admin Manchester City face Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, but there’s plenty to talk about before the game.
Manchester City travel to north London this afternoon for the biggest game of the Premier League season so far. Arsenal were title rivals all last season and despite Josep Guardiola’s side winning the first six of their seven games, they go into today’s game just one point behind City in the league.
Last season, the Blues won both games and this was crucial for them to retain the league title and complete the historic treble. Arsenal then spent heavily to strengthen their side in the summer, signing players such as Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, and Mikel Arteta is hoping to provide an even stronger challenge this season.
City will be without the suspended Rodri and injured John Stones as the Gunners await the recovery of Bukayo Saka. We’ve looked at the big talking points for the Emirates clash …
Can Arsenal deliver?
Pep Guardiola said that even if his team had recorded a third straight defeat in midweek his confidence in them would not have faltered, and while the Manchester City manager can exaggerate in interviews this comment was dead right. City’s reputation precedes them, meaning that it takes a lot more than a few defeats to raise question marks over the team.That is certainly not the case at many clubs in the league, and for all the credit Mikel Arteta has among Arsenal fans and executives a home defeat to the Premier League champions will make it seem more of an uphill battle to wrestle the title away from them.
City are already a point ahead of the Gunners and while four would be easy to make up over the course of seven months a reinforcement of Blue supremacy over their Red rivals will add to the pressure on Arsenal to show they have what it takes to go all the way this time.
City are missing their talisman
Arsenal will be helped by the fact that Kevin De Bruyne will not be able to wreak his usual havoc against them. The Belgian’s absence will be felt in every game, but it will be especially nice for Arsenal not to have to face Arsenal, who continued to dominate last season with devastating goals both home and away. You’ll be relieved.
Julian Alvarez has made impressive strides to fill the spot vacated by De Bruyne, but City still need someone to put his hand up and command the game the way De Bruyne used to do. would be. If Rodri is absent due to suspension, the midfield will be without two of its three regular players, making it even more difficult for the midfield to produce its usual performance.
Should Arsenal attack?
City’s defense hasn’t been perfect of late and Arsenal have a better attack and the pace to exploit it than most teams in the league, even if Bukayo Saka’s availability ahead of the game is doubtful. There is. Left-back Bernardo Silva is not what the Blues would like to remember from last season’s games.
Arsenal have beaten City in their last two games at the Emirates and have been successful in both games – Ederson was booked for wasting time last season and missed a penalty. They showed that they can cause problems for the champions, but at the same time they could not turn it into victories.
It will be interesting to see how often Arsenal attack.
Haaland leads the line
Erling Haaland hasn’t been able to score many goals lately, as he failed to score against either Wolves or RB Leipzig. Goals in four games is not something the Norwegian is used to, but if Arsenal play more forward it could help City’s No. 9 find a little more space than he has been given in recent games. It should be.
