Arsenal head to Manchester City for a match that feels like a title-decider. It isn’t. But it feels like it is. The team has been in this position before. We’ve been in this position before. In the first two attempts, the Gunners have fallen short. But the third time is the charm, right?
Arsenal shouldn’t play for a draw, per se. They should play how they do in every match — organized and solid at the back and build off that strength with an eye for goal. A win would restore a vice-grip on the title
race. But they should also remember that it is Manchester City, not Arsenal, that need the win today. A draw takes the Premier League title fully out of City’s control and hands it to Arsenal. Play within themselves. Don’t try to do too much. Channel the high emotions into energy and positive play.
Arsenal have gotten the better of Manchester City in the Premier League of late — they’re unbeaten in five-straight matches. But City beat Arsenal 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final last month. Most will look past recent history. Much of the focus will be on the soft factors of the recent titles races and the comparative “mental makeup” of the two clubs. Whatever that means.
Much more important will be the tactical battle on the pitch. Will City deploy the same passive pressing structure that stymied Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final? Will Arsenal be able to find enough ball progression and attacking threat to challenge City’s makeshift backline? Who will set the tempo of the game and will Arsenal be able to push the physical limitations of the Rodri-Bernardo pairing in the center of the park?
Manchester City will be without Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and John Stones. Nico O’Reilly, who left City’s match against last weekend with a hamstring issue, has trained this week and is available for selection, according to Pep Guardiola.
For what it’s worth, if O’Reilly starts, I’d love to see Arsenal test that hamstring early. Get Gabriel Martinelli on him in space and see how well he’s moving and if he trusts that hamstring.
Arsenal’s injury situation is a bit more nebulous. Mikel Merino is out. Bukayo Saka is out. Some (or all or none) of Martin Ødegaard, Riccardo Calafiori, and Jurrien Timber might be available. Mikel Arteta was “hopeful” that Noni Madueke, who left the Sporting match midweek, would be available for selection because his injury wasn’t as bad as it initially seemed. Declan Rice, who played through illness against Sporting, is healthy and available.
Lineups will be posted when available.
WHO: Arsenal at Manchester City
WHERE: The Etihad
WHEN: Sunday, April 19th, 8:30 am PT | 11:30 am ET | 4:30 pm GMT
HOW TO WATCH: Broadcast on NBC Network. Streaming on Peacock.
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