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Arsenal travel to the Etihad on Sunday to face their sternest test of this season yet, and arguably one of the most difficult matches of the season. Both the ties between the teams were decided by a 1-goal difference, with both the teams sharing the spoils with a win apiece.
Both teams will be apprehensive about their opponents this Sunday, but both will definitely believe they can edge it. Arsenal will go to this match after a nerving trip to France on Tuesday, everybody would agree the Gunners were lucky to come back home with all 3 points. The Eastlands outfit were not so lucky in their Champions League endeavour however, and were not able to get anything from the game at the Bernabeu despite taking the lead twice.
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Here is 5 things which Arsenal would/should be looking to do to ensure their unbeaten streak continues, and Manchester City‘s doesn’t.
1. Play through Cazorla
Santi Cazorla has been an absolute revelation so far this season for the Gunners, after completing his move from Malaga over the summer. At £16 million, he is finely poised to be one of the bargains of the season. His technique on the ball is something which Arsenal missed last season, having lost Nasri and Cesc during the summer. His enviable passing skills, a powerful long-range shot, and his ability to run rings through defenders makes him an all-round attacking threat, and Mancini will acknowledge that. He has a strong and physically imposing midfield at his disposal, and it would not be a surprise to see the likes of Yaya Toure and Javi Garcia closing down the small Spaniard.
Cazorla has so far dealt with the more physical midfields of the English Premier League, but he faces a very difficult test. However, with Diaby’s revived form and Arteta’s calm presence in the midfield, Arsenal’s midfield is the area they will look to win the game by, and no doubt that Arteta and Diaby would give a hard time to the Manchester City midfielders in order to create space for Cazorla to work with, and create goals.
2. STOP Yaya Toure
Yaya Toure offers perhaps the most powerful midfield presence in world football today, and it is absolutely imperative for Arsenal to keep a check on his movements, if they are looking to win this tie. He showed his box-to-box nature against Real Madrid for the first goal, when he assisted Dzeko for his goal after a strong run. Diaby is very likely to play on Sunday, and it will be his job, being the most physical player in Arsenal’s roster, to try to keep the Ivorian out of the game. Arsenal have, in the past, shown fragility against direct play, and Yaya Toure is as direct a player as they come. His ability to attract opposition players also tends to leave space for the crafty David Silva, and the likes of Nasri. It will be intriguing to see how Wenger decides to tackle the former Barcelona man.
3. Protect the flanks
With Sagna out due to a long term leg injury, Carl Jenkinson has stepped up to make the right-back position his, for this season so far. Many doubts were cast over his defensive abilities, but he has delivered so far. Often guilty of being caught out of position, he has so far been solid at the back, barring a few benign errors here and there. While both Kieran Gibbs and Jenkinson offer a lot on the attack, it is crucial for them to keep a check on any attacks from the flank that Manchester City may look to create. With Vermaelen and Mertesacker looking as solid as any 2 centre backs can, having conceded 1 penalty goal and 1 goal, which was absolutely Szczesny’s fault, it would make sense for Mancini to look to attack the full-backs, especially having potent attacking full backs in his squad, in Maicon and Clichy.
Arsenal wingers have often been guilty of not helping out in defence when needed, which makes it likely to start with Oxlade Chamberlain and Podolski on either flanks, who offer a much higher work rate compared to the other wingers at Wenger’s disposal. This is an away game, and a difficult one at that, and Arsenal must be prepared to work their asses out to prevent the Citizens from scoring.
4. Continue the reinstated faith in Gervinho
It is far too early to label Olivier Giroud a flop, but he can wait for his first goal. It would be amazing to get a goal at the home of the defending league champions, however Gervinho has made a strong case for his selection ahead of the Frenchman. Having started his career quite well for the Gunners last season, he let his performances fall after the African Cup Of Nations, but has come strong again this season. His movement is dangerous, and he is always looking to take on defenders. He may not offer the physical presence upfront that Giroud does, but his quick movement on counter attacks could expose Manchester City’s defence. They have already conceded 6 league goals this season in 4 games, the defence is far from impenetrable, and with Gervinho’s new found confidence, he is most likely to find the net for Arsenal along with Podolski.
5. Try to dictate the play
Arsenal may have only conceded 1 league goal so far this season, but stats do not tell the entire story. There have been mistakes in the defence and there have been gaps left out for the opposition to exploit. That the defence has not been punished is more indicative of the lack of quality in the opposition’s attack than the quality of the defence itself. I don’t mean to belittle what Arsenal have achieved in terms of improvement in defence over last season, it is absolutely commendable. I only imply that it would be foolish to fall into complacency and seek refuge in the fact that Arsenal have conceded few so far. That does not mean that it will continue in the future. This defence is certainly more able to keep a clean sheet than any other defence Wenger has assembled in the past 5 years or so, but the work must continue to ensure goals are not conceded in the future either.
It is because of this that, I feel, Arsenal must not sit back against Manchester City on Sunday. With an array of talented attackers, it would be a catastrophe to rely on the defence to keep them out for 90 minutes, not just for Arsenal, but for any team. Instead, Arsenal must look to keep as much possession as they can, even if they conjure an early goal for themselves, and to stop City getting into dangerous positions in the final third. That’s how Arsenal got the result at the Emirates earlier this year, and that’s how they should look to get a result now. Vermaelen and co. do look capable in defence, but it only makes sense to cut their work as much as possible. It’s easier said than done, however, and Manchester City would be in no mood to let Arsenal have too much of the ball, especially at the Etihad. That said, the midfield’s ability to keep possession has been a Wenger trademark, and it would be almost poetic if that was the way they got a win on Sunday, a win which would undoubtedly put Arsenal right back among the title contenders.
Author’s Prediction:
Man City 1-1 Arsenal
