Manchester City midfielder Rodri has claimed that Arsenal lacked the 'mentality' to win the Premier League title and has criticised the Gunners for not wanting to beat them at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season.
After challenging the Citizens for last season's title, Arsenal pushed the reigning champions all the way in 2023-24, but they ultimately came up short and finished second, two points behind Pep Guardiola's men at the summit.
Rodri was on the scoresheet along with Premier League Player of the Season Phil Foden (2) as Man City beat West Ham United 3-1 at the Etihad on the final day of the season to clinch a record fourth consecutive top-flight title and sixth trophy in seven seasons.
Arsenal only dropped four points across their 18 league fixtures since the turn of the year, with two of those lost following a goalless draw away against Man City in March.
The Citizens failed to beat Mikel Arteta's side in their three meetings this season, including a 1-0 league defeat at the Emirates Stadium and a defeat on penalties in the Community Shield, while they also drew both league encounters with third-placed Liverpool.
© Reuters
Rodri: 'Title triumph comes down to mentality'
Nevertheless, Rodri believes that the Gunners' acceptance for only a point in their top-of-the-table clash at the Etihad was one of the reasons why they gave up the title.
When asked by former Premier League goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, working for Optus Sport, about how Man City continue to achieve success, Rodri said: "To be honest, I think it's in here," pointing to his head. "It's the mentality.
"Arsenal, also they deserve [to win the league], they did an unbelievable season, but I think the difference was in here [pointing 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 it comes down to mentality."
© Reuters
Rodri proud of his contribution to Man City's success
Rodri added: "I am very proud of the way I grow in this league and this team from the first year to now. The way I build my winning mentality.
"I am very proud of myself, my family, my teammates, the club, how we've behaved. We deserve it because of all the effort we put in right until the end.
"We have the best players and one of the best generations I have seen in Europe but the only way to achieve this is every day.
"It's the toughest thing in football to keep winning. We won at Tottenham away and we never won there. Last nine games we knew we must win because of Arsenal.
"We are so excited about what we have achieved but the repercussion of what we have done, the change of the history of the club, we will realise in a few years."
Rodri has been an essential part of Man City's success in recent seasons and the victory over West Ham means that he has not lost any of his last 50 league appearances for the club.
The Spaniard has played more minutes (4,237) than any other Citizens player this season and in that time has score nine goals in all competitions - his best goal tally for a single season in his career.
No Data Analysis info
