Manchester City star Rodri questions Arsenal’s ‘mentality’

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Rodri questioned Arsenal’s killer instinct after Manchester City pipped them to the Premier League crown.

City on Sunday became the first team to win four successive top-flight titles in English football history as they held off the Gunners’ challenge by beating West Ham 3-1 in their last game.

It was City’s ninth straight win since a goalless draw with the Gunners at the end of March, which left them third behind the Londoners and Liverpool.

Rodri believes the difference between the teams was evident in that stalemate as Arsenal played a game of contention.

The midfielder told Optus Sport: “It’s the mentality. Big players are everywhere in the leagues, everywhere in the clubs, (at) Arsenal as well.

“They had an incredible season, but I think the difference was here (the head).

“When they came here, when they faced us at the Etihad, I saw them and (thought) these guys don’t want to beat us. They just want to draw.

“That mentality — we wouldn’t do it the same way.”

City’s latest major achievement follows last season’s treble success and next week they will bid to become the first English side to win back-to-back doubles.

Rodri said: “We’re so happy, we’re so excited about what we’ve achieved, but the repercussions of what we’ve done, to change the history of the club, I think we’ll only realize in a few years.

“It’s the most special because no one has ever done this before. We came from last season winning everything, but to try to build again, to find the hunger to win again, I think that’s the hardest thing in football.”

City went into the final game of the season at the Etihad Stadium with a two-point lead over Arsenal and knowing victory would clinch the title.

The party started early when player of the season Phil Foden fired a shot into the top corner after less than two minutes and then doubled the lead 16 minutes later.

Mohammed Kudus briefly lightened the mood with a stunning overhead kick, but Rodri himself, last season’s Champions League final winner, calmed any nerves by heading in City’s third just before the hour mark.

The Spain international, who hasn’t lost a game all season, said: “We have the experience of all these years and we tried to stay calm.

“With Phil’s first goal, it was, ‘OK, now we can start playing.’ He gave us a lot of confidence.

“But at 2-1 we were one goal away from losing everything. It’s not easy to play in those situations.

“When I scored I said, ‘Yeah, finally we can get through the game.’ Was awesome. I did it eventually. It ends in a good way.”