please log in to view this image Emirates StadiumSunday 12th August 2018 Kick Off: 16:00 Head to Head record: Played: 194 Won: 96 Drawn: 45 Lost: 53 Last 6 meetings [all competitions]: Arsenal 0-3 Manchester City Arsenal 0-3 Manchester City [League Cup Final] Manchester City 3-1 Arsenal Arsenal 2-1 Manchester City [FA Cup] Arsenal 2-2 Manchester City Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Team News: Sead Kolasinac and Laurent Koscielny are certainties to miss the game with long-term injuries. Aaron Ramsey and Nacho Monreal face late tests after picking up knocks this week. Danilo and Mangala are both recovering from knocks during pre-season. Raheem Sterling, Kyle Walker, Vincent Kompany, Kevin de Bruyne and John Stones all made late returns from the World Cup, so it remains to be seen whether they will be involved from the start. The same goes for Arsenal’s Danny Welbeck and Granit Xhaka. More to follow...
I'm also not expecting anything from this game, as I don't trust our defensive options to be able to keep the likes of Sane, Aguero, Mahrez, Silva, Bernardo etc quiet. Even if the likes of Sterling, de Bruyne and Walker don't start, we've still got the aforementioned players to worry about...should be easy enough! The quality and depth City have is incredible. It's no surprise why people are hedging their bets on them retaining the title. Regarding the match itself, one area where City clearly trump us is the pace in their front line. Which is why I am concerned about a Mustafi-Sokratis CB partnership. If we play a very high line, with two aggressive central defenders who like to play on the front foot and tightly mark their man, City will have a field day getting in behind our defence. Besides, it's not as if Monreal is lightening quick and Bellerin has been positionally suspect for over a year now. But even at the other end of the field, we don't have any natural wide/pacy players in our team. Aubameyang can play there, but it will be a risk if he's put out wide as we will miss his direct goal threat. Mkhitaryan is no slouch, but I feel the likes of Benjamin Mendy will be able to outpace and outmuscle him with ease. We may have to play a counter-attacking game against them, as if we go toe-to-toe against them, we will get ruined. Emery's going to have to approach this game very pragmatically.
Also, I still haven't forgiven Mustafi for his atrocious defending in the League Cup final for Aguero's opener. I simply don't trust him to keep his composure when it matters.
On paper City should trounce us. But there are a few uncertainites with it being the first game of the season and Emery's first game in charge. I'd take a draw now.
Back to that there London again on Sunday for the opener at the emirates for Unai Emery’s baptism of fire post Wenger. Not much happened during the window for Arsenal,brought in an elderly Swiss defender Lichsteiner,some Greek fella Papastathopolous presumably hoping kids will pay for his name on the shirt and a bang average Uruguayan Torreira to fill up the quota after the demise of Jack the wheelchair. After the 2 humiliating 3-0 thrashing’s last season I’m looking forward to hopefully the same again and some more abuse on the tube after from the sourfaced chinless toss pots heading back to St Albans Difficult to gauge City’s Wembley win last weekend as Chelsea were dreadful but at least we looked sharp,in particular Aguero & Bernardo Silva. DeBruyne & Sterling only just back in training so doubt either will start Ederson Walker Stones Laporte Mendy Fernandinho Mahrez BSilva Foden Sane Aguero Subs. From Bravo Kompany Otamendi Sterling Gundagon Jesus DeBruyne D Silva Diaz Delph 0-3 Aguero hatrick
If thats your line-up then that gives more more confidence in this game. I'm hoping we set up ........ --------------------------Leno------------------------- Lichsteiner---Sokratis----Mustafi-----M.Niles ------------Torreira-----------Guendouzi----------- Ramsey--------------Ozil--------------Mkhitarian -------------------Aubamayang----------------------
Nah, I don't think you'll dispatch us as easily as you did last season. Especially because it's the first game of the season and anything can happen. That being said, I'm not expecting us to get anything from the game. You were comfortably the best team in the division last season and this season, I can't see anyone snatching the title from you. Liverpool look like they will run you closest, but still think you've got the edge with your experience, quality and of course, your manager. Going back to the game itself, so long as we put in a competitive display and show that we're not going to roll over to the bigger teams like we did last season, I'll be satisfied with that. Not convinced by our defence. Hoping that they prove me wrong though. Some of our signings are better than you've given credit for in your post, but I suppose they will have to show it. Should still be an exciting game which, unfortunately, I can still envisage you getting the 3 points from.
Neither Ramsey or Xhaka or Torreira will be 100% match fit for this game. For this reason alone I think Guedouzi should start.. then you add in his Pre-Season performances and its basically a no brainer. Out of Xhaka/Ramsey and Elneny it really come sdown to who is physically best prepared for the match. I think we may see Auba on the wings and Lacazette up top because or midfield is still not 100% ready. Probable line up: ----------------------Leno--------------------- Bellerin----Sokratis---Mustafi----MNiles -------El/Ram/Tor-------Guen/Xha------- Mkhitarian-------Ozil------Aubameyang --------------------Lacazette----------------
I'd like to see Lichsteiner ahead of Bellerin I must say. I think we'll concede inside the opening 20 minutes or so we always seem to recently, no matter who we play.
Welbeck at LB today ? https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45073327 Thought we'd finished with playing players out of position. I'd rather see AMN start there.
Yeah I've rarely seen Wellbeck tackle but... he does have the pace and workrate for that position. It seems like Emery likes him as a player. I guess its useful to have a few players who can play multiple positions like Wellback can.
Welbeck is quick, but he ain't a LB. AMN is also quick and is much more defensively minded. Hoping to God that Emery doesn't play Welbeck there.