Hello, fans
You don’t need me or anybody else to tell you that it has been much too long since we defeated Man City at home in the Premier League. It would be somewhat of an understatement to suggest that it is past due.
Bukayo Saka, who was ‘certified fit’ yesterday, is reportedly going to start, according to team news talk this morning. All I can say is that I hope he is truly fit and not merely starting because of today’s opposition. I suppose we have to have faith in the medical team’s judgment and that of the management and player. He must also have confidence in himself.
There is rumor that Gabriel Martinelli might be available, which would be a big plus. The Brazilian’s absence from this game seemed likely to me because there was radio silence about him in the lead-up to it, but if he’s ready to start, it would be huge for us. If Mikel Arteta has remained silent, there is excellent reason for it. Although the master/pupil debate around this game has grown incredibly tiresome, the manager said when asked whether he had to consider whether Pep Guardiola might play a wildcard:
Yes, and he typically does that in big games and against major teams. It’s not just his decisions, either; he also does it with other opponents or situations. That’s a significant characteristic of theirs because they are able to alter it, and not just before the game, but also, in my opinion, throughout the game and at halftime. This is a strength of a club that can dominate.
I admire Leandro Trossard, but Saka and Martinelli are involved in so much of what we want to accomplish as a club. Let’s wait and see what happens, but even as a backup on the bench, the Brazilian’s inclusion in the team today might be quite beneficial. Furthermore, I ponder whether Thomas Partey’s availability might lead to a comeback in the starting lineup. I don’t sure if he has it in him to play for 90 minutes, but he, Declan Rice, and Martin Odegaard may potentially control a crucial part of the field, especially without Rodri.
Although they can replace him with expensive talent, I don’t believe they have anyone who is close to being as influential. Although football is a team sport and the collective can often come together to deal with the loss of an individual, if you ask me if I’m happier to face them without Rodri then the answer is very much in the affirmative.
Even without him, we have something to be concerned about. As we all know, Erling Haaland is a fantastic player, and this season, Julian Alvarez has been excellent playing behind him in the most recent iteration of the City system. I’d be content to use the midfield I stated above for that reason, but we’ll have to wait and see what Arteta does in that area.
Regardless of the team, we’ll probably need to be perfect to defeat them. Size and presence, according to Arteta, could be crucial right now:
I believe we have enough physicality in the back line to deal with those players, but you have to demonstrate it in a reaction on Sunday because they are one of the most powerful teams in the league and you need to match that up.
So let’s hope. Beyond that, we must use our opportunities wisely. We must be at the top of our game when those opportunities present themselves because this is not the type of game where you get eight or nine chances to eat the cherry. The next step is dealing with the quality they have in their attacking regions.
I’m hopeful right now, as usual, but as kickoff draws nearer, their record against us becomes more and more apparent. In addition to a strong performance, we’re hoping that the law of averages will be on our favor today since eventually that’s what we’ll need to get a result. Crossing fingers.
As usual, Arseblog News will offer complete post-game coverage in addition to live blog coverage. Enjoy your Sunday while you can.
Till then.
