing Atleti out who were pretty bad, it has to be said.

8:39 But, pressure does amazing things to players and teams.

8:42 And we've seen it with we've seen it with Arsenal.

8:45 Seen it with Arteta.

8:47 We've seen it within the crowd.

8:48 So, the pressure does amazing things,

8:50 but that pressure is also West Ham's cuz Arsenal can do

8:53 Tottenham a favor by putting another nail in the West Ham coffin,

8:57 which I'm sure Tottenham fans will be hoping.

8:59 Bit of a juxtaposition that Arsenal going to win the league,

9:01 but Tottenham need to survive.

9:03 They need to survive.

9:04 So, I've been I've been down there at the bottom fighting and scrapping.

9:08 If you make it really ugly and tight for these bigger teams,

9:12 then they can get frustrated.

9:14 My question would be on this big pitch

9:16 at the the London Stadium whether West Ham,

9:18 although Shaq said the home form is better,

9:21 is whether West Ham have enough about them.

9:23 And they have been defensively getting better under Nuno

9:27 cuz they he couldn't fix it at the start.

9:29 They've started to be a bit stronger defensively.

9:32 But, I just don't see enough from them West Ham that is good got an Arsenal win?

9:37 Yeah, I got I got I got an Arsenal win tomorrow.

9:39 What did you say in the end?

9:40 He He sort of mumbled something.

9:42 He gave a big We moved on.

9:43 We just We just agreed to move on.

9:45 We just agreed to move on.

9:46 We just He He gave a big spiel,

9:47 and then he realized he was he was sort of waffling into a West Ham cup.

9:52 [laughter] That That That wasn't quite so hard to get out of.

9:55 And he said That's what I'm going for.

9:58 [laughter] He probably got 3-0 Arsenal, he said.

10:00 Uh Frank, what are you going for quick?

10:04 Uh well, I'm going for for Arsenal.

10:06 Right.

10:06 I'm sorry for the Hammers, but uh I don't see that coming against Arsenal.

10:11 Yeah, they they need the three points.

10:12 They're going to get the three points.

10:13 They're going to fight for that.

10:15 Yeah.