The Guardiola supremacy: how City became too good for their own good

A seventh title in 10 years is proof of how incredible wealth has eroded any sense of competitive balance in the Premier League.

DREAM DUO: Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola, right, celebrates with Manchester City's Phil Foden. Pic: Dave Thompson, AP

Once more, without feeling. The sun rose on Sunday morning, the Earth completed one full rotation around its axis, and Manchester City won the Premier League title, just as they did in 2012 and 2014, and 2018 and 2019, and 2021 and 2022 and 2023. 

One more trophy in the glass case, one more silhouette to add to the mural. The greatest saga in English football has been recast as church liturgy, its rhythms hardened into routine, and here Arsenal were simply the latest team to succumb to the myth that there was ever a race to be won.