In his latest column, Manchester City fan Ian Cheeseman discusses the learnings from the club's two away games at title rivals Arsenal and struggling Nottingham Forest.

What a strange week it’s been for Manchester City. First there was the game at Premier League leaders Arsenal, which had the potential to be a title decider, even though it came just past the half way mark of the season. I went to the Emirates believing that the winner of the game would take a huge psychological step towards the title and that’s how I felt after the 3-1 win. 

I overheard two Arsenal fans chatting on the tube and one said to the other that finishing second would be a great achievement for the club this season. His mate agreed and I felt that confirmed to me the thought process that would be in the minds of the Gunners. 

Then came City’s trip to struggling Premier League newboys Nottingham Forest. It had been October 2001 when City had last travelled to the City Ground for a league game, which also finished 1-1. Darren Huckerby was in the City team that day and Shaun Goater scored City’s goal. Huckerby was in the crowd, indeed in the away end, for the 2023 version. I was stood just behind him and I could see that he was living every moment of the game, particularly in the second have when Phil Foden broke through one on one with Navas in the Forest goal, but missed and then Haaland squandered two clear chances. 

After the game I asked for Huckerby’s thoughts for my Youtube vlog and he told me, “it’s two points dropped. Forest didn’t do anything really. From one cross and one goal but City had their chances. Phil Foden and Haaland had their chances but it was one of them days wasn’t it. It was a game City should have won comfortably, they had one shot over the bar and the one they scored from.” 

Meanwhile, over at Aston Villa, Arsenal twice came from behind to win in stoppage time by 4-2. That’s the sort of last gasp win that can lift spirits and bring belief to a team. Will the Gunners now have renewed confidence, after their recent dip in form, when they face Leicester City in their next Premier League game and will City return to their best at Bournemouth next weekend. 

This season seems destined to be full of twists and turns and I wouldn’t rule out Man United just yet, especially after their 3-0 win against Leicester. They have renewed belief and they’re a club who always believe, rightly or wrongly, that they can compete with anyone. 

What did we learn from the two City games? When the chips are down, City are capable of beating anyone. They have a togetherness, trust in each other and quality to be able to step up to a level that can overpower most opponents. They press as a team and are the best at it, when they do it together. In the first half at Arsenal, City didn’t show those qualities, but they did after the break and won the game convincingly. 

At Forest, City couldn’t sustain that second-half showing against a team that were a level below them in quality. Forest matched them stride for stride when it came to work rate and determination. They rode their luck and City missed glorious chances. 

There are two concerns that I have, as a Blue, as we continue towards the games that will define this season’s trophy winners. City concede two many goals against opponents who only create one or two chances in a game. Ederson rarely makes those game winning saves that great keepers do and the Blues, at times, have become too predictable in that every time De Bruyne and others get the ball in a key position they seem obsessed in trying to pick out Erling Haaland. The opposition know this. 

There are a lot of games to go yet, so I remain confident that the genius that is Pep Guardiola will have a cunning plan, just like Baldrick!

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