Time to put the pedal to the metal

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Manchester City are now just about everyone's favourites to win the Premier League.

They have all the buzz words on their side; momentum, experience and belief. They 'know' they can win the title because many of the group have done it before, Arsenal only 'hope' they are still capable.

City's win over Arsenal provides the ultimate dream sporting scenario. They both could well end the season on the same points total now and that provides the conditions for a total change in attitude.

If either team is 2-0 up with half an hour to go, they will still have to go at it full throttle for more goals to increase their goal difference.

This is an alien concept these days because players have to rest and recover, so time wasting, constant substitutions and controlled play are the order of the day when the game is ostensibly won with 20 minutes left to play.

But these rules no longer apply and I can't wait to see the outcome.

Winning 3-0, you might still send your goalkeeper up for late corners to get another goal - how brilliant will that be?

No City or Arsenal player will feign injury, take the ball into the corner or take an eternity organising a corner or a free-kick. They will have to keep it moving and keep trying to score more goals.

As a kid, I was brought up with this attitude at Celtic. The phrase was "score an early goal and press on regardless". For years this was considered quaint and almost naive - but from here on in, it is absolutely necessary.

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