Arsenal (H) - Sun 31st Mar, 16:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

Match Result Prediction?

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Millwallawayveteran1988 said:
They have taken 7/9 against us and the dippers so far. We haven’t won once against top 5 sides. I’d say this game is maybe 60/40 this season as we are at home but they are capable.
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The Bookies indicate a 58% probability of City winning, 16% Arsenal and 26% draw.

I'd bite your hands off if we could take a draw back to London.

Talk of City thrashing Arsenal is wide of the mark (I've seen some posts saying 3-0, 4-1 etc). If City have beaten Rags 3-1 and Barcodes 2-0 in recent weeks then where is the uplift on those matches coming from that warrants City beating Arsenal by even more?

In my opinion it will be a very tactical, often cagey match with the midfield battle key. Rodri will be vital for City and I reckon the score will be something like 2-1 City or 1-1. Something like that. I just can't see where an absolute hammering comes from based on the evidence so far this season (unless there's a red card etc).
 
Difficult game, Arsenal are a bloody good side.
Hopefully no injuries during the internationals break.
Must win, 3-2 City
 
bridgeno1 said:
I just can't see where an absolute hammering comes from based on the evidence so far this season (unless there's a red card etc).
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I think it will be a close game but an absolute hammering can happen between relatively equal teams due to the nature of football. City could score 4 goals with 5 shots, and Arsenal might fail to score from 15 shots. Such things can happen in football.

Also, if you can lose 1:0 from Porto, you can lose 3:0 from City. Porto are levels below City quality wise.
 
bridgeno1 said:
Just to put this into context Arsenal had 3 weeks off after Xmas and have won every league match since, scoring a barrel load of goals.

The break helped them build momentum after they lost 2 matches in a row. They won't be spending the time off watching Netflix.
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Break came at right time then now you could argue it will have a negative impact and act as a momentum breaker. Importantly most of them will be away from base which i assume was not the case in the post Christmas period. On balance I am inclined to think that the timing of this fixture very much suits us.
 
bridgeno1 said:
Just to put this into context Arsenal had 3 weeks off after Xmas and have won every league match since, scoring a barrel load of goals.

The break helped them build momentum after they lost 2 matches in a row. They won't be spending the time off watching Netflix.
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I'm living in hope - don't spoil it for me!
This time, you're at the pressure end of the season - and playing City.
 
Father Paul said:
Break came at right time then now you could argue it will have a negative impact and act as a momentum breaker. Importantly most of them will be away from base which i assume was not the case in the post Christmas period. On balance I am inclined to think that the timing of this fixture very much suits us.
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Half of Arsenal's games post Xmas were away (1-2 vs Forest, 0-6 at Hammers, 0-5 at Burnley, 0-6 at Sheff Utd with 5-0 at home vs Palace, 3-1 vs Dippers, 4-1 vs Barcodes and 2-1 vs Brentford).

Don't get me wrong the most likely result is a City win and as I pointed out earlier I'd be absolutely over the moon with a point but City will need to play well to win and if they bring their A game they will, anything below that though and it's a risk.

Arsenal also have to go to Spurs and Rags so in reality our run in is harder as psychologically those games are a nightmare for us. Spurs are going for Top 4 and absolutely hate Arsenal and Rags to Arsenal is what Dippers are to City - we usually absolutely shit the bed at their place. And of course City at the Etihad is the toughest game of the whole season.

Anyway if you beat us then you absolutely must win the league, no way must the Dippers be allowed to win it. Dippers have a pretty easy next 4 matches.
 
alexmcity said:
I think it will be a close game but an absolute hammering can happen between relatively equal teams due to the nature of football. City could score 4 goals with 5 shots, and Arsenal might fail to score from 15 shots. Such things can happen in football.

Also, if you can lose 1:0 from Porto, you can lose 3:0 from City. Porto are levels below City quality wise.
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Could do but the likelihood is if City score first Pep isn't going to tell City to go gung ho and press for more as he knows Arsenal have threat on the break, he's more likely to want to control the midfield and keep it tighter, maybe bring Kovacic on to shore it up against Rice. If that happens (worst scenario for Arsenal is City get the 1st goal) then Arsenal can't do what most other PL teams do and be happy with keeping it tight and hope for a Hail Mary on the break as they know they are fucked if they lose so they'll gamble and go more attacking and that's where a bigger win could come from as City get Arsenal on the break.

First goal is so pivotal in this match - once again a draw would be awesome for us, logically City will win this one if they bring their A game as City's peak level is still higher than Arsenal's. Arsenal need the 1st goal to get anything from this match and I reckon Arsenal might go hard at City from kick off just like Arsenal did at the Dippers in order to try and get the 1st goal and then try and catch City on the break as City push forward. If the City that murdered Madrid 4-0 turn up then forget it. If the City that beat Inter 1-0 turn up then Arsenal have a chance. In many ways the result is up to City as if they play to their maximum then they are going to win regardless of what Arsenal do, we won't be able to keep a peak City out for 96 minutes.
 
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No injuries in pointless England games
Pep plays the right team
We win
 
bridgeno1 said:
I reckon Arsenal will go hard at City from kick off just like Arsenal did at the Dippers in order to try and get the 1st goal and then try and catch City on the break as City push forward.
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That sounds like a reasonable strategy but it has its trade-offs.

If you go hard at City you leave spaces that can be exploited. It's risky, as KDB and Haaland are the best pair in football when it comes to make use of such spaces, especially at the Etihad.

Unlike Liverpool, who for some reason are slow starters and need more time to find rhythm, City are generally not like that. We could have been 2 goals up at Anfield in the first 10 minutes a week ago.

Yes, Spurs and Chelsea scored first at the Etihad, but Haaland missed big chances in both games. We could have won both games quite comfortably.

City haven't been great so far, but that's partly (or mostly) due to the fact that, IMO, the team has been prepared to peak in the final 8 weeks. Nobody knows whether it will happen, but people (including many City fans) saying City are worse than last season might be wrong, as the most important part of the season is yet to start and we have more wins in all compets than last season. The way we moved the ball vs Newcastle was encouraging.
 
bridgeno1 said:
The Bookies indicate a 58% probability of City winning, 16% Arsenal and 26% draw.

I'd bite your hands off if we could take a draw back to London.

Talk of City thrashing Arsenal is wide of the mark (I've seen some posts saying 3-0, 4-1 etc). If City have beaten Rags 3-1 and Barcodes 2-0 in recent weeks then where is the uplift on those matches coming from that warrants City beating Arsenal by even more?

In my opinion it will be a very tactical, often cagey match with the midfield battle key. Rodri will be vital for City and I reckon the score will be something like 2-1 City or 1-1. Something like that. I just can't see where an absolute hammering comes from based on the evidence so far this season (unless there's a red card etc).
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You also need Odengaard to turn up !
He went missing in last seasons must win Etihad game
KDB showed that he’s a class above that night
No more lucky deflections for you
3:1 City
 
Just to add I hope the match is decided on the pitch and not a shitty ref decision either way.
alexmcity said:
That sounds like a reasonable strategy but it has its trade-offs.

If you go hard at City you leave spaces that can be exploited. It's risky, as KDB and Haaland are the best pair in football when it comes to make use of such spaces, especially at the Etihad.

Unlike Liverpool, who for some reason are slow starters and need more time to find rhythm, City are generally not like that. We could have been 2 goals up at Anfield in the first 10 minutes a week ago.

Yes, Spurs and Chelsea scored first at the Etihad, but Haaland missed big chances in both games. We could have won both games quite comfortably.

City haven't been great so far, but that's partly (or mostly) due to the fact that, IMO, the team has been prepared to peak in the final 8 weeks. Nobody knows whether it will happen, but people (including many City fans) saying City are worse than last season might be wrong, as the most important part of the season is yet to start and we have more wins in all compets than last season. The way we moved the ball vs Newcastle was encouraging.
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I don't disagree with this. Perhaps City's achilles heel vs last season is that the defence doesn't look as tight. Dias hasn't had his best season so far and Also unquestionably Arsenal are a better side than last year. We'll see, like I said before it is highly likely City will win and I don't think we will come back to London with 3 points and I'd be pleasantly surprised if we got 1 point but you never know in football.
 
bridgeno1 said:
Just to add I hope the match is decided on the pitch

I don't disagree with this. Perhaps City's achilles heel vs last season is that the defence doesn't look as tight. Dias hasn't had his best season so far and Also unquestionably Arsenal are a better side than last year. We'll see, like I said before it is highly likely City will win and I don't think we will come back to London with 3 points and I'd be pleasantly surprised if we got 1 point but you never know in football.
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I don't disagree. Arsenal are in better form than they were at that stage last season, partly because the main players are available. I'm not sure they'll finish with more points than last season, though.

It will be a very difficult game for City. If we win, it will be something like 2:1 or 3:2. This game starts probably the most physically challenging period of the season, as we play every 3 days in the first half of April. But it's the same for Arsenal and you'll finding it difficult, maybe even more difficult than City, as you rely more on energy than us to control games. One of City's secrets under Pep has been the ability to rest while moving the ball around. It might be perceived as boring, but it's virtually impossible to challenge on multiple fronts without the control that possession offers.
 
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It's a must win game in my opinion. I think we feel that as fans and the atmosphere should be quality like it was last season. The players will hopefully also feel it and look to make a statement. Arsenal's fixtures are the hardest, we have a packed schedule and Liverpool have the edge in terms of league position and only being in the Europa League. We've got to keep the pressure on with a win.
 
alexmcity said:
I don't disagree. Arsenal are in better form than they were at that stage last season, partly because the main players are available. I'm not sure they'll finish with more points than last season, though.

It will be a very difficult game for City. If we win, it will be something like 2:1 or 3:2. This game starts probably the most physically challenging period of the season, as we play every 3 days in the first half of April. But it's the same for Arsenal and you'll finding it difficult, maybe even more difficult than City, as you rely more on energy than us to control games. One of City's secrets under Pep has been the ability to rest while moving the ball around. It might be perceived as boring, but it's virtually impossible to challenge on multiple fronts without the control that possession offers.
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Agree with this. City are masters at controlling a game and wearing down the competition which is why I always find it odd when some posters here are up in arms when you guys are 0-0 or 1-0 down at halftime as it is inevitable that pressure and the toll it takes on the opposition means they'll fade after 60 mins or so and City will push through for the win. Hence I think Arsenal need the 1st goal.
 
supercity88 said:
It's a must win game in my opinion. I think we feel that as fans and the atmosphere should be quality like it was last season. The players will hopefully also feel it and look to make a statement. Arsenal's fixtures are the hardest, we have a packed schedule and Liverpool have the edge in terms of league position and only being in the Europa League. We've got to keep the pressure on with a win.
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For me also, not just the 3 points but hopefully a psychological blow to them as well.
 
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