Arsenal faces a Mega Task

It will be a meeting between the Teacher and his once upon a time student when the gunners meet the blues of Manchester at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday in Manchester.

Both sides were victorious in their recent games, with the gunners scoring six goals in their EFL cup match against West-Brom. Finally, they can have an August goal of the month after captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted a hat-trick, assisted a Pepe goal, and goals from Bukayo Saka and substitute Alexandre Lacazette gave gaffer Mikel Arteta his first win of the season.

On the other hand, the Citizens eased past Norwich City in a 5-0 victory while still chasing Tottenham Striker Harry Kane. Still, the focus changed to Christiano Ronaldo, who had to sign for his former club, Manchester United. Still, this will be an encounter where many will willingly write the gunners off as presumed that City will be the ones firing all guns.

The match against Norwich shows that City does not need another strike power. Still, there is always a thirst for success and no excuse in coach Pep-Guardiola who was once the Professor where the now Arsenal Manager was the Assistant, would it be said that Mikel Arteta knows all the tricks of his former boss? Only that match will tell.

In their last 35 games at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City have only failed to score just one time, meaning this game could prove to have goals on both sides, anyways, there will be a victor as both teams have a lot to prove.

Faint Hope

on what it takes to compete against Manchester City…

It’s the level that they read the game and the level that you have to be mentally ready for, to run for long periods of the game without touching the ball to sacrifice and being prepared to suffer in the right moments. But as well, having the conviction that we’re going to have moments in the game and when those opportunities arise, we will have to take them and that’s how I want to see the team. They are fully committed, fully prepared, and they believe that we can go to Manchester and get the result that we want.

~ Mikel Arteta

THE BREAKDOWN:

MANCHESTER CITY:

The Citizens will be without Phil Foden and De-Bruyne, who was unable to train in the victory over Norwich City, Raheem Sterling could feature for this game as Pep Guardiola would want a fast attack against Arsenal, Jack Grealish will also be replacing the out of favor Bernando Silva, Ruben Diaz will also replace John Stones to play alongside Laporte.

ARSENAL:

The gunners will now be with strikers Aubameyang and Lacazette, a morale boost for Mikel Arteta’s side, but Ben-White isn’t expected for this game. At the same time, Willian, Runarsson, and Nketiah remain a doubt.

Martin Odegaard could start, and this could mean Emile Smith Rowe would play on the wider side. Gabriel is back in training and could return to action to replace Pablo Mari and partner with Rob-Holding.

POTENTIAL LINEUP:

MANCHESTER CITY:

Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo. Rodri, Gundogan, Grealish, Mahrez. Jesus, Sterling.

ARSENAL:

Leno; Cedric, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney. Saka, Xhaka, Lokonga, Odegaard, Smith-Rowe. Aubameyang.

PREDICTION

Manchester City 3-2 Arsenal.

COYG!!!

Match Preview by Adeyemo Sola