We have lost 12 of our last 13 Premier League games against Man City. The only win out of those was in this very season at Home. We haven’t really playing well against them from some time now, having lost all our last 7 as visitors. And there is a chance to do the double on them since 2007-08 season.
Man City are unbeaten in their last 38 games at home in all competition, last time they failed to register a win was against Brentford in 2022; their longest run without a defeat since 1919-1921. They have one of the best managers in the world, probably ‘the’ best who has assembled one of ‘the’ best teams on the planet. We have seen how they didn’t allow Klopp and his Liverpool team with the likes of Salah, Mane, Firmino and VVD to win more than one Premier League title at their heights. We know they will not allow us as well.
Team News
We are having some luck. John Stones and Kyle Walker are out for today’s game – both picked up an injury in the international break. However, Ederson, Akanji and De Bruyne are fit to play likely having recovered from their not-so-serious injuries.
We have our own challenges though. Saka and Gabriel pulled out from their international duty and it remains to be seen if they can make it. Martinelli was out because of a foot injury and is doubtful for the game. Missing both Saka and Martinelli creates a problem for us, since we only have Trossard as a quality back up. I don’t want to see Nelson starting against City with almost no game time recently. The other option would be to put Gabriel Jesus on the right wing but too many un-tried changes can disrupt the chemistry and it’s not one of those games where you need to try new things. Lets see who makes it before the game.
Personally, I would pray for Saka to make it. He has a score to settle with Foden. Kai up top has proved better than Jesus and I will stick to it. In the midfield, Jorgi allowing Rice to play an advance role has helped us. We need Odegaard to continue his form, and we need our defence to be solid like we had. We need Raya to keep his calm and concentration because the City players are going to test him.
Fire and blood
At this point, players are aware of the game Mikel wants to play. At this stage, both the managers would have figured out each other’s game plan. Quality wise, City might have an upper hand because of De Bruyne and Haaland but then Saliba had kept Haaland in his pocket whenever we have played them and we have our own KDB in Odegaard. At this stage, I would say the only disadvantage we have over City is that we are playing on their ground.
Most of the time, you win because of your game plan. You find a way to over crowd the opposition box, you define a strategy to overload the fullbacks, you play a false 9, and if you are Brentford, you find a way to let them have all the ball and counter attack whenever you get a chance. Some other time requires fire and blood. Today’s the day!
The winner of this match will be decided by whoever is willing to sweat more, keep the fire burning for 90min, run and press endlessly and put their body on the line when needed.
The winner of this match will go on to win Premier League. Lets see how much Arteta can motivate a group of 15 players.
Right, we should thank the gods – the old and the new – for the football is back. And what a way to begin. Hope you are doing well, hopefully it ends even better.
Cheers!
Tony
WE can all see Saka needs a rest or limited game time but El B thinks otherwise. I laughed out loud when I read your post – Haaland in a tutu could be a new weapon – the opposition would be helpless with laughter and he could waltz his way up the pitch without being tackled.
Manuel Akanji accuses Arsenal of tactical fouling in Manchester City draw https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/apr/01/manuel-akanji-accuses-arsenal-tactical-fouling-manchester-city?CMP=share_btn_url
Breathtaking… How fucking rich is this? The press person at the godforsaken cheating club of bastards that is Man City really should have advised Akanji to keep his mouth shut. What a bunch of irredeemable wankers.
“What a bunch of irredeemable wankers.” My sentiments entirely KP.
Norg
What makes LIR so great is we are all cyber/football mates with similar intelligence and wit. We know when to keep it football and enjoy learning about our ‘mates” lives and interests.
It’s more like our own Tolly with a growing group of intelligent regulars.
Thanks Ambarish, I echo KP, it’s my Arsenal home where it can only get better as more join in the chat and banter. I appreciate all you do.
TRVL
Sundays game confirmed Arteta’s mindset. City were there for the taking if decent speed merchants were on the pitch but mates and pets come first. Jesus has pace but when he hits the ball it is like pushing two north pole magnets together – the ball ends up either side of goal. Three touch Havertz – no chance.
Sunday was just another typical El B fuck up with selection, and must not lose mentality with our front players defending for much of the game. That’s just weak minded tactics we both recognized too quickly in the game.
What happened to attack is a best form of defense?
Our press in their final third was pitiful and half arsed while we reorganized at the back instead of taking a full press to City. We just kept letting them come at us.
We could easily lose or draw with Luton and BHA and even Wolves. Certainly, I’m not 100%b we can get 12 points from our next 4 games unless the selections are right by El B.
Not sure if Klopp’s boys have got the legs, and right mentality to stay top. BHA almost took a point at Anfield; the same can happen to us as De Zerbi have done enough to go to Pool with Klopp leaving. I’d rather have him than El B and I’m hoping with Alonso staying in Spain, maybe Barca or RM will take the cretin off our hands.
If I’m really honest with myself, losing those 2 points when City we’re there for the taking is a bitter pill to take. We should be top and commanding our position with wins. Now we have to hope and rely on others, which always creates doubt in players’ sub conscious minds if not their frontal lobes.
As Norg says we were defensively brilliant, but blunt in attack because El B has probably been neutered, and why our football isn’t sexy at all – just wash, rinse and repeat against City and toothless up top.
We need to get back to our free scoring ways, but Saka needs resting. Hopefully, Rice can see the season out in top form. If he picks up a knock our season will go tits up like last season when we lost Saliba & Partey.
I’m keeping positive for Ambarish. The guy hasn’t experienced a PL trophy, so I’d love him to experience that, and us of course. When I’m negative, I tell it like it is with no holds barred, same as you and KP, Norg, and Marc.
The City game was a massive negative for me.
As I repeatedly say, we have a vastly underused £billion squad, which if used correctly, we could win our remaining 9 games and keep adding to our GD.
Norg—City has struggled at times against those with the tactical courage to counter with pace and numbers…now this isn’t to suggest that simply by doing so you’re guaranteed to take all 3, but they can definitely be had, from a goalscoring perspective, if you have the managerial onions and acumen…let’s face it, MA’s strategy didn’t even make sense from a percentages standpoint, as it was far more statistically likely that City might find a way to manufacture a goal against our parked bus-like approach, than it would be for us to simply flip a switch and do likewise, once we were a goal down
The real question about Sunday’s performance is what happens without Gabriel and Saliba?
If even one of them had of been out we’d have lost badly.
How the days are quickly passing and now game day again, and, with it being a 0130hour kick off I’ll probably watch at least the first half.
I haven’t watch much of Luton and only really seen highlights of which there have been few as they lie 18th with a minus 19GD and 22 points looking very much the relegation fodder they are. However, they can raise their game, so we should be aware that attack will be the best defense by keeping Luton on the back foot and chasing shadows as we did against City.
Our home form should see us put a few balls into Luton’s net and a reasonably easy 3 points should be bagged by El B and squad. Speaking of which I hope Jesus and Havertz are given plenty of rest. We don’t need Havertz playing CB or anywhere near our penalty area.
This is a game we can rotate; however, we can bet El B won’t see it that way and the usual suspects could well be lining up come kick off time.
Not a big game to write about where we should win by at least 2 goals.
Anyone got any other thoughts?
Hi Marc
Those two almost give me Adams/O’Leary vibes such is their prowess and the way they combine. Both have been immense this year and I really enjoyed the way they were constantly throwing verbal spanners into the Norse Robots over-muscled brain. He was thoroughly befuddled at times.
Timber, apparently, is not too far off from returning but I agree that for the first time in hundreds of years (!) we look a bit short in the CB department. There’s always the possibility of going back in for hairy Holding, Mavropanos or Chambers who I regularly see on Villa’s bench.. As much as I love him in our midfield, I don’t think TP in the back line is such a great idea.
Are you going tonight? I don’t tend to think of Luton as serial low-blockers but we need to watch them at set pieces and be ready for their energy.
Hi Tony
That 3-2 win at their place earlier this season was fucking scary to be honest. Sir Declan got the winner with the last attack in added time iirc. I think it’ll be more calm tonight but among all of those bottom 5/6 teams, Luton carry more of a goal threat. Their FBs aren’t the quickest so our wingers (esp. Martinelli) should be able to get past them.
3-1 or 3-0 I think.
Agree KP that’s how I see it with at ;least a 2-goal margin to us.
Gabriel and Saliba are the best centre back pairing in the premiership but as they are not El B’s signings he will want to replace with his own signings at some point. William wants to play for Real Madrid , however he still has a few years on his current contract. Gabriel has made a few mistakes in the past but mainly because he was trying to cover another defenders error.
KP-there’s no doubting that Luton are the most likely of the bottom-feeders to push for goals, but they might be a tad less adventurous now that they’re only 3 points below Forest in 17th and they have a much more winnable home fixture against Bournemouth on Saturday…regardless, it’s highly unlikely that they will simply park the bus and hope for the best, as that’s not really their MO, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they leaned into the same tactics that saw them score twice against us and almost secure what would have been a much-deserved point…it will be interesting to see how the depressingly predictable MA uses his bench with a match on the weekend too
Check out the team selection – radical or what? At least by Arteta’s standards.
New post.