Home Sweet Home. Arsenal v Manchester City; Match Preview
This looked much more fun before we lost to Wigan.
I wish I could write an easy article on this match. But YAMA and Gunner faithful, I don’t have a clue. The loss to Spurs aside there should’ve been no reason why this Arsenal squad – even with the missing starters let a 2-0 lead go away to Wigan. With that still very freshly in my mind I just don’t have a solid read on this match. And to be honest it has as much to do with City as it does with Arsenal.
City by all means should likely be comfortably in the 4th spot. What with Liverpool’s implosion and the quality of the players they have, they really should be more consistent. But the fact of the matter is this with the exception of shredding Chelsea and every bottom feeding club in the league against mid-table and stronger opposition they have been very feeble. They may have won some of those matches but the look more disinterested during those matches. Seriously they may have signed ex-Arsenal players but they are also playing like Arsenal of the last few years.
Take a look at the two matches against Liverpool. A top side on the way down. I am going to be honest those were two matches that were the most boring, uninspiring and absolutely energy saping events I have ever seen. Really! They built the team with money and I guess everyone just naturally thought they didn’t have to play the matches because seriously in many of the matches I have seen of City (and in true schadenfreude fashion I have seen a lot) they take the field and don’t put forward an effort – unless they are playing someone of stature – eg Arsenal, Chelsea, United.
From match to match you never know which side is going to show up. Additionally, some of the stars they have signed have been collossal duds. Tevez has been the single best signing and so has Andrew Johnson. Everyone else like the make up of this squad have been hit and miss. Adebayor still is a lazy player and takes more time off on the pitch then he does off. Bellamy is okay but not anything to write home about. King Kolo is a shell of his former self and younger faster players are having his scalp often. And I am not even going to go on about how I think Paddy Viera should’ve just either stayed at Inter or retired. He is no where near the legend or the half-legend he used to be.
But hey this is Arsenal and has been evidenced the last two weeks – something is woefully wrong with this squad. Like City there is talent – even amidst all the injuries. But whether its woeful performances by the goal keepers or just plain out shutting down for periods of time, Arsenal, who were in good form for most of the season have laid a big fat goose egg in the last few weeks.
Whether the gas has run out on a team that is beset with injuries, or maybe they just were overachieving all season and it caught up and bit them in the ass. Either way the team that was in the title hunt, isn’t and doesn’t look like it did only a few weeks ago.
There are lots of reasons we could aruge why but to me its simple, Cesc Fabregas is out and this team doesn’t believe in itself when he is gone. No matter how much Sol Campbell tries he can’t give the kids the heart the need to get through this. Robin Van Persie’s return is a few weeks too late to maybe have been a stop gap. Whatever, it is, this team is a shell of the good squad we saw through most of the season.
Another reason for my generally uncertainty (or is it apathy) is that it looks like Flapianksi (part of the dynaic GK tandem we have) will likely start in goal again. So if Almunia is really hurt and Flapianski is doing his best wounded duck imitation why wouldn’t give Vito Mannone a run out? Even with his mistakes he’s better than both of these guys combined. Vito in my opinion should be given the chance go.
Overall, if the lads want us to give them more credit (as Samir Nasri asked us to do) than they need to come out today and play like they care. The need to seize on whatever Sol Campbell is taking. Unfortuntately I am not sure there is a pill for heart. Even when winning 2-0 against Wigan, thee was a general laxidasical effort on the pitch. In order for them to win this today they need to find a “pair”, strap them on and play with the verve they’ve displayed throughout this season and was last seen in the draw against Barca in the first leg of the Champion’s League. They need to muster themselves and give the fans a reason to believe.
It is very easy for us say this squad is merely exhausted from trying to sustain themselves through the injuries. And it is quite possible that it has finally all caught up to them. And frankly, not because I am trying to make excuses I do think there is some validity to that. However, it does not excuse the players who remain from shrivelling up like a set of raisins.
While slagging Arsene is also easy, I am not sure what he could’ve done this season. I do think there is some blame to be had. I think the fact that he didn’t go out and get a new GK is a problem. I don’t think he could’ve managed the squad any better then he has this year. If anything he has to get some kudos as well for directing the team through the worst injury patch I’ve seen on the team. But he also has to bear the criticism for reliance on some classic non-performers like our GK tandem, a certain Brazillian and an ex Manc defender.
What it all means? Well I don’t know. Just like I don’t really know how this match should play out. City are certainly a good team. They are a Tottenham good in my oponion – perenially in the mix but always likely to be in the 5,6 or 7 position. They too have been benefactors of this wacky season. Had the title chasers and Liverpool actually been as good as they were billed, I don’t think Man City would’ve been as close to where they are today. But again Arsenal itself is a huge question mark and I don’t know if we’ve overachieved or if we have moved on this season. It’s likely more of the latter with some of the former sprinkled in. But that’s a story for the end of the season.
How the Match Should Play Out:
Like I’ve been saying I don’t know. The Arsenal that gave Barca a right scare can show its head and if it does Man City does not stand a chance. If the team that let Wigan back into the match shows up, I am not sure we stand the chance. As it stands like everything I have tried to convey in this preview, it is going to wind up a classic draw.
Players to Watch:
Arsenal: Robin Van Persie. Oh what a season we could’ve had had he been healthy. He will likely start today and it will place him back on the pitch for a full 90 minutes against a team whom there was so much controversy last time they met. Robin definitely has a score to settle and it could propel him and some of the team. He has shown how he changes the team in both of his brief visits to the squad since he returned.
Man City: Patrick Viera. Sure Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure are also returning to the Emirates but Paddy is a legend. And while his time back in the EPL is not anything to write home about or more importantly likely to get him added to the French National Squad, this is his first time back since he departed Arsenal. Let the love an adulation begin until the match begins
Probable Starting XI:
Arsenal: Fabianski, Campbell, Song, Clichy, Sagna, Eboue, Diaby, Nasri, Rosicky, Van Persie, Bendtner
Man City: Given, Toure, Kompany, Onuhoa, Bridge, Barry, Vierra, DeJong, Johnson, Adebayor, Tevez
Injuries/Suspensions:
Arsenal: Gallas (calf), Djourou (knee), Fabregas (leg), Ramsey (leg), Gibbs (foot), Almunia (wrist)
City: Sylvinho (calf) M Johnson (knee), Petrov (knee), Lescott (hamstring)
Last Meeting (EPL)
Arsenal: 2
City: 4
Leading Scorers:
Arsenal: Fabregas: 19 (15 league) Bendtner: 12 (6 league) Arshavin: 11 (9 league)
City: Tevez: 28 goals (22 league) Adebayor: 13 goals (13 league)
League Form:
Arsenal: LLWDW
City: LWWWL
Match Officials:
Referee: Mike Dean
Assistant Referees: Peter Kirkup & Rob Lewis
Fourth Official: Mike Jones
TV Broadcast:
US: Fox Soccer Channel 1230 PM EST
UK: ESPN UK 1730 BST
Online Feeds:
www.atdhe.net
GAMEDAY CHAT will be open: www.youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2
City: 2
