This would be my team as well. Defensive steel, control in midfield, lots of energy, attacking threat. Of course, I am assuming KDB is not fit.Ederson
Akanji, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol
Rodri, Bernardo
Doku, Foden, Grealish
Haaland
Draw them out if we can imo.
Arsenal are experts at feigning injury and Arteta condones it as it allows his players a breather and water break as he gathers them for a team talk. It's only recently crept into the game but it need nipping in the bud because several teams are now doing it.Yes. Prepare for a display of the dark arts from the anti-fotball lot - time-wasting, feigning injury, their keeper holding on to the ball for ages, packed defence and lack of ambition.
They will have seen how we struggle to break down these defences, if they didn't already know. As someone just put it, if they score first, that'll be it.
It'll be anything but a classic, and no doubt Arteta will get all the plaudits for "outthinking" Pep.
I'm expecting a grim, grinding afternoon.
Arsenal have higher fogging estandards than Inter. And we win many more duuuuueeeellllsss.I'd be a little nervous if I was Arteta. Inter was the perfect game for us to have before Arsenal. Arteta probably intends to set up the same way as Inter, so we essentially had a team simulating the Sunday Arsenal matchup for us midweek. In fact, Inter is considered a slightly better team than Arsenal by opta.
Good post but I don't agree with you saying Arsenal are an exceptional team, pal.Make absolutely no mistake these are an exceptional team and we’ll need to be bang at it for the full game.
I think they’ll play very similarly to Inter. 2 banks in a low block and then look for Saka and Martinelli as the early out ball / pace option.
I’d play Walker purely to negate Martinelli’s pace.
Think we’ve looked a bit undercooked so far this season so this will be a good test to see exactly where we’re at.
Both sides would probably be happy with a draw at this very early stage in the season.
Can’t see there being much in it.
Last night was a perfect example of how arse will play with lots more play acting and time wasting. Don't expect the slightest help from the officials who will book the first fouls by a City player and do nothing about their clogging. Going for a draw with a lap of honour by them afterwards.I'd be a little nervous if I was Arteta. Inter was the perfect game for us to have before Arsenal. Arteta probably intends to set up the same way as Inter, so we essentially had a team simulating the Sunday Arsenal matchup for us midweek. In fact, Inter is considered a slightly better team than Arsenal by opta.
Exceptional is over the top, but they're undoubtedly very good, which is reflected by the bookmaker's odds. It's not often, if ever, under Pep, you can get City at home at 1.80 to get all three points.Good post but I don't agree with you saying Arsenal are an exceptional team, pal.
Winning the league 4 times on the trot, the domestic quad, winning the CL, the 100 points 106 league goals season and several times winners of League and FA cups. Plus being UEFA Super Cup Winners and FIFA Club World Cup Winners last year makes us exceptional, truly exceptional ; )
I've given you a like for your optimism because I like it: )3:1 City. Feeling confident.
Savinho is gonna score his first goal for us.
I think it's too early in the season for them to have the balls to go all out for a win. I think they will play not to lose on the basis that a point each if good enough for them in the hope they can get 3 points against us at their place. Hoping we don't go behind in the game.I've just got this feeling that Arsenal will not sit as deep as last year. Last year, they were fully happy to come to the Etihad and get a point, but if they'd shown more ambition I actually think they could have won that match. We were not in a very good moment and that point, and they were. In the end, that timorousness, arguably, cost them the title. I've got a feeling they'll come for the win this time. Which is fine by me…
Soton started this under Hasselhuit. You could set your watch by it in the middle of the second half!Arsenal are experts at feigning injury and Arteta condones it as it allows his players a breather and water break as he gathers them for a team talk. It's only recently crept into the game but it need nipping in the bud because several teams are now doing it.
I didn’t know Hasselhuit had Saints doing it first but knew it wasn't Arteta but he soon cottoned on. Good post BTW.Soton started this under Hasselhuit. You could set your watch by it in the middle of the second half!
Arteta seems to think he’s outwitting everyone with his sly tactics, but it cheapens him and them. The feigning of injuries and time-wasting need clamping down by PGMOL & the PL, as it’s a total turnoff.
For me, ANYTIME a player stays down, the Physio should come on and the player goes off the field for a minimum of 1 minute. The most infuriating time-wasting is the player who stays down, game stops, ref doesn’t stop his watch, goes over and he suddenly limps to his feet…sprinting and pinging balks within the next 10-20 seconds!! Instead of creating a crescendo of excitement towards the end of a game, it sucks the life out of the game.
Liked his energy as an Assistant, but as a Manager, he is rapidly becoming a Mourinho-level ****, without silver pot to piss in!!
I agree.Walker, Kovacic and Foden in for this
Out Rico, Kev (presumably) and Savinho
You forgot to mention manhandling Haaland for 90+ minutes with no repercussions…. It’s no wonder he struggles against the “better” teams.Yes. Prepare for a display of the dark arts from the anti-fotball lot - time-wasting, feigning injury, their keeper holding on to the ball for ages, packed defence and lack of ambition.
I agree. Last season Arsenal were too frightened to go for the win because we spanked their sorry arses the previous season and they were ultra cautious because of it. If they'd have fully gone for the win they'd have beaten us because we were there for the taking, and if they'd beaten us I think it would of further galvanised them to win the league, but they didn't because they haven't got that proven winning mentality(yet) that we have had for over 10 years.I've just got this feeling that Arsenal will not sit as deep as last year. Last year, they were fully happy to come to the Etihad and get a point, but if they'd shown more ambition I actually think they could have won that match. We were not in a very good moment and that point, and they were. In the end, that timorousness, arguably, cost them the title. I've got a feeling they'll come for the win this time. Which is fine by me…