Arsenal Needs To Fire Against Manchester City

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Manchester City will welcome Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium with hopes of closing the gap on the log leaders, writes DUMEZWENI NDUWENI

Arsenal travels to Manchester in an all-important league encounter today that could very well decide the destination of the English Premier League EPL. Manchester City will welcome Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium with hopes of closing the gap on the log leaders. Arsenal are left with six games, while Manchester City have eight games respectively, tomorrow’s clash is pivotal in crowning the league champions for the 2022/23 EPL season.

The Gunners will look to get back to winning ways and continue on their quest of winning the league title for the first time in 20 years. The log leaders have failed to win in their last three games by drawing them, meaning they have only collected three points out of a possible nine.

Arsenal are five points ahead of City with 75 points, City have 70 points however with two games in hand. The two teams have been neck and neck throughout the season, Arsenal on top and Manchester City doing the chasing. The form of the two teams is relatively similar however the home side has a psychological advantage over the visitors.

The Citizens have already beaten Arsenal twice this season in the FA Cup and in the league. The 3-1 loss at the Emirates to Manchester City on the 15th of February was Arsenal’s last loss so far, after the defeat Arsenal have gone undefeated in 10 games winning seven and recently drawing their last three.

City’s form at home is another thing Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta will have to think about, the Citizens have won their last four home games in the league. Can Arsenal deal with the Etihad’s hoodoo, as the last time Arsenal beat Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium was seven years ago in a 2-0 victory.

Arsenal will have to find a way to nullify City’s danger man Erling Haaland. The Norwegian has been a phenomenon this season, he is currently the favourite to walk away with the top scorer award, with 32 goals in 28 appearances for Manchester City. Not only do they have to stop Haaland they have to fight fire with the free-scoring City.

Both clubs have been ruthless in front of goals this season, City have scored 78 goals while Arsenal have scored 77 goals. The Citizens have a healthy goal difference as they have conceded six goals less than Arsenal’s 34 goals.

Arsenal’s last three games have shown their vulnerability at the back, however, the positive thing they can take out of those three games, especially the recent 3-3 draw, is that they can fight back as they came from behind three times to rescue a point at home against Southampton.

The Citizens are brimming with confidence, they are undefeated in their last 16 games across all competitions. On the league front, the team from Manchester hasn’t lost in nine games winning eight and drawing one. The Gunners will have to be firing on all cylinders if they are to edge out the defending champions in their backyard.

City are fighting to achieve a historical season, as they are chasing a treble; they are in the final of the FA Cup to be played in June against rivals Manchester United and they are also in the semifinals of the UEFA champions league and they are title contenders as well.

Today’s epic battle will put the teacher and the student in a fight for the top prize in league football. Mikel Arteta a student of the accomplished Pep Guardiola has turned around Arsenal and made the Gunners a formidable side once again.

Arteta has guided Arsenal to 23 wins, six draws and three defeats this season. He will have to dent City’s title aspirations in order to lead his side to their first league title in two decades. Guardiola’s men are chasing their fifth league title in seven seasons, which is proof of their recent domestic dominance.

The Gunners don’t have to beat Manchester City in order to win the league title, but if they lose to City, then winning the league will be a bit harder as their fate will no longer be in their hands firmly but just slightly.