Arsenal v Manchester City (Match Preview & Team Predictions)
|Arsenal face another stern test in their Premier League title quest as they take on fellow title contenders Manchester City tomorrow night at Emirates Stadium.
Roberto Mancini’s side, who currently sit in second place, two points ahead of the Gunners, but a win for Arsenal tomorrow would see them go into second ahead of the Citizens with a game in hand.
It is undoubtedly a huge game and looking at the current table it has become equally important as the game against Chelsea last week. After putting a good string of results together over the Christmas period, with huge wins against Chelsea and at Birmingham, Arsenal can now look to push on in the New Year with a succession of games against bottom half sides after tomorrow. Doing the double over City would show huge progress from last season as well as instilling further belief in the side that they are able to win the title.
The corresponding fixture last season was arguably one of the worst seen at the Emirates, ending in a goalless draw. I would expect Mancini to line up a typically Italian style for a similar result this time around. City have little to offer in terms of creativity in midfield, with an abundance of strong holding players that will set up to form a stubborn defence aiming to catch Arsenal on the break. Earlier this season Arsenal pulled of a 3-0 victory at Eastlands but notably this was after City had been reduced to 10 men and they will provide much tougher to break down tomorrow.
It will be interesting to see how Wenger approaches the game with this being our 4th game in 9 days. After the performances of what now appears our first XI against both Chelsea and Birmingham most would like to see the same line-up in such a big game. However, Wenger has used both Djourou and Van Persie with caution after their long injury lay-offs and with both having played twice within a week already, they could be benched. Djourou in particular has been fantastic so far this season and I would personally like to see him play in what will be another physical game, especially after he excelled against Chelsea’s Didier Drogba.
Injuries:
There are no fresh injuries from the weekend with Manuel Almunia (Ankle), Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) and Emmanuel Frimpong (cruciate knee ligament) all being long-term absentees.
Abou Diaby suffered a calf injury in last week’s fixture away at Wigan and faces a 3 week lay-off. Kieran Gibbs (Ankle) returned to full training today and should be available for the weekend but the game against City comes too early.
Predicted Starting XI
Fabianski
Sagna – Djourou – Koscielny – Clichy
Fabregas – Song – Wilshere
Walcott – van Persie – Nasri
For Man City, summer signings Mario Balotelli and David Silva have suffered knee injuries in the last week, ruling them out of tomorrow’s game. Silva particularly will be a huge miss for City after becoming their main playmaker in recent games.
In terms of any impact on City this will probably make little difference, as Tevez would have started as the lone striker regardless of Balotelli’s fitness.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will also be hoping that Emmanuel Adebayor’s bust-up with Kolo Toure goes someway to effecting City’s match preparation.
Leave your views and predictions on the game in the comments section below.
where is Nasri? Surley he will play!!!
Nasri? and im sure Cesc is suspended as hes got 5 yellows?
Who are Nabz and Arsenal4ever? oNE IS BLIND AND THE OTHER ONE IS DUMB.
A very balanced analysis. As for the MCFC team, due to the two obvious injuries I expect the team to be the following:
Hart
Boateng – Kompany – Lescott – Zabaleta
de Jong – Barry
Jo/AJ – Yaya – Milner
Tevez
And in terms of a prediction I’m thinking 2-2.
City haven’t beaten us at our place for, what? A hundred years?
having said that, they have the best away record in the premiership this season, and we only beat them because they were down to 10 men the entire match. Recently, they have outplayed us, as well as outmuscled us.
We are not the sort of team who can park the bus against quality opposition. I really fear City, and I’m worrying we are due a hammering.
@ Denis, I don’t think these two Guys read the post at all.
I saw Abou Diaby at the Westfields shopping mall (near Shepherd’s Bush, London) today at about 6.15 pm today. He was with a girl. Unfortunately, I’m too shy to ask for an autograph.
He wasn’t limping or anything, seemed pretty comfortable walking.
zorrin are u stupid City will not handle Arsenal. I really think we will put a show on 2moz. Nasri & Fabregas will be to much for them Arsenal are better. Dont get nervus and enjoy the show 4-0…..
good call lol
I thought we had the best away record in the premiership
Let’s tear them a new one!!!
Go get em Gunners!!
we have the best away record in the top flight and we have not lost at home to man city in 36 years.
we were 3nil down and pulled it back to 3-2 and were very unlucky not to get something out the game
@Denis Staunton: lolol they need a like button for this comment
LMFAO!!!! Tru!!!
We’ve got to play with pace on the wings. Therefore, we must start Theo and Sami. Same lineup as vs Chelski. I hope Le Prof realizes that this is our strongest XI. Don’t want to see Squillaci for the rest of the year. Also, Stingy Prof reaches into his pocket this month and picks out more than lint. Get a world class CB (Mertesacker). Also, try to get a world class keeper (De Gea or Steklenberg).
City is too defensive minded and that Italian Job Manager insists on playing two over rated English tools (Barry and Milner). That Barry is an absolute pylon and has no business being in the City lineup. Sami skipped right by him for the first goal @ City this season. Barry must have pictures of a couple of Italian managers. That’s the only justification I can think of for his playing time. City have the squad and resources to do better than Barry. And England should be ashamed if they can’t find someone more worthy to wear the three lions. Remember how Ozil raped him in the World Cup. ‘Nuff said.
We’ve got to play with pace on the wings. Therefore, we must start Theo and Sami. Same lineup as vs Chelski. I hope Le Prof realizes that this is our strongest XI. Don’t want to see Squillaci for the rest of the year. Also, Stingy Prof reaches into his pocket this month and picks out more than lint. Get a world class CB (Mertesacker). Also, try to get a world class keeper (De Gea or Steklenberg).
City is too defensive minded and that Italian Job Manager insists on playing two over rated English tools (Barry and Milner). That Barry is an absolute pylon and has no business being in the City lineup. Sami skipped right by him for the first goal @ City this season. Barry must have pictures of a couple of Italian managers. That’s the only justification I can think of for his playing time. City have the squad and resources to do better than Barry. And England should be ashamed if they can’t find someone more worthy to wear the three lions. Remember how Ozil raped him in the World Cup. ‘Nuff said.
Cesc is suspended, i would also expect Wenger to rotate again but hopefully not as much as lastime! i would imagine Nasri may come deeper and Arshavin will start, maybe Chamakh too and Van Persie out
It wil not b easy but Arsenal wil get d maximum points.
3-1
With Nasri getting two and RVP getting one.
Arsenal is on top form wiz its best midfield.Amust win game 2-1 to arsenal
Mark Paul how do you have the best away record? I suggest you look at a table. You have played one more away game than City drawn one more, lost and won the same. See its easy when you know how.
another 3-0 win for us by God’s grace.UP GUNNERS.
@Nabz: no beacsue he did his suspention against wigan and even if he didnt on the 31st december it all stops
@Denis Staunton: yes totally
@Samgunz: he did his suspension against wigan
We can win this one tonight, I am thinking by 2 goals, whatever the scoreline. Djourou can be a star player, KOS has been decent actually and is above average still can be top class though. Sagna is world class, period. Clichy is world class going forward, but defensively he allows opponents to exploit the space in front of and behind him. I would take Gibbs over him now. Almunia should go to a place where he is not 3rd choice, Fabianski can be a decent no.2 and Sckezney should be no.1, why not, Casilias plays for Real in the first team like when he was 18?! Hence, the liability lies with Clichy and for now the keeper (if you can’t deal with high balls or command the penalty box, you are not a top keeper, period).
Also, I am more concerned about the aftermath when we beat Man City. I am pretty sure we will get complacent against our next opponent which was exactly what happened at Wigan. Man Utd doesn’t allow that. Football wise we are better than them, mentally we are not anywhere near. We still have a good chance of claiming the title, but Man Utd is still the favorite and Mancini I thought is doing a very good job at Man City.
Fabregas is NOT suspended. He received his 5th yellow card against Chelsea and served his one match ban when we drew with Wigan.
Tomas Rosicky or Andrey Arshavin to left side?
Almunia–kos,squilaci,gibbs,eboue–ramsey,nasri,jack wheelchair–vela(c),bendtner,chamakh.nasri 2 play holding midfield.lol
I am proud that they’ve won this match 2-1 very sure,Nasri and Arshavin.
4-0 arsenal
COME ON ARSENAL!!!