Cocktails and calm - Differing Man City and Arsenal approaches to pivotal week speak volumes

Manchester City and Arsenal both have free midweeks as the Premier League title race hots up.

"I say to the players: 'Guys, what we have to do is take a lot of caipirinhas, daiquiris in these three days. Enjoy life. And after that, make a proper three training sessions, and go to Leeds'."

Manchester City's players won't have taken Pep Guardiola's advice literally, but the message from the Blues boss was clear: Now is the time to rest and relax.

City are still competing on four fronts and with that comes a hectic schedule. It is why Guardiola was so keen for his side to ensure a top eight finish in the Champions League and avoid the need for a play-off round, the second leg of which takes place this week.

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The Blues had their first clear week of 2026 last week and have another one before the visit to Elland Road on Saturday evening. Guardiola is beginning to get a full squad back with Savinho the latest to return and he knows full well the importance of every game from now until May. The players will return to the CFA on Wednesday for daily training until the game at Leeds.

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City trimmed Arsenal's lead to two points with a weekend win over Newcastle before the Gunners responded by beating North London rivals Tottenham 4-1. The Blues again play first this weekend, with Arsenal facing Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, and while Guardiola is joking about cocktails and chill time, Mikel Arteta's approach is to retain the status quo.

The Gunners too are battling on four fronts and having played Wolves last week have their first clear seven-day period of the year this week. Guardiola's cocktail comment was put to the Arsenal chief after the win over Tottenham.

"I don't drink cocktails," was Arteta's response, with a wry smile. Arsenal are training as normal this week. "We will do our own thing," the Gunners chief added.

Perhaps the respective answers feed into the narrative of City - course and distance specialists but second favourites - being a bit more relaxed and Arsenal, more than 20 years without a top-flight title, feeling the weight and the pressure a touch more. Or perhaps that's too much to read into post-match press conference answers. Either way, the two teams are taking different approaches to what could be the final free midweek for months.

"Really, really important," added Arteta of the gap between fixtures. "Because obviously the amount of games that we are playing in every competition is just incredible, and today gives you a chance to actually take a little breath, analyse what we're doing and go again until the international break. We're going to have a lot of games again."

A lot of games, a lot of twists and turns, mind games and momentum switches. Only one team will fancy a cocktail come May.

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