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!
So Jesus wide left with no Walker. Time to break their home record and the Pool win should make us fight harder to be back to top.
that’s the first time Klopp has defeated DeZerbi, which is why the latter manager is so highly rated, amongst those in the know…as for today’s affair, having no Marts is a real blow on both ends of the pitch…looks to be a somewhat “faux” defensive setup, as per usual against the top clubs or in knockout affairs…problem is Jorginho isn’t defensive whatsoever, so maybe on this day Rice will remain deep and Jorginho will try to unlock things on the left side of the pitch…real boon for us that Walker is absent, unfortunately we have no one with real pace out there to take full advantage…that said, they’re ripe for the plucking and if we showed any ability to counter with pace and numbers, we could come out on top…as for all this Havertz banter, until he does anything that reminds me of why he was so highly coveted in the first place, he will remain as the world’s most expensive and gangly placeholder
Jesus seriously? WTF?
Agree TRVL, unfortunately the stale City of recent games is at full throttle. If we can contain the first 30, the Etihad will quieten. Then assert our game.
RIP Rocky
I would have much rather we started Nelson out wide with Jesus in the middle, so as to properly attack their most vulnerable aspects, but you all know full-well that this would never happen under MA…I’m assuming Jesus is playing because he was none too happy about being healthy yet not seeing the pitch ahead of Havertz…I can only imagine what Tross feels about this predicament…that said, I’m sure he’s the quieter of the two and these days the loudest asshole in the room usually wins
We don’t have any answers to the City onslaught.
this City squad is far from a final product…they’ve suffered some injury setbacks, but they’ve never really replaced their wide side players…last year they got away with it because teams hadn’t figured out how to defend Haaland quite yet, but now that they have a blueprint of sorts, which means limiting those who provide the best service, they’re much easier to play against…of course, this will undoubtedly be short-lived, so long as Pep stays…of course, all things being relative, as they’re still a top-top team in world football, it’s just that this is the weakest Euro crop in some time
Raya reminding me of John Lukic – or Johnny Bostic as he was known. Always stuck to his line
Jesus is only good for false 9 hard work rate being a nuisance
setbacks and they’ve never
We are chasing shadows so hope City can’t keep the pace up
Is Havertz playing?
Tony-we’ve actually setup that way, knowing full-well that we would be in full shadow chasing mode…the hope is to attack on the counter or drag things into the wee hours and steal one…of course there will be moments when we will possess the ball in their final third, but likely not for long with this bunch on the pitch…Jesus isn’t good enough in wide spaces at either end of the pitch to have not put someone who could threaten their backline on the counter
if Ake goes down too, that couold make things interesting
could
half my kingdom for a clinical finisher!!
good comment “either you press or don’t press”, you can’t continue to exist in this no man’s land tactical setup
our biggest saving grace is that they have no one of real consequence creating width, so we can remain relatively compact in and around the box
this first half time wasting shit is pure nonsense and frankly a tad embarassing
Well we’ve stifled City to a few scraps in and around our area, created very little on the counter with a shot each on target in the first 47 minutes.
considering City’s poor recent form, from a goalscoring perspective, I just wish we had been a bit more aggressive with our tactics (they’ve only scored 7 in their last 5 PL matches)
Havertz is definitely playing as expected
Kevin de B does not appear to be in full fitness
Game is playing a bit beyond Odegaard level
City goalkeeper has not yet gelled with the rest of the team
Rice is the last bastion for Arsenal. Good investment
it will be interesting to see if Pep makes an early move for the likes of Doku or Bobb in the hopes of stretching our defensive shape
That was not too bad. Came more into it as the half wore on and we arguably had the better chances.
we will likely see more time on the ball in the second half, but our finishing doesn’t instill a lot of confidence that we can turn that into goals
Hoopah-KDB isn’t being tasked with having the ball at his feet too often, which makes him seem far less effective…this is likely part of the reason why we’ve allowed them to possess the ball so much, as it means they can’t unlock our defence while in countering mode…so far this reeks like a rather uneventful draw, but I have a feeling the second 45 will look quite different than the first 45
KP, Lukic wasn’t bad, but we missed mad Jens. Seaman was never the same after his rib injury he didn’t have the same assurance when going to ground for balls.
Maya is having a mare. We got him for his footballing skills.
My bravado prediction was based on free scoring in games and that was our level at the top.
We got schooled for most of the first half. Jesus is City’s best player. Why he’s on the pitch is just back to El B BS. ESR or Nelson as TRVL said is a far better option. Even Trossard is better than God’s son.
So, now we have 45 minutes and change left I think a single goal will win it.
One shot on target each and all to play for.
Get Jesus off ffs. He’s embarrassing
Nice through ball by Odegaard. The better alternative on the bench than Havertz would have connected.
Odegaard expressed disappointment
And Havertz needs a rest
Pep seems to have worked out counters to Havertz dirty tricks which hitherto earned us fouls. Mostly relying on higher speed movement anticipating Havertz movements