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6 months ago
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Rodri has taken a brutal swipe at Arsenal's lack of title-winning mentality after Manchester City won a record fourth consecutive Premier League crown.
Pep Guardiola's side beat West Ham 3-1 on Sunday to wrap up another title triumph, with Arsenal's win over Everton left purely academic as they finished two points ahead.
Spanish midfielder Rodri, who has played an integral part in all four of those title wins, outlined the difference between City and Arsenal after the trophy was lifted.
He referenced the goalless draw between the two title rivals at the Etihad on March 31, with Mikel Arteta's team set up to frustrate City rather than win the game. They enjoyed just 27 per cent possession during the contest.
At that time, the result allowed Liverpool to move two points clear at the summit, with third-placed City a point behind Arsenal.
Rodri celebrates with the trophy after Manchester City won a fourth consecutive title
Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions after beating West Ham on Sunday
It meant Arsenal fell short despite their win over Everton, as they finished two points behind
But ultimately City's title class again shone through as they won all nine league matches after that to overtake both Arsenal and Liverpool to reign supreme.
Asked how City remain so hungry for success, 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 did an unbelievable season, but I thin 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.'
Asked if he sensed City would win another title after that goalless draw in late March, he added: 'We believed. But you believe you did it, and we know how tough it is to do it.
Rodri said afterwards that City's mentality in the title race was stronger than Arsenal's
Arsenal celebrate after earning a goalless draw at the Etihad at the end of March
Declan Rice marks the draw in Manchester after Arsenal set out to frustrate their opponents
Erling Haaland is blocked off by William Saliba during the goalless draw on March 31
'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].'
Rodri reached a half-century of matches undefeated in the Premier League on Sunday, netting City's third after two Phil Foden goals set them on course for victory.
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