Football commentators are probably struggling to get a grip on Manchester City and their performances at and away from the Etihad Stadium. All this leads to me thinking that instead of relying on former players and managers for tactical nous, it might then be more advisable to look to none other than the man who penned Dr. Jekyll and Hyde, because it indeed is a strange case. Step up Robert Louis Stevenson.
City have scored 2800 goals this season at home (cynicism intended) but have been a bunch of poppycocks away from their back yard. One may point to the midweek result at the Allianz Arena but even Arsenal fans were not overjoyed after their team beat the Munich stalwarts in February this year. On both occasions, Bayern were nowhere near what they can be. The pair though, did play quite well to beat the Germans but that discussion should be left for next year when the Champions League resumes.
Poison ball.
Two words that Arsene Wenger should impart on his players. Because if they perform at the level they most definitely can, with the trio of magicians in Cazorla, Ozil and Wilshere, supported by Ramsey and Flamini (as I don’t think Arteta should start today), the Gunners can certainly cause the upset of the season, because City have been that good.
A zip in passing and movement has to be key tonight, especially if Roberto Mancini, sorry, I mean Manuel Pellegrini, deploys two men in the middle of the park tonight.
Tottenham played a similar way a month ago, and though the result did not mean anything other than shoes and bottles thrown at Andre Villas-Boas, the men from White Hart Lane actually did control the ball and create some chances.
The only change that Pellegrini will make will either be Navas or Silva, with Nasri, Toure and Fernandhinho as shoe ins for the game. Argentina and Spain are represented up top for the Mancunians.
City will have the ball for periods in tonight’s game. That’s how they are drilled to play, it is like riding a train by a countryside in Switzerland, from a far it looks like a pleasant journey and the train moving at a gentle pace. One thing’s for sure, you don’t want to get in the way of that train, and Yaya Toure epitomises this.
Everyone knows City will be great tonight. They have been all season at home. What people aren’t sure of is how good will Arsenal be. Wenger’s troops haven’t yet come up against the ‘creme de la creme’ in the Premier League, apologies to Man United fans.
The game at Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion was, I think, the most threatened the Gunners have been this season.
If Walcott is drafted into tonight’s line-up, it might worry City. Theo could trouble Aleksandr Kolarov and Martin Demichelis if gets up in support of Giroud. Cazorla and Ozil should play, with Ramsey getting the central midfield role just ahead of Flamini. He will do a good job as he’s been doing all season of shielding the back four.
Arsenal, if they mimic the action of a simple sponge, they might do well tonight. Soak up the pressure and splash at City’s defense. They have yet to be tested this season at home. Vociferous they have been, City’s fans I mean.
My one worry is Giroud. A thousand apologies to all his supporters, but the solid Frenchman does not cut it at this level. Yes, he has a good touch and is momentous in the air, but he lacks the pace and finishing ability possessed by previous Arsenal strikers. If he gets a chance, you’re not sure whether he’s going to put the ball past the opposing goalkeeper, but in Sergio Aguero, City have a mini bull who has the panache of Michelangelo.
But, like how the saying goes, as the going get tough............ Arsenal to win 1-0.
No comments:
Post a Comment