Arsenal (A) - Sun 21st Sept, 16:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[M16 citeh]

They're shite were gonna do em

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

We aren’t ready for Arsenal yet so I can only envisage a defeat. It’s strange going into a match with not much expectation…..will make any victory more meaningful.

We’ve done well v Napoli and United but Arsenal away is one of the hardest games in World football right now. I don’t think you would get a 50% City win prediction anywhere other than a city forum!

I've got to admit I'm very much in the same boat. Partly it's because I'm still feeling warm from smashing the rags. I hated losing to that shit team last season, and then playing out a draw as if we were basically afraid of them. Those two were maybe the lowest points of the season, along with that absolute dogshite show against Feyenoord. Maybe it's ridiculous to attach so much importance to the derby — we should be beyond that perhaps — but by God it feels good to have put them back in their place, and I'm still basking in that. It is still one of the most important results in any season.

As for Arsenal — qué será será. Very philosophical. I think they're a better team than they were last year or the year before. They've clearly strengthened well. If Cherki, Stones and Marmoush had been fully fit, I'd have had us 50-50. But it doesn't happen like that with City, does it? We'll see…

 

[Leroy Leroy Leroy]

Please beat these cunts

 

[Sibierskii]

A massive wake up call i reckon


For them

 

[Sky Blue Thinking]

Same team if possible. Will be a much sterner test but we look to be gelling and the height of oreilly rodri Gvardiol and haaland will help defend their set pieces

Donnaruma's height and presence will hopefully also help. We have quite a few tall players atm.

 

[bridgeno1]

I've got to admit I'm very much in the same boat. Partly it's because I'm still feeling warm from smashing the rags. I hated losing to that shit team last season, and then playing out a draw as if we were basically afraid of them. Those two were maybe the lowest points of the season, along with that absolute dogshite show against Feyenoord. Maybe it's ridiculous to attach so much importance to the derby — we should be beyond that perhaps — but by God it feels good to have put them back in their place, and I'm still basking in that. It is still one of the most important results in any season.

As for Arsenal — qué será será. Very philosophical. I think they're a better team than they were last year or the year before. They've clearly strengthened well. If Cherki, Stones and Marmoush had been fully fit, I'd have had us 50-50. But it doesn't happen like that with City, does it? We'll see…

Arsenal won't have Saka, Havertz or Odegaard. Saliba will probably be back.

 

[wolviedinho]

Remember it’s only 3 points. We probably are not ready to challenge consistently for a league title atm. It’s also very early in the season.

I’m ok admitting some teams are better than us. If we continue onwards like we did last night then it won’t be long until a new championship teams is born.

 

[alexmcity]

Arsenal won't have Saka, Havertz or Odegaard. Saliba will probably be back.

Not the best game for Saliba to be back from injury. He's a top defender but Haaland and Doku on current form are top top quality (I mention them because they are more likely to play in 1 vs 1 situations against Saliba).

 

[Lee the Blue]

Gonzalez in for Bernardo, otherwise the same XI again please. Want some mobility and muscle in midfield here which Rodri, Gonzalez and Reijnders would provide. Foden, Doku and Haaland are there to try and create/score for us, the other 8 to make us as hard to beat as possible.

 

[the blue panther]

I expect us to start the same 11.

At least Arsenal will have something to worry about when we attack, and defensively we're stronger than last season already. Will they manage to beat The Don?

I have low expectations for the match as they're very strong at home, early in the season. They don't usually start their slide until February/March.

Crowd, ref and VAR will favour them, big-time. A point for us will be great - and a big worry for the other title contenders. Anything more than a point; dreamland.

 

[waspish]

This guy is one the worse referees there is he has made so so many serious wrong decisions!

Stuart Attwell will referee Arsenal vs #ManCity in the #PL on Sunday afternoon, with Jarred Gillett as the VAR; the duo for our 2025 FA Cup Final vs Crystal Palace.

 

[alexmcity]

Gonzalez in for Bernardo, otherwise the same XI again please. Want some mobility and muscle in midfield here which Rodri, Gonzalez and Reijnders would provide. Foden, Doku and Haaland are there to try and create/score for us, the other 8 to make us as hard to beat as possible.

Given that Bernie played 90 minutes last night, him not starting at Arsenal is a genuine possibility.

 

[noseve]

Same team if possible. Will be a much sterner test but we look to be gelling and the height of oreilly rodri Gvardiol and haaland will help defend their set pieces

Trouble is with Erl back there it gives both Saliba and Gabriel a jeopardy-free invitation to come into the box.

I say it all the time, but try leaving Erling roaming along the halfway line - even if only one time - to see how that changes the dynamic.

Could affect both one of their real threats and one of our weaknesses at a stroke, not to mention what might happen at the other end should we manage to hoik one up there? I'd fancy his chances against anybody.

 

[alexmcity]

Trouble is with Erl back there it gives both Saliba and Gabriel a jeopardy-free invitation to come into the box.

I say it all the time, but try leaving Erling roaming along the halfway line - even if only one time - to see how that changes the dynamic.

Could affect both one of their real threats and one of our weaknesses at a stroke, not to mention what might happen at the other end should we manage to hoik one up there? I'd fancy his chances against anybody.

Erl is very important for us defending corners and Arsenal are the best at scoring from corners.

If we could afford to leave a player close to the half-line when the opposition takes corners, Doku would be a good option.

 

[69FACUPfinal]

Donnaruma's height and presence will hopefully also help. We have quite a few tall players atm.

Yes, that is good to see. We were a bit on the small side a few years back. I always thought Eddie was a bit ' short' for a goalie, I like them about 6'3"+. Gigi is perfect heightwise. I'd forgotten how tall Rodri is too, generally think of Spanish being on the smaller side - David, ( but by god he was good). Khus, NicoO, and Gvardiol all decent height too. Think we've finally got the right mix of heights, smaller like Phil, Doku and Rico are harder to mark as they are nippy. As for Erling he's just a beast.

 

[LesBleuMiserable]

Is Ryan Nouri back for this game? Do we know when Marmoush is due back?

 

[69FACUPfinal]

They'll score from set pieces that's for sure. I don't for one minute think our set piece coach has been studying them. They will foul, they will cheat, they won't stay humble. They will win the PL on Sunday..

Apart from that no silly mistakes at the back Blues, and well let's hope the score isn't like last seasons embarrassment.

It's a pity this game has come so early in the season, we're not playing massively well, but had two decent wins and started to get mojo and momentum back. This is a really serious test that has the potential to derail the good results and work of the last two games.

How I miss the many times in the last decade where we've been there and knew we were guaranteed 3 points.

I loathe everything about them ( although tbh not on same scale as my dislike of Rags and Dippers); I can't stand Arteta but they've become a good playing team and I'm semi envious of Rices' ability with free kicks- don't think we have dead ball specialist since Kevin and Gundo left.

I'd take a draw, but sadly think it's too early so best we can hope is a low scoring defeat. I'm not even thinking any chance of a win....

 

[sarcastico]

If we press them high, they will kill us on the counter with Gyokeres and Noni's speed.

Arsenal struggles against disciplined teams. Put Berny on Eze. Have Khus do a day of yoga so he doesn't give away a pen. Donna is the game changer here. Has the ability to claim every corner.

Donna
Khus Stones Dias Gvar
Bern Rodri
Foden Rein Doku
Erl

 

[CityDE]

It's gonna be a tight game but I think we'll win. Haaland will score. Need to prevent giving away corners otherwise I trust our defence.

 

[SWP's back]

Arteta made an interesting point, drawn from rugby union, about having starters and finishers and how those who close out the game can be just as important, if not more so, than those who start. Because of our particular circumstances, no pre-season, injuries, transfer window, we are currently almost entirely dependent on our starters. The closing twenty minutes might be telling.

Seeing our bench against Napoli I don’t agree.