Agree to this ^
Forget about winning this match. Time after time, we fail to pressurize, penetrate and ultimately create the goal scoring chances which we need. The last time we totally outclassed and demolished Arsenal was that 4-1 encounter at the Etihad when Adebayour infamously streaked 100m for his celebration.
Apart from that, it seems to be that 1-0 is the preferred outcome. Etihad last year and this year is no difference. Why are we struggling against them? Mancini needs to get his tactics spot on and show some variety to our normal style of play that has seen us struggle year in, year out.
This means keeping Balotelli on the bench. He is enigmatic, but has had little football and will lack the match fitness we need up front to press the Arsenal backline for sustained periods. I want to see the Dzeko/Tevez combination deployed. I also want to see Barry, Garcia and Milner in a 3 man midfield, with Silva playing in the central attacking role we know.
Something like this:
--------Barry--------Milner---------Garcia-----------
-----------Silva--------------Tevez------------------
----------------------Dzeko--------------------------
I believe this will provide us with added variety in the form of our shape. We have sufficient defensive cover and the potential for Milner to spray cross field passes (if he is on form) to Zaba and Clichy on either flank. This will shift the Arsenal defenders wider which will hopefully create the space for silva/tevez centrally. In this formation, Milner also has the potential to run forward to create an overload on their central defenders. Albeit a minor adjustment, could be a nice change and added dimension to finally perform well!