Arsenal will have the chance this weekend to break an eight-year streak. Even though the Gunners have lately defeated
Manchester City, those victories have all come in cup games, most notably at the Community Shield at the beginning of August.
However, the north London team hasn’t triumphed over City in the Premier League since December 2015, when Mikel Arteta was still a participating player. In reality, whether at the Emirates Stadium or the Etihad Stadium, you have to go back to April 2017 to find the last time Pep Guardiola’s team lost this match.
As a result, the manager of Arsenal enters the game knowing that Jurrien Timber (ACL) is unquestionably out due to injury as one Spanish strategist attempts to defeat the other. With Gabriel Martinelli still being a question and Bukayo Saka still in the running, it is uncertain whether that number will rise.
Arteta should have a nearly full squad to choose from while facing a City team that has dropped two of their past three games overall. Whatever the case, there are a lot of topics that will be discussed in relation to Arsenal before the heavyweight match and football.Below, London has gone through them.
Saka decision
As anticipated, Arteta’s pre-game press conference on Friday afternoon centered on Saka’s condition. The winger’s participation for Man City’s visit is in question because of a knock that forced him to be substituted against RC Lens in midweek.
The Arsenal manager typically keeps quiet when talking about his players’ fitness, but on this particular instance, he decided to speak up. Arteta only stated that his top player is a contender without excluding the England international or confirming the availability of the 22-year-old.
“Well, he’s still in the running. Let’s see how he develops between now and Sunday,” the Spaniard told the press. “It’s never good news when a player has to leave the field [against RC Lens], but let’s see how he recovers. in conflict. I’m done now. I’m not a physician. I was informed that by them.
A good development, undoubtedly, but given that Saka had to leave the game on a limp for the third straight game, it’s obvious that he needs some downtime. Naturally, this is Arsenal’s most important match of the year so far, and they will need their best players to defeat Man City, but keeping the winger healthy in the long run unquestionably comes first.
Trump card selection
The Gunners are now in good form with regard to injuries and physical condition, with the exception of Timber and potentially Saka as well as Martinelli. In fact, the midfield is a strong position for the team and might decide Sunday’s game now that Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny have returned.
Arteta has his big game trump card back in the latter’s case. Partey is at the base, with Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice just ahead, if the Community Shield match was any indication of how Arsenal will set up in midfield against a fellow title competitor or away from home against a “big six” club.
While giving the Ghanaian international a start is risky given that he hasn’t played since August, his recuperation is going well, and with City unable to rely on Rodri or Kevin De Bruyne, making the most of a potentially underpowered City midfield is something to think about.
He is certainly ahead of schedule. The way the game turned out, we had other needs and didn’t use him, but we wanted to have him in the squad [against RC Lens in midweek] if we needed to,” Arteta said of Partey. “He will be in the squad.”
Three alternatives, one position
In the similar matchup from the previous season, Eddie Nketiah took the lead in Gabriel Jesus’ absence and lost a significant opportunity that may have altered the outcome and direction of the title race. After a few months, the Brazilian becomes available for selection, which puts Arteta in a difficult situation.
Then, when you throw in Kai Havertz, the Gunners boss is now spoiled for options, especially after his respectable showing as the center forward in the Community Shield. Given how strong City’s defenders are physically, it could be wise to choose the German once more since Jesus might be required out wide.
Home struggles
To claim that Arsenal has had difficulties at home this year seems odd. They have scored at least two goals in every game and are undefeated at the Emirates Stadium. The problem is that they have only kept one clean sheet, which was in the Champions League against PSV Eindhoven.
There is cause for alarm, especially when considering some of the self-inflicted goals the Gunners have given up, including the opening goal against Fulham and Son Heung-Min’s second in the North London Derby. Arteta, though, has disputed claims that the Emirates Stadium faithful are having an impact on his team.
“First of all I think that we have the best atmosphere ever at the Emirates,” he stated. “The team will benefit greatly if we can develop that. That’s how we handle it. There have been times when we’ve handled it remarkably effectively. A truly strong example was against PSV, as were some portions of the match against Spurs. That is up to us. That would be a huge plus for us, so let’s hope the crowd can deliver it.
No matter the commotion inside the Emirates, it is safe to say that the Gunners cannot afford to give Man City any significant chances on Sunday. If they do, Julian Alvarez could punish them and a shaky Erling Haaland could rediscover his confidence in front of goal.