Arsenal vs Manchester City: A season-defining game awaits | Football News
The last time Arsenal secured full three points against Manchester City, in the Premier League, the days before the Chrmas of 2015, Arsene Wenger was in charge. His side were in hunt for the title, but eventually finished 10 points behind fairytale artes Leicester City. Pep Guardiola had not yet made up his mind to descend next season at the Etihad. The game extended City’s asmal record at the Emirates to one win in 19 bouts. Wenger, in a profusion of optimism, said this “victory could fuel the title charge.”
Seven years and 15 meetings later, Arsenal are yet to taste a victory in the league against a club that is vaulting into the hall-of-famer territory, if they already have not. Until last year, when Arsenal demonstrated their title-contending prowess until crash-burning towards the end, their encounters were bereft of title-shaping possibilities. But higher the stakes, the more devastating City were in snuffing out Arsenal’s title-winning ambitions. But the narrative rolled itself into place—Arsenal-City clashes brim with league-deciding potential. And they meet again, but at a cagier time, both teams looking to address the immediate concerns rather than shooting for the future.
The table, though early days, looks different too. Arsenal’s bitter rivals Tottenham sit atop, though having played an extra game. City are second; Arsenal third. Both have not clanked into full flow. Smooth-flowing football has flickered only sporadically for Arsenal. Injuries have knocked them at the most inappropriate time. Two key members are on the injury table—Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber. Three others are doubtful racing against time to clear fitness —which includes talisman Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard. Even if they return, a bigger question would be, if theirs would be a hampered influence. Worse still, all three are reliable sources of goals in big games. Not that City are without their own injury woes. Kevin de Bruyne, John Stones would be long-term absentees; Rodri, meanwhile, is suspended. A host of other key players had departed at the end of the year, most notably Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gündogan.
To put Rodri’s value in perspective, City have lost 33 per cent of the Premier League games he has missed since his debut. (Reuters)
None of these of course would dilute the enormity of the game, or any less of a spectacle. But it no doubt would have a bearing on their strategies. Without the Belgian totem, and without the services of Rodri, Mahrez and Gundogan, City have quickened up the pace of the game. The rapidness had become thrilling to watch a times, but that is not City’s game. They like to slow the game down, then turn on the pace, then mix it up and control the game. At least five of them could do that last season. Rodri and de Bruyne sufficed, but their departure has changed City’s approach in the last few games, including the shocking defeat against Wolves. To put Rodri’s value in perspective, City have lost 33 per cent of the Premier League games he has missed since his debut, as opposed to just 13 per cent of games when he has featured.
All their replacements are high-class too, Jack Grealish is an excellent tempo-setter as well. But they are far more direct to Guardiola’s liking. He admitted as much recently after beating RB Leipzig . “Always I have the feeling that when you take 15, 20 touches, passes in every action in attack, something good is going to happen, In every action, if Jack touches the ball, then Bernardo, then with Jack, then with Bernardo, when that happens in the same action, many good things are going to happen well.”Most Read
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Manchester City and Arsenal will be in action in a high intensity match. (Reuters)
That game though he had the impeccable Rodri, but he is still serving his ban in the league. They missed him against the Wolves, their midfield gave too much space, especially between the lines. Arsenal, on the other hand, have a midfield metronome Declan Rice, who can boss the midfield. City have slick, technical, quick players in the midfield, but there is a sudden void of physicality. Here, they would miss John Stones too, who used to drop into the midfield when attacking. Both Rice and Partey offer that. So does William Saliba at the heart of the defence. Arteta would dwell on the significance of muscle in the league. “Physicality is something you need in the league, You need to be one of the most powerful teams in the league, that is for sure, and you need to match that up,” he said. If the pair dictate the midfield and tempo, Arsenal could put the City demons to rest.
Manchester City’s Erling Braut Haaland celebrates. (Reuters)
Arteta recalled how they have slain the ghosts at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford. “We’ve done it, so let’s change it,” he urged his teammates. But Manchester City could be the most daunting among them. Guardiola’s men still have glittering quality in every domain, just that some of them do not sparkle as brightly as de Bruyne and Rodri, arguably the best passer-schemer and midfield rock in the league. The defence still is sturdy. The goal-scoring behemoth Erling Haaland is still prowling unshackled. The blossoming of Julian Alvarez has gone unnoticed. In Phil Foden, Doku and Grealish, there is a plethora of tricksters who could change a game with just a touch or pass.
But there would not be a better chance for Arsenal to end the seasons of City-agony than this. One match alone might not decide a season, but this game could go a long way in defining a season. For Arsenal, it could be much more.
