Three values that Arsenal must demonstrate to defeat Manchester City at the Etihad. by Kennedy
Arsenal and Manchester City lock horns at the weekend in a match that is likely to decide the winner of the English Premier League this season.
The Gunners are aware of the fact that the Etihad at this stage of the season is a dangerous hunting ground, and the Cityzens are currently in a sparkling run of form.
However, the Gunners can put up a decent fight and get something from Manchester City provided that they arm themselves with the following values.
Identity
First and foremost, the Gunners must maintain their identity. Both Manchester City and Arsenal have very similar styles of play and game models.
Both teams play from the back, they use inverted fullbacks, they do high pressing and maintain ball possession.
Moreover, each of these two sides is good in counter pressing and they utilise the attacking 4 -3 -3 system.
For Arsenal to stand a chance at the Etihad, it needs to maintain its identity as a possession-oriented and attacking minded outfit. If the Gunners face Manchester City intending to defend for 90 minutes, they will invite untold pressure from Pep Guardiola’s men and make mistakes.
One of the best ways to defend is by attacking the opponents and keeping them busy. However, Arsenal must change a few things in order to avoid embarrassment at the Etihad.
First Arsenal must deny Manchester City the space in the midfield. Allowing the Cityzens to occupy the middle of the park and dictate the proceedings is a recipe for trouble. The Gunners can overload the midfield by using inverted fullbacks like they have done with Zinchenko this season.
Alternatively, Mikel Arteta can use a different system to crowd the midfield such as the 3-4-3 formation used by Antonio Conte, or the 3-5-2 system employed by Brentford.
This does not imply parking the bus and losing possession and the attacking identity. Arsenal can still enjoy possession and press high even with these two systems.
Some people may argue that Arsenal must stick with the tried and tested 4-3-3 system.
However, every match must have it’s own game plan. Manchester City is not an ordinary opponent. The Cityzens playing at the Etihad are a different kettle of fish. A juggernaut. Arsenal must therefore use different tactics to unsettle Guardiola’s men.
The second thing that Arsenal must do while maintaining their attacking identity is to strengthen their defence against Man City. In the last three matches against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton, Arsenal has conceded seven goals in the absence of William Saliba.
If the Gunners travel to the Etihad with this porous defence, then they should expect nothing but a baptism of fire from Pep Guardiola.
The third thing that Arsenal needs to do in this match, while regaining their identity, is to watch out for these three Manchester City’s danger men, Riyad Mahrez the left footed smooth operator, Erling Haaland the goal scoring machine, and Kevin De Bruyne the destroyer in chief.
Arsenal must exhibit character and belief.
Playing against Manchester City at home at this stage of the season is not an undertaking for the faint hearted or double minded.
The Gunners must travel to the Etihad with a strong belief that they are equal to the challenge. They also need to have a strength of character in order to get something out of this difficult fixture.
If Arsenal starts this game the way they did against Southampton and concede early, then will only have themselves to blame.
The Gunners need balance.
Arsenal has to approach this match with level headedness, maturity and composure. The Gunners need to balance between these three things.
First, they need to balance between respect and fear. Guardiola’s men deserve respect as the premier league defending champions. However, Arsenal will get nothing from this match if they play with fear.
Second, the Gunners need to maintain a balance between aggression and sobriety. Too much aggression results in unnecessary bookings and provokes the opponents, while too much docility encourages the opposing team.
In the recent match between Arsenal and Liverpool, Granit Xhaka started an altercation with Liverpool right full back Alexander Arnold Trent.
This provoked the Reds when Arsenal was leading 2: 0 triggering a comeback for Liverpool. Arsenal should stay calm and avoid such confrontations at the Etihad.
Third, Arsenal must balance carefully between attacking and defending when they face Guardiola’s men. Relentless attacking will expose the Gunners to swift counter attacks from the Cityzens while too much defending will invite massive pressure and lead to commission of mistakes.
As the clock ticks towards this mouth-watering encounter, Arsenal must prepare adequately, play on the big day with a positive attitude and forget about the recent disappointing results.
Kennedy Mwanzia
You mentioned that arsenal and man City have similar ways of playing, you forgot to notice that City now plays John Stones in the middle along side Rodri. Two defensive midfielders in front of their defence. On contrary, arsenal has only TP to rely on. I someone’s comment mentioning that Partey needs someone along side him .
Their team set up can be exposed by brave trickery and speed from the wings. We have the players to do that. If the coach can work on the players combinations along the wings, they will be exposed. We have no suitable player to pair Partey from the left hand side. Zinny is okay with his current role if he can limit errors of giving ball out at dangerous positions.
If the boys can combine the bravery they used against Spurs, Utd and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium, they will a have a chance to take something positive back.
‘I read someone’s comment ‘.
Arsenal need a miracle to get any kind of result just can’t see how especially with the way we are defending city could run riot! Haaland will target holding and prob destroy him with his power and pace! Hope I’m wrong and Arsenal plat the game of there lives but on current form there is only 1 winner and its not us!
Holding was like a baby in the hands of Haaland during that Carling Cup match
A very good writeup, I must say. I do agree with the main points in the article. But this writer seems to have had too much to drink by ONCE AGAIN BLAMING XHAKA for our capitulation at Anfield. So defending yourself from physical harm is now a recipe to lose a match. Utter and complete nonsense
We need to win a lot of corners, because I don’t think we can outscore Man City from open play
We are also shaky in corner situations lately. Nicolas Jover has to improve the players for the set-pieces
i believe you missed out one main factor. a bit of Luck
we have to be honest with our selves, right now city are in a very rich vein of form and player for player, bench included they have a superior starting 11 and 5 quality subs to draw on.
we have shown in the past and even this season we can go toe with them and if we are talking about being solid and attacking them then i believe we can come out winners.
Pep on the other hand is paid the big bucks because he is the best in the job. he showed that at out place where in the first half they were out gunned. The 2nd half he was smart enough to change it around and break up the play and stop the free flowing football by conceding fouls and free kicks in not so vital areas of the field.
he slowly wrestled back the control. hence the master and pupil.
what he doesn’t have is a group of players that don’t know when they are beaten. whilst we moan about dropping points in the last 2 or 3 games and especially the Southampton game. we game back from the death to grab a point. so beginning of game it was 2 points dropped. at the end i felt it was a point gained. a never say die attitude.
the manager and the boys know what they need to do. lose or draw and we wait on other teams to do us a favour…
WIN and it is back in our hands.
we will concede that is inevitable but we will out gun them more then we will concede.
worried , nervous, anxious but cant wait for tomorrow. do or die game.
ps
to all the newer supporters who have not experienced these sort of games – basically title deciders – welcome
to all the older supporters who have seen these types of games before – its nice to be back and feeling this way
what ever the result and i see a win for us. The manager, team and club have done us proud this season
come on you reds
onwards and upwards
Let’s not deceive ourselves they’ll beat us seriously
We were leading Tottenham with ample points last season – then capitulated in 3 matches
All of a sudden we had to go to White Hart Lane and must win, plus we had to go there with Holding
How did that turn out ?
It’s the same thing happening all over this season
(We’ve Capitulated In 3 matches, now a match that we only needed to avoid defeat is a must win)
Holding got a yellow, 1 minute into the game against Haaland in the FA Cup.
Haaland will drag his soul tomorrow
Damn. We’ll said
First of all Man City have not played in a 4-3-3 set up since the departure of Cancello.Basically they operate a 3-4-3 system which changes to 3-6-1 when they don’t have the ball which is a rarity in itself.I very much doubt if Arteta will change his preferred system.He strikes me as a stubborn individual who finds it difficult to admit any failings in terms of tactics .To be fair to him the injuries to Tomi and Saliba have been a blow and have limited his ability to switch to a back three to match up with City.He made the decision to buy Veiria and Kiwior and so far we have had little or no return for a 50m investment.Without a natural right back in our pool, Ben White has filled the role admirably but his talents could have been used to better advantage either at CB or as a defensive midfielder to support Partey.As to the City challenge, they are not infallable, and on their day, Saka and Marginally could cause them real problems.Personally I would play without a central striker and flood the midfield by playing Zinchenkko and Xhaka along with Partey and Odegaard and I would bring in KT at left back.With that set up City will not find it easy to gain control not to expose our defensive weaknesses on the left .Whatever selection and or system adopted by Arteta I sincerely hope he proves my concerns to be completely unfounded .
Couple of things are certain if we play holding we are ….. the only good thing about this game is mchael oliver its reffing but lovely david coote on VAR ,i hope oliver dont givehim time of the day because will try to scr ew us somehow ,but never say never ,we dont know .but lets be honest city will wipe with us.
Three values needed are Heart, Bollox and skill. Thats it!!!!
Reggie
I believe the word you are looking for is
Cojones 😀
👍🤣
Arsenal aren’t playing Man City this weekend as been alluded to. But will play at away to Man City on Wednesday night tomorrow.
It the match encounter, which could decide where the Epl title win pendulum this season will swing to. And stayed after the match has been won.
Prayerfully and hopefully. The pendulum will swing to Arsenal and stayed after the Gunners have beaten the Citizens in the match to claim victory in it on the night.
I am backing Arsenal 100% to claim victory in the match.
Nice Piece bro.
I cant seem to have the confidence to say we will comeout with a positive result in this game considering the injury issues we have.
My heart is yearning for a win against Manchester city, but my head is forseeing an unfavourable result.
Iam hoping not to be heartbroken tomorrow
It’s almost as if you saw this match even before it was played. It’s exactly what played out!!! And Arteta stubbornly refused to heed this warning. Very sad.