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

Match Result Prediction?

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Tricky_Trev said:
Arteta is going to be ready for that this time though. It surprised them last season and was extra efffective because if I remember right, they had to play Rob Holding up against Haaland? It isn’t going to work v Saliba.
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Maybe Pep needs to ask Marco Silva for tips in how to take points off Arsenal.
 
balotellishaircut said:
Maybe Pep needs to ask Marco Silva for tips in how to take points off Arsenal.
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Answer is straightforward - either a low block (but less effective now that Havertz is up to speed) or a midfield block (which is what Porto did). City are absolutely capable of this, they smother midfield and for that they rely on Rodri. He didn't play the 1st game at the Emirates and Arsenal got the upper hand in midfield meaning City rarely threatened. This time Rodri will play which is why I maintain a City win is the likely outcome as whilst Rice is quality, Jorginho relies on Rice to dominate the physical battle in the middle so he can play cute balls through or activate Odegaard. That won't happen this time - our best hope was a fully fit Partey alongside Rice but it won't happen. 2-1 City I reckon.
 
bridgeno1 said:
Answer is straightforward - either a low block (but less effective now that Havertz is up to speed) or a midfield block (which is what Porto did). City are absolutely capable of this, they smother midfield and for that they rely on Rodri. He didn't play the 1st game at the Emirates and Arsenal got the upper hand in midfield meaning City rarely threatened. This time Rodri will play which is why I maintain a City win is the likely outcome as whilst Rice is quality, Jorginho relies on Rice to dominate the physical battle in the middle so he can play cute balls through or activate Odegaard. That won't happen this time - our best hope was a fully fit Partey alongside Rice but it won't happen. 2-1 City I reckon.
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My previous post was somewhat ‘tongue in cheek’. Nobody knows what will happen in any given game that’s why we all love football, besides if Arsenal get beat don’t sweat it, it’s not the end of your challenge.
 
Blu1 said:
The injuries will focus the players who know they are now playing

It might just work in our favour with less options

Regardless Southgate is a utter joker
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Pep should call Wastecoat out with simple, searching questions in the press briefing.... but NOT declare ANY fitness updates.

We don’t owe anyone anything, so fuck em all.

Silence is golden !!
 
richards30 said:
I reckon at least Akanji will be fit so he will start at RB surely?
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Think he's a better option than Walker these days.

Ortega
Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Ake
Rodri, Kovacic
Benardo, De Bruyne, Foden
Haaland

Also, think with Kovacic available there's no need to rush Grealish back in a game like this. If Kovacic wasn't fit it might be worth bringing Jack in to steady the midfield ship but Kovacic brings a lot of control and composure anyway (and also has good ball carrying abilities much like Jack).

Will be very tough this one. Arsenal came into the 4-1 game last season defeated before the first whistle but their confidence is high this season and they'll be a different proposition. We're gonna have to beat them differently this time. We can definitely do it but they're a much tougher prospect this year.
 
bridgeno1 said:
Rodri. He didn't play the 1st game at the Emirates and Arsenal got the upper hand in midfield meaning City rarely threatened.
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No team had the upper hand in midfield, that's why both teams failed to create clear chances in the game bar the Ake one in the first half. Given key absences, Pep was happy with a draw but you can't plan against a deflected goal. Arsenal equalized with a deflected shot in the CS game and scored the winner with a deflected shot at the Emirates. It's about time you are less lucky :)
 
alexmcity said:
No team had the upper hand in midfield, that's why both teams failed to create clear chances in the game bar the Ake one in the first half. Given key absences, Pep was happy with a draw but you can't plan against a deflected goal. Arsenal equalized with a deflected shot in the CS game and scored the winner with a deflected shot at the Emirates. It's about time you are less lucky :)
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actually gvardiol made city’s only shot on target in that game, with captain hair flick clinging to him like a baby panda. rice managed to clear it off the line unfortunately.
 
Hope we turn up defensively. Arsenal will leave gaps to exploit going forward but will be dangerous themselves too.

Having Jonny Boulders and Walker would've eased my nerves tenfold. Especially Stones, he doubles as protection at the back as well as midfield when we force teams deep. Think he'll be a massive miss and I'm that gutted that he's missing, I've partly convinced myself it's some sort of major bluff. Same with Walker.

Presuming they're out, though, I'd go with:

Ederson

Akanji
Dias
Gvardiol
Ake

Kovacic
Rodri

Foden
Haaland
KDB
Grealish (or Doku if not fully fit)


Ake at LB rather than Gvardiol given their dangers are wide (Saka, Martinelli) and not particularly central and Ake is a better 1v1 defender. He pocketed Saka twice last season.

I just hope we win. Shut those fuckers up. The game at their place was abysmal, genuinely terrible but then we didn't have Rodri or KDB. They're back and we should be putting some sort of marker down.

Do what we did last season. Win but while doing that, batter the bastards. Should've been 6 or 7 that game. Would love to see Captain Thunderbird fume on the sideline again. COME ON CITY!
 
At some point, the best sides in sport lose their reign. For me, the current Man City side is far weaker than last year - last year we had Gundo, Mahrez and an in-form Grealish. Now we have Nunes/Kovacic and Doku as replacements. Meanwhile we're playing Gvardiol at LB where he is struggling - whereas he was, past season, a world class center back.

Our team is worse than it was last year in these positions - and meanwhile Liverpool (especially) and Arsenal (somewhat) are better.

It's not clear to me that we're the best side in the P/L this year - and on top of all of the above, we have a tough run-in.

TBH - I think we'll end up 3rd in the P/L this year and will not win the Champions League. A draw v. Arsenal would be a great result - but as both sides are so close in ability I don't know who will win.
 
alexmcity said:
Mostly bollocks that.
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Hope your right.

Out of curiosity:

Is Nunes/Kovacic an improvement over Gudno?

Is Doku better than Marez?

Is Gvardiol at LB an upgrade to our side?

Have Arsenal and Liverpool failed to improve over last year?
 
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skillman said:
Hope we turn up defensively. Arsenal will leave gaps to exploit going forward but will be dangerous themselves too.

Having Jonny Boulders and Walker would've eased my nerves tenfold. Especially Stones, he doubles as protection at the back as well as midfield when we force teams deep. Think he'll be a massive miss and I'm that gutted that he's missing, I've partly convinced myself it's some sort of major bluff. Same with Walker.

Presuming they're out, though, I'd go with:

Ederson

Akanji
Dias
Gvardiol
Ake

Kovacic
Rodri

Foden
Haaland
KDB
Grealish (or Doku if not fully fit)


Ake at LB rather than Gvardiol given their dangers are wide (Saka, Martinelli) and not particularly central and Ake is a better 1v1 defender. He pocketed Saka twice last season.

I just hope we win. Shut those fuckers up. The game at their place was abysmal, genuinely terrible but then we didn't have Rodri or KDB. They're back and we should be putting some sort of marker down.

Do what we did last season. Win but while doing that, batter the bastards. Should've been 6 or 7 that game. Would love to see Captain Thunderbird fume on the sideline again. COME ON CITY!
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Where's Bernardo? Is he injured, too?

Pep hasn't played Gvardiol at CB all season but will put him there against Arsenal of all teams? Not likely to happen.
 
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