Rodri believes Arsenal lacked the mentality to come out on top in the Premier League title race.
Manchester City secured their fourth-straight league title with a 3-1 home victory against West Ham on Sunday afternoon, pipping rivals Arsenal to first place.
The Gunners secured a 2-1 win over Everton on the final day, but ultimately finished two points behind Pep Guardiola’s side.
Phil Foden’s double set Man City on their way, before Rodri – the man for the big occasion – struck a sweet effort to wrap up the win.
Celebrations then took over at the Etihad Stadium, with City enjoying the results of their hard work during the 2023/24 campaign.
Arsenal ran them close, but according to Rodri, the difference between the two sides was made clear during their 0-0 draw in March.
Asked why City remain so hungry, Rodri told Optus Sport: “To be honest, I think it’s in here [points to his head]. It’s the mentality.
“[There are] great players all over the league, all over the clubs.
“Arsenal also they deserve [to win], they had an unbelievable season, but I think the difference was in here [points to his head again].
“When they came here, they faced us at the Etihad, I saw them and said: ‘Ah, these guys, they don’t want to beat us, they just want a draw.’
“And that mentality, I don’t think we would do it the same way.
“And we caught them. At the end, if you give us one point, we will win the last seven, eight games even though it’s so tough. So I think [the title win] comes down to mentality.”
Arsenal’s brilliance is what ultimately pushed City to dig deep and, asked if he thought City would win the title after that goalless draw, Rodri added: “We believed. But you believe you did it, and we know how tough it is to do it.
“We have to go out on all the pitches, the Tottenham game we had never won there so it’s not easy to implement this.
“But every season, the manager, the players, find a way to do it. Even myself, comparing my first season I came here to now, you grow a lot in this sense [mental strength].”
The title win put City in the history books as no team had ever won four in a row, while it was Guardiola’s sixth title in seven seasons.
News Summary:
- Rodri praises Arsenal effort but highlights crucial difference with brutal reality check
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