Match Preview: Arsenal v Manchester City; a heavy weight bout to savor

It’s being billed as Apollo Creed vs Rocky Balbao or Buster Douglas versus Mike Tyson. Esssentially, it’s a heavyweight bout that no one expects Arsenal to win. And why would they? Manchester City have been vanquishing opponents at home like Clubber Lang did in Rocky III. They’ve got a squad of expensively assembled talent and they are making their home an absolute nightmare to play in.

And yet, as I look over the assessments of many pundits, I notice that no one still gives Arsenal any credit for the position they find themselves in.  Arsenal are if I read some of the papers correctly, a mere obstacle in Manchester City’s road to the title.

It all sounds good and on the surface it is not surprising that many feel this way. Hell, this Arsenal squad weren’t even supposed to be competing for the top 4 let alone the title.

So all things considered, Arsenal are right where they should be, alone with their supporters in belief of their ability and chances. It has carried them through the end of last season and catapaulted them to the top of the premier league this season. I’ll take it.

While I do get perturbed that no one gives an iota of a chance, I can’t be bothered to really care. I know what I’ve seen and it’s a better Arsenal than anyone cares to admit. I see a defense that is resolute in its form and stingy in allowing opponents to get a good sniff at the Arsenal goal.

I see a squad getting healthy ahead of the critical time of the season. I see the league’s best midfield that when it’s purring will make anyone chase shadows. And I see a striker up top that can physically boss defenders at will.

Sure, Arsenal are not the finished product yet. They need to show this verve they’ve been showing for the first 1/3 of the season for the duration. We always hear the cliche that the season is a marathon and not a sprint. Fair shout, but there are still important factors to take into consideration from what we’ve seen so far.

Arsenal are the league’s best away squad. But they are also solid at home and that reaks of a team that is balanced and effective. The “weak underside” of Arsenal has long been vanished and is now left as rag for which the uninformed try and assault Arsenal with.  But let’s not sugar coat it – they face off against a very good Manchester City side.

When Roberto Mancini was at the helm you knew what to expect in the big matches, an Italian style lock up but with Manuel Pellegrini taking charge City have been an attacking force and we should expect that they will throw everything at us including the Samira Nasri sink.

They have arguably the best tandem up top in Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo. When we faced off against the terror that was supposed to be the tandem of Suarez and Sturridge Arsenal’s CBs did a stand up job in herding them keeping shots to half chances. Whilst everyone was quick to praise the Liverpool duo, it was the Manchester City tandem that was really the league’s best.

The hope is that Laurent Koscielny has one of those nights where he absolutely corrals the most talented players. The worry for Arsenal supporters would be if he gets overly aggresive in the box and gets carded or sent off – ala last season.  He and his partner Per Mertesacker are going to have to read the game and play together as best they have this season. Working with cover from Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta the middle of the pitch is going to have to be made a congested logjam for the City attack with Arsenal using their creativity to put pressure on City’s own questionable defense.

The interesting part to see is if Arsenal will look to apply constant pressure and close down opponents leaving them with little time on the ball. Arsenal have been hugely successful when they do this. They win the ball back in tight spaces and work their way out to create chances, deep in the opposition end. This will have to be the way for Arsenal. The more they can control the game and deny City chances obviously the more Arsenal stand to come out on top.

It will take a concerted team effort – all hands on deck as they say. It’s true. Arsene has to be sure about the squad  for Saturday. Especially with only 60 hours in between this and the disappointing match against Napoli.  The great thing about this squad this season is that as a team they have worked to handle the blips that have come up and ensured that they don’t end up being crises.

The hope is that the mentality of the squad is that Everton and Napoli were minor hiccups and that they do what they’ve done all season and that is to play and win.  It’s what they’ve done all season and to ignore that or discount that because of some preconcieved opinions by pundits is absurd. But hey, it’s exactlty how we like it and how we’ve done it all season.

How the match should play out.
This one is going to play out exactly like its billed and won’t include the chess match nature of it. I suspect both teams will go for it and with some gusto. It will be open and it will be flowing. The question is who controls the midfield. In this one as in most matches but especially this one – he who controls the midfield controls the game.

Players to watch:
Arsenal. Mathieu Flamini. His fire and energy will be needed to offset the attack City. He’s been stellar there and we’ll need every ounce of his talent to get a result from the Etihad.

Manchester City. Sergio Aguerro. If there is one player I covet from the City squad its the Argentine forward. It’s hard to not to like his ability as he just has it all. He will be the biggest challenge of the season for Arsenal’s improved defense.

Probable Lineups:

Injuries & suspensions:
Arsenal:  Diaby (knee),  Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee), Sanogo (back)

Manchester City: Nastasic (calf), Jovetic (calf). Richards (hamstring)

Match Official:
Referee: Martin Atkinson (Matches: 11. R0 Y33 PK 3)
Assistants: Burt, Lennard
Fourth Official: Madley

Head to Head:

Broadcast Information:
US: NBC Sports Network 7:45 AM EST

UK:  BT Sports 1 12.45 GMT

GAMEDAY CHAT (IS BACK!!!!!! – but it’s in BETA)
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YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2

Manchester City: 2

Match Facts (courtesy FourFourTwo)

• This match pits the two most clinical teams in the Barclays Premier League with Man City scoring with 20.6% of their shots and Arsenal 18.9%.
• Arsenal have scored more goals than any other team away at Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League era (288).
• There have been just seven goals scored in the last six meetings in all competitions between Arsenal and Man City.
• Only two of the last eight meetings between City and Arsenal in all competitions have ended as home wins (HW2, D3, AW3).
• There have been just seven goals scored in the last six meetings in all competitions between Arsenal and Man City.
• Only two of the last eight meetings between City and Arsenal in all competitions have ended as home wins (HW2, D3, AW3).
• The last time Arsenal won at the Etihad Stadium, Samir Nasri was playing for Arsenal and netted the opening goal (October 2010).
• Manchester City have conceded the highest percentage of second half goals in this season’s Premier League (73%).
• Man City have the best home attack (29 goals) and the best home defence (2 conceded), while Arsenal have the joint-best away attack (14 scored) and the best away defence (5 shipped).
• Manchester City have scored in 57 consecutive home games in the Premier League. This run started after three games at the Etihad without scoring for the Citizens, the first of which was a 0-3 defeat to Arsenal.