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By Martin Graham | 26th Apr 2023
The 2022/23 Premier League season has had the usual twists and turns accustomed to a campaign in the English top flight. Indeed, the riveting title race further proves the fact there is no straightforward way to win the Premier League title.
This season is a tale of master versus student as Pep Guardiola is up against his prodigy Mikel Arteta who was a fundamental part of his coaching staff in their first two title-winning campaigns.
While their title credentials have shocked even their own fans, Arsenal stuttered yet again despite scoring two late goals to earn an unlikely point against bottom club Southampton.
The dramatic late twist may have snatched them from the jaws of a crushing defeat, but a third successive draw left their lead at the top of the table at five points ahead of the defending champions who have two games in hand.
It is fair to say that the initiative is firmly with this season’s challengers who have won six league games on the spin. Win all of their remaining games and they will walk away with a fourth Premier League Winners title in five seasons.
Notwithstanding, Arsenal are desperate to wrestle back the momentum as their title hopes now rest on the outcome of Wednesday’s seismic game against the treble-chasing Cityzens.
Mission Impossible?
Manchester City have suffered a single defeat in 15 league games at home while Guardiola is yet to lose to the Gunners as City manager, meaning Arteta’s side need a first win at the Etihad since 2015.
The visitors must drastically change their recent fortunes if they are to break the 19-year title drought and Arteta’s reaction at the final whistle against Southampton – head in hands, while his dejected players crumpled to the Emirates Stadium turf – bore signs of a side who are under intense pressure with their confidence slowly ebbing away.
Arsenal will be latching onto the perseverance shown by the players to come back from two goals down, but City are arguably the most effective setup in Europe.
Three points are essential if Arsenal are to turnaround this wonderful season into a truly epic one, but Arteta is urging his side to go back to the basics.
“Obviously, the task now is even bigger but the first thing we have to do is to click.
“We have to cut the mistakes, do all the simple and basic things much better. After that, we will win games again because we deserve to win the games if it’s not for those moments.”
Cutting out those fatal errors is easier said than done with William Saliba expected to miss the clash amidst fears the French defender is out for the rest of the season after missing the last five games with a back injury suffered against Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League Round of 16.
The 22-year-old is a huge loss for the league leaders due to his strong centre-back partnership with Gabriel as well as the confidence he gives his teammates in all aspects of the game. Consequently, Arteta has had to play Rob Holding who has struggled as the Gunners failed to keep a clean sheet since.
They have conceded nine goals – seven of which have come in the last three matches where they dropped six points. Meanwhile, City have scored three or more times in nine of their last 12 games
Saliba had been ever-present in the Premier League for Arsenal this season and his absence is compounded by Takehiro Tomiyasu’s knee surgery which also rules him out for the remainder of the season.
This leaves Arteta unable to switch Ben White infield while the Japan international takes his place at right-back, hence, the North Londoners need a defensive masterclass in the biggest game of Arteta’s career.
Game of wits
There is no doubt that both Man City and Arsenal will be serving up a fantastic spectacle of attacking football, but the Gunners boss must outwit his former mentor.
For all of Arsenal’s spectacular ascent this season, Arteta takes huge credit in how he assembled the youngest squad in the league and developed a sensational unit that has stunned opponents up and down the country.
The similarities in both styles of play is indeed apparent, but it allows City’s superior quality and experience to shine through. On the other hand, the visitors know exactly what to expect in a predictably hostile Etihad Stadium.
Man City’s four-man high press wreaks havoc when they shape up in a 4-2-4 without the ball and it is pertinent to note the Gunners were severely punished while playing out from the back in the reverse fixture in February.
Although Guardiola has found a successful defensive balance with four natural central defenders and John Stones in the inverted full-back role, Arsenal may be keen to exploit a slight personnel change as one of Sergio Gomez or Aymeric Laporte will likely have to play at left-back instead of the injured Nathan Ake. Therefore, Bukayo Saka’s pace must be utilized in the same way Bayern Munich used Kingsley Coman in last week’s UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg.
On the left flank, Gabriel Martinelli’s speed and trickery up against Manuel Akanji as well as Oleksandr Zinchenko’s proficiency in buildup play leaves an opportunity for Arsenal to take advantage. Considering they are brave enough to believe in themselves.
Despite the disappointment in most of the game and the final result, Arsenal displayed a genuine champion’s mentality in the exciting 3-3 draw against Southampton.
The negatives in that horrible start saw the usually unflappable Aaron Ramsdale gift the Saints a first-minute opener through Carlos Alcaraz, before uncertainty at a corner-kick allowed Duje Caleta-Car to net the third goal. Yet, rescuing a point from 3-1 down in the 88th minute shows real character and resolve to keep going until the end.
Par for the course, Arteta must harness that spirit to inspire the confidence in his side and get them fired up regardless of the weaknesses and momentum working against them.
The Gunners are firm underdogs in Manchester on Wednesday night and they must embrace the tag which has brought them thus far from a failed top four challenge last season to a resilient run for the title in the ongoing campaign.
Even if they come up short in the title race to the terrific Man City, Arsenal’s fightback and determination already proves they have what it takes to be Premier League Winners.
Martin Graham is an MFF sports writer
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