Here we go. If there ever was a 6 pointer… THIS IS IT! I waited as long as possible before making any predictions or preview. As all Arsenal fans have no clue on the injury status of some of our key players. Finally we hear Saka is an on the day decision, but Pep has come out to rule John Stones out entirely. The mind games have started already!
The Student vs The Master. With our best guesses added along too! The Art of Analysis Preview and Prediction is here:
The Lineup:
Ultimately, with our injuries at the moment. The team picks itself. The questions of whether you play Raya or Ramsdale remain, ultimately I stand by Mikels previous decisions and I think he favours Raya.
As for the midfield, unless Thomas Partey is ready and match fit he will not be starting. This leaves the room for Havertz starting in the left hand side and utilising his physical skills and off the ball presence and movement to create space. Should Partey start, we have a double CDM pivot with him and Rice allowing for Rice to float into the 8 role as well as providing extra cover for Zinchenko to move across the whole pitch.
The remaining questions is on the RW with Bukayo Saka. We don’t have the answers, he will be an on the day assessment decision. My feeling is he starts, but he most certainly will not be fully fit.
History, Student vs the Master:
One tactical perfectionist against another! It’s a battle for the ages. A battle that Mikel often comes out of the loser. Does he still have more to learn from Pep or is now finally the turning point.
The Charity Shield battel between the two is an outlier. Arsenal were stronger, fitter and tactically greater then. Timber was a change in the right direction, Mikel was raring to go. But that was then, this is now, circumstances change.
In the league for Arsenal it is certainly a different story. Arsenal have lost the last 12 Premier League games against Man City. They have conceded a total of 33 Goals. These stats certainly makes for painful reading.
However, with the circumstances facing Pep and Man City the tide could really be changing! City certainly look more vulnerable after suffering two defeats in their past three games a rare dip in their form that sees Arsenal face them at potentially the best time. To Further their troubles City are without Talismanic midfielder Rodri due to suspension. KDB is still a doubt but sometimes pulls miracles ahead of a game against Arsenal.
As mentioned above John Stones has been confirmed out by pep, but is this just more mind games. Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji, along with Nathan Ake, have all performed well in Stones’ absence and will again be relied upon on Sunday. Ultimately they have the squad depth to simply deal with such injuries unlike Arsenal.
Keys To Winning:
Arsenal needs to understand the fitness level of Saka first. Ultimately for Arsenal a Saka at 70% is still better than any other average RW. He will be starting unless the hamstring injury really is the worst case scenario.
The benefit for Mikel, is Thomas Partey. He dropped a Man of the Match performance when he last faced Man City, and is hoping to be of the right level of fitness to feature. It certainly allows for a more midfield solidarity for Mikel and a level of composure in the backline to enable Zinchenko to be more effective in his movements up the LW and inverting into LCM.
However, whether he starts the game or not is yet to be decided. Mikel in his pressor did say: “Well, he’s ahead of schedule that’s for sure. We wanted to have him in the squad if we needed to, the way the game panned out we had other necessities and we didn’t use him. He will be in the squad.” Once again the mind games are afoot with both Mikel and Pep. Whether he starts remains unclear. But from this, he is certainly available.
If he does feature, that double pivot with Rice and Partey in the middle will certainly make me a lot more comfortable.
Another question mark is Leandro Trossard. He was very much a passenger in our first loss against Lens. But the entire left was not truly in the game that night. He however, is not a quitter, its just not in his character. He must be a more direct and penetrative force on this game. To give enough trouble to the backline of City and cause the winger to drop back and double up on him. This would enable more space for the others to operate.
Conclusion:
This is a true 6 pointer. Whilst City are flawless in the league winning all their games. This is the chance for Arsenal to remain undefeated, for City to finally drop points and for Arsenal to emerge from the ashes of last season as the true challengers for City’s title.
It’s going to be tough. It will come down to tactics and ultimately who’s squad is more match fit. This will be a compact game in the middle with certainly some crunching tackles to boot.
Either a one score game or someone gets trounced. It will not be easy, but I have faith.
Score Prediction: Arsenal 1 – Man City 0
POTM: Declan Rice
Bet Predictions: Both teams to receive cards: YES
Written by Reekesh Somaroo