Man City vs Arsenal: Key battles and predictions as two teams with similar game play clash

News

• Manchester City are just five points away from Arsenal in the league, this FA Cup clash would allow both teams to know their current capabilities
• 'Saka vs Haaland' and 'Odegaard vs De Bruyne' would be key battles of the match
• Arteta worked under Guardiola at City for three and half years as an assistant manager, which has paid him off really well at Arsenal

The English Premier League title contenders face each other in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday at 1:30 AM. Pep Guardiola’s apprentice Mikel Arteta has transformed Arsenal, since taking over as the manager of the club in January 2020. The management stayed patient with him and he has finally yielded results for the club this season. They have touched the 50 points mark after 19 matches, only four teams in the history of the Premier League have done that.

Guardiola’s Manchester City is just five points behind Arsenal in the league but the Spanish manager believes that if the Gunners continue their sublime form, then no one can stop them from winning the title.

“If Arsenal continue the way they are they will get 100 points. So we have to be almost perfect to catch them,” mentioned Guardiola in a pre-match conference before City’s clash against Chelsea a few weeks back.

Three key points to watch out for in the blockbuster clash:

Master vs apprentice

Arsenal boss Arteta worked under Guardiola at Manchester City as an assistant manager before taking on the role at the North London club. The Spanish manager learned a lot under Guardiola. From tactics to man management, he mastered all the necessary skills under the guidance of a four-time Premier League winner.

In his three and half year spell at City, from July 2017 to December 2020, Arteta won two Premier League titles with the Citizens. He was always right there, along with Guardiola, in the dugout. The 40-year-old knew all the pre-match, half-time, and post-match speeches that the Spanish manager gave to his players.

He closely monitored his actions before and after the match – the way he prepares for the match and the kind of analysis he does after them. That has certainly benefitted him in his managerial career, it’s clearly evident now. He has brought some of his own modern techniques but there’s no denying that Guardiola has played a huge role in his current success.

Gameplay of similar style

It took time for Arteta to replicate Guardiola’s blueprint at the club but the Gunners have finally benefitted from him. No one can copy someone’s tactics and gameplay, there’s a little improvisation, but this Arsenal team looks a lot like City.

At every point in time, the players have two options to play the pass to, which means the team is forming triangles on the pitch. The North London club isn’t afraid to build up from the back, just like City.

The wingers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are stretching the opposition out wide. The wingbacks Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ben White are progressing high upfield, to assist the team in threat creation. Martin Odegaard could be compared with City’s magician Kevin de Bruyne due to his heroics in the midfield and beyond.

It would be interesting to witness two sides who relish keeping possession with them. A lot of attacks could be expected in this one. These two will collide for the first time after Arsenal’s rise this season.

Key battles:

De Bruyne vs Odegaard

Odegaard has just been sensational for Arsenal this season. The Norwegian midfielder has been the guiding force of the team, similar to City’s midfield maestro. The kind of chances he creates from the midfield, makes a huge difference in the final third.

Odegaard with 13 and De Bruyne with 14 goal involvements in this EPL season are one of the best midfielders in England. It would be a rollercoaster ride for the fans to witness the midfield duels between these two at Etihad.

Saka vs Haaland

Erling Haaland has taken the league by storm since arriving in the summer from Borussia Dortmund. On the other hand, Bukayo Saka has been the central figure in Arsenal’s success this season. Although, both players play in different positions but they help their teams massively in getting those crucial goals.

Haaland gets into the dangerous goal-scoring positions by scanning the field effectively and by making those deep runs, whereas Saka swivels past the defence through his astute dribbles and blistering runs, on the wings. It’s hard for any opponent to stop these ferocious strikers.

Therefore, we can expect a lot of goals on the scoresheet tonight. If we look at their numbers, Saka has been involved in 14 goals in the league, and Haaland has 28 involvements. But numbers don’t do justice to Saka’s impact on the Arsenal team. Let’s see who weighs heavy in the encounter.

Probable line-ups:

Manchester City

Goalkeeper: Ederson
Defenders: Walker, Stones, Akanji, Gomez
Midfielders: Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne
Forwards: Mahrez, Haaland, Grealish

Arsenal

Goalkeeper: Ramsdale
Defenders: Tierney, Saliba, Kiwior, White
Midfielders: Xhaka, Partey, Odegaard
Forwards: Saka, Nketiah, Trossard

Newly signed Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior could start for Arsenal tonight.

Sports9 English Prediction: 2-2 (Draw) Manchester City to win in extra time or penalties.