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Arsenal FC vs. Manchester City
On the first day of the new year, the Gunners welcome Premier League leaders Manchester City to their home Emirates Stadium. The times when the Wenger boys were the favourites in the duel with City are long gone. However, Arsenal are improving year by year under Arteta. In contrast, the Citizens under Guardiola have been playing all English defences dizzy for years. Our Arsenal – Man City tip tells you everything you need to know about this top match on New Year’s Day.
For the Gunners, the last few years have not been very pleasant. They never performed well in the Premier League and last season they even missed the international ranks. Thus, they are only active in England this season. However, this seems to turn out to be positive. Currently, Bernd Leno & Co are namely on the long-missed fourth place in the table. Next to the three giants, who will presumably decide the title among themselves, they are virtually “best of the rest”.
What Pep Guardiola has been doing with Manchester City in the Premier League for years is breathtaking. He has managed to integrate his dominant and possession-oriented style into fast-paced English football. And it is paying off. It’s raining titles regularly for the Citizens. They are already six points ahead of their nearest rivals, Liverpool. However, they have yet to hit the big time. Winning the Champions League is the big goal.
Arsenal – Man City Info
– Date & Time: 01/01/2022, at 13:30.
– Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
– Competition: Premier League, Matchday 21
– TV coverage: Sky
Arsenal Form & Balance Check
After two years in which Arsenal threatened to slip into Premier League mediocrity, they are back on a good path to old glory. As of now, after 20 games played, the Gunners are in a commanding fourth place in the table. They are already four points clear of West Ham, their nearest rivals. Therefore, it seems as if the London club bosses have done everything right with their long-term trust in Mikel Arteta. Moreover, there is still a lot of development potential at Arsenal. A large number of regular players are in their early 20s and only at the beginning of their development. If current performers such as Saka, Ödegaard and Tierney continue to improve, the future looks bright for the capital city side
The problem with the big teams
For quite some time, the Gunners are back in the top four of the league. However, the class difference to the top teams like Liverpool or City is still clear. While against smaller teams sometimes high victories are celebrated, Arsenal was literally beaten up by Liverpool and Manchester City in the first half of the season. With 4:0 and 5:0 respectively, the Londoners were clearly shown the limits. In the upcoming second leg against the Citizens, the red and white players will be looking for damage limitation on the pitch.
Arsenal facts & analysis
– Arsenal currently in 4th place
– Many very young regulars
– Taught a lesson by Liverpool & City in the first half of the season
– Haven’t won against City in the league since 2015
Man City form & balance check
Pep Guardiola’s Citizens have been playing outstanding football for years. They dominate the English Premier League almost every year. This season, too, they are in first place in the table after 20 games played. The Skyblues are already eight points clear of their closest rivals, Chelsea. It’s simply an incredible pace that City are setting. The smallest slip-ups by the other title contenders are exploited with a vengeance.
With 16 wins, two draws and only two defeats, Pep Guardiola’s boys are once again in absolute top form. We could quote a hundred statistics that underline City’s dominance. To name just a few: Only 12 goals conceded after 20 games, an incredible 90% passing accuracy on average, not dropping a point for ten games and 51 goals scored. This, by the way, makes them the best offence, and the best defence in the league. The Gunners will have to dress warmly in the upcoming duel.
The champion meets his pupil
When Pep Guardiola started at Manchester City in 2016, Mikel Arteta was his right-hand man. Together they built and shaped this team. For three years, this Spanish duo stood on the sidelines in Manchester. In 2019, Guardiola’s protégé left the nest and took wing. Arsenal FC then became Mikel Arteta’s first head coaching stop.
For years, he has been building something with the Londoners. From season to season they get better and Arteta’s signature is more and more visible. However, he has not yet come close to the masterpiece of his teacher Guardiola with the Gunners. In seven duels, Arteta has only managed one victory with his Londoners. That was in the FA Cup semi-final in 2020, and the pupil has always lost out to his teacher in the league.
Man City facts & analysis
– City currently top of the table
– Best defence in the league
– Best offence in the league
– Without losing a point for 10 games
Predicted lineup – last update on December 30, 2021
For the Gunners, Tomiyasu, who has been spared recently, will return to the starting eleven. Rob Holding will take his place on the bench. Otherwise, Lacazette will continue to replace the outcast Aubameyang as striker and captain. For City, Zinchenko will probably move into the first eleven for Ake. In addition, Gündogan could complete the midfield with De Bruyne and Silva.
Arsenal – Man City direct comparison & stats
The direct comparison between these two teams clearly goes to City. In the last nine league games, Man City have always come out on top. The Gunners’ only win against City was in the FA Cup semi-final in 2020, where they won 2-0. Otherwise, Arsenal have failed to score in their last two encounters. Moreover, the Londoners’ last victory in a league match was seven years ago.
– City have won all of their last nine league encounters.
– Arsenal have failed to score in their last two encounters
– Gunners’ last win in the league seven years ago
