Five things I’m looking forward to ahead of Manchester City vs Arsenal

Arsenal is set to play their rescheduled game against Manchester City on the 17th of next month.

Some fans are worried that our first game back is too tough, but I am excited and quite optimistic that Mikel Arteta will produce some magic, here is what I am looking forward to seeing in the game.

Aubameyang scoring

Aubameyang is the second top scorer in the league this season and he won the last Golden Boot in the competition.

We might not have him on our side next season, but I’m happy with what he has done for us and I do expect him to get a goal in that game.

Pablo Mari starting again

Mari made a promising start to his Arsenal career just before football competitions were suspended.

I think Arteta also enjoyed watching him, and I expect the Spaniard to trust him to start again. I hope he helps us keep another clean sheet.

Arsenal showing Manchester City that they are a different team

The last time we faced Manchester City, we were a poor team and Pep Guardiola’s side ripped us apart at the Emirates.

We haven’t lost a domestic game this year and I expect our players to maintain that when we face City.

I look forward to the boys playing Manchester City in a manner that would send every other team a message that Arsenal is a very different team now.

Bukayo Saka playing further forward

Arsenal has had to use Saka as a left-back for much of this year because of injuries to Kieran Tierney and Sead Kolasinac.

However, with the duo back from injury, I am hoping to see Saka played in a left-wing position with Aubameyang in the middle.

Kieran Tierney having a fine game

Arteta has enjoyed training Kieran Tierney, and I am positive that the Spaniard is looking forward to fielding him in an actual match.

I enjoyed watching Tierney played for Celtic but he hasn’t really had a consistent game in an Arsenal shirt.

I am hoping that he will show Manchester City what he is really capable of.

An article from Ime

Tags Arsenal Man City v Arsenal

7 Comments

  1. What I would love to see, but probably will never see, is a front line of Martinelli, Aubamayang and Pepe with Saka–yes, Saka–playing behind them in the middle of the park, triggering the attack.

    Why play Saka there? His play at left back showed that he is strong on the ball, relentless and responsible on defense, a dangerous dribbler, and perhaps the best passer on the team not named Ozil. While Saka has an eye for the goal and a decent shot, he has shown that he is able to pick out his teammates and execute the right pass. We all know what he can do playing on the left side, but that limits the effect he can have on the game to only about a third of the pitch. Playing in the middle, behind the striker, would expand his influence to the whole pitch. Unlike Ozil, Saka can press the ball aggressively and be counted on to get back and contribute on defense.

    The weakness of this Arsenal squad is in the midfield. They have had all kinds of difficulty moving the ball out of their own end. If they are to give Man City a go, they can’t let them control the ball and attack for long stretches of time. Saka’s speed, dribbling ability and tenaciousness on the ball will give Arsenal a better chance of moving the ball out of their end and through the middle of the park than they will have with any of their current midfield options.

    I seriously doubt that Arteta or anyone at Arsenal would consider thinking “outside the box” enough to dare to try playing Saka in that position, but I would love to see Arteta do it nonetheless. Would it be a risk? Sure. But, Arsenal can’t allow City to boss the midfield and make Leno the target in a shooting gallery if they are to get the points out of this match that they desperately need. They have three weeks of uninterrupted training to teach Saka what he needs to learn to be able to use his talents in the middle of the pitch.

  2. Five things I would hate to see:
    1. Putting a shit show
    2. Getting hammered
    3. Losing all confidence thereafter
    4. Dipping further down in the table
    5. Falling further down in the big boys pecking order

    On a more serious note though, how many of the gams remaining do we have a realistic chance of winning? Five would be a stretch. So all this talk about ECL qualification is simply rubbish.

  3. it will be a high tempo match so every player has to be fit and focussed for 90+ minutes.If Ozil, Xhaka, Socrates,Luiz, Kolasinac do not make to the bench, then we have all chances of a draw or even a win.

  4. @American Gunner your analysis on Saka is good, the only issue I have with that is that Saka is very inexperience to give him such big responsibility. Man City is a big team and at. I think Saka should be at left forward, Auba at center forward then Pepe on right forward mid field will be Shakar, Özil and Cebaios then at back four will be Tierney, Mustaphi, Mari and Bellerin(or Holding if fit)
    With this squad I will be expecting a win or draw.

  5. I am hoping for a win but even a draw would be a fine result. We must be focused for the full 90+ minutes and any lapse of concentration will be punished.

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