Arsenal (A) - Sat 1st Jan, 12:30 | Pre-Match Thread

[BringBackSwales]

Arsenal are a better side than Chelsea at the moment. Significantly. Arteta has galvanised them. They have some top young players and they will be really up for this game as will their fans.

Liverpool (h) will be difficult but I am looking forward to Chelsea (h) because of their injury problems.

Nah, arsenal beat Soton, Norwich, league 1 Sunderland, 10 man West Ham and injury ravaged leeds. To say they are now better than Chelsea is going way too far

 

[alexmcity]

Have we never played this many games before?

When was the last time we played 3 games over 6 days and had only 62 hours before the 3rd game to prepare, with that 3rd game being vs a top 4 contender at their ground? Genuine question.

 

[Marvin]

Lol people don't need to watch Arsenal or anybody else, City are quite clearly better than them all and that's not being big headed it's the truth.

You can appreciate more than just your own side and if you don't measure yourself against the rest then you don't take full pleasure from your team. You are better than that comment surely?

 

[Marvin]

Arrogance and ignorance are traits to be avoided.

 

[Tokyo32]

You can tell the posters who just watch city matches and rarely watch other teams. Arsenal will be a huge test tomorrow they are playing some really good football with a core of young hungry players. We will need to be at our best to beat them.

Personally think it will be a draw but wouldn’t be surprised if either team snuck it either. very hard match to predict

I actually watch Arsenal so I don’t get your point.

I really don’t get why people keep mentioning Arsenal playing well, are we not playing well also ?

Arsenal are simply not a better team than us, we have just won 10 games in a row while Arsenal got destroyed by Liverpool and Carricks United. Look maybe we lose but that would not be because they are better than us but that would be a smash and grab. Like why is everyone suddenly doubting our players?

 

[MossHey71]

When was the last time we played 3 games over 6 days and had only 62 hours before the 3rd game to prepare, with that 3rd game being vs a top 4 contender at their ground? Genuine question.

we played at Chelsea, then PSG then Liverpool - all away, all inside 8 days - 2 months ago - that was a much tougher run IMO

 

[Chippy_boy]

I actually watch Arsenal so I don’t get your point.

I really don’t get why people keep mentioning Arsenal playing well, are we not playing well also ?

Arsenal are simply not a better team than us, we have just won 10 games in a row while Arsenal got destroyed by Liverpool and Carricks United. Look maybe we lose but that would not be because they are better than us but that would be a smash and grab. Like why is everyone suddenly doubting our players?

We're a better team when we have Rodri in front of the back four, we have walker at RB and Cancelo at LB. That is for sure.

When are missing Cancelo (or play him at RB) and have Zinchenko as LB and no Rodri? Look what happened when Pep player Gundo as the holding midfield player against Chelsea in that abortion of a CL final.

This will be a tough game IMO and a point would be a decent - if not disappointing - result.

 

[Bournemouth Blue]

I’d settle for a point and no more injuries. Then play some kids against Swindon.

 

[alexmcity]

I actually watch Arsenal so I don’t get your point.

I really don’t get why people keep mentioning Arsenal playing well, are we not playing well also ?

Arsenal are simply not a better team than us, we have just won 10 games in a row while Arsenal got destroyed by Liverpool and Carricks United. Look maybe we lose but that would not be because they are better than us but that would be a smash and grab. Like why is everyone suddenly doubting our players?

Poor reasoning that, for you don't take into account the context of the game: we have 2 days to prepare for the game, Arsenal have 5 days, we may miss Rodri and Cancelo, and Walker hadn't played/trained for 3 weeks. We are much, much better than Southampton and Palace, but got only 1 point from those two games (at the Etihad!), i.e., football isn't played on paper, etc. etc.

It's not about doubting our players, but about showing respect to the opposition and also humility. Normally, Liverpool would beat the weakened version of Leicester they played, but failed. That's football. Their pre-match Leicester thread could serve as a lesson to many on here.

 

[alexmcity]

we played at Chelsea, then PSG then Liverpool - all away, all inside 8 days - 2 months ago - that was a much tougher run IMO

We had nearly 5 days to prepare before Liverpool, completely different situation that.