Mikel Arteta has done a fantastic job at Arsenal since his appointment in December 2019. The football has improved, the relationship with the fans is better than ever, the stadium is louder than ever, we even have a club anthem and not forgetting last season’s title race. However, one thing has eluded him so far: a Premier League win over his mentor.
The title run last season has raised expectations. Every point dropped is greeted with a wave of disappointment across the fan base. The loss against Lens in the Champions League was a sobering reality check that Arsenal haven’t been great so far this season. Bukayo Saka’s injury dampened the mood even more heading into a crucial game against the champions.
The celebrations against Manchester City in the Community Shield were of a team that believed they had conquered a mental battle. A belief that this was the season that would end a 20- year- old league title draught. Since then, the team has hardly put out a ‘ we’re ready ‘ performance that would make the competition take notice.
So can Mikel Arteta spring a tactical masterclass against the grandmaster?
Well, the stats paint a rather grim picture for Arsenal anytime they play Manchester City under Mikel Arteta. There have been 5-0, 4-1 maulings at the Etihad, a random draw in the Community Shield and a solitary win for Mikel in the FA Cup.
Pep Guardiola always brings his best in the most crucial of matches. Some tactical ingenuity to keep the competition alert. His four centre back defense was a work of art. But it doesn’t always go right.Last season at the Emirates, a Bernardo Silva Left back experiment only lasted 45 minutes when Pep had seen enough. Bukayo Saka was running rampant on the right side and Guardiola was humble enough to rectify his error. Can Mikel do the same?
It’s pretty clear where I am heading. And it is definitely the Kai Havertz route. Mikel has been adamant that Kai Havertz will be a success at the Emirates. It’s widely reported that while courting Declan Rice to join Arsenal, Havertz was very much at the core of his plans. A midfield of Rice ,Havertz and Martin Ødegaard was supposed to usher us into the era of a new Arsenal.
Arteta said this about the trio after the pre-season game against Manchester United in the USA ,”When they play 55 times together, it will be better, it will flow better, they will understand each other better and we will be more dominant .” Yet we have lost something. Not necessarily all on Havertz but he’s not added anything either. His best performance for many was against Manchester City in the community shield where he played as a striker. Saka’s injury might just force Mikel to do that.
Tactics
There was a feeling that Pep Guardiola had drifted away from his ‘ all control ‘ football that had won him the treble for a more exciting ,fast and attack minded approach. Summer signings Jeremy Doku and Matheus Nunes certainly seemed to play into that idea. Coupled with the ball-carrying ability of Matteo Kovacic, City seemed to be heading towards a different direction tactically.
However, the Champions League match against RB Leipzig offered us a reminder of why Guardiola favours control more than anything else. Bernardo Silva, Jack Grealish and Rico Lewis were all back into the side offering what they call ‘ pausa’. An instinct to play the extra pass for a more favourable end result. This I believe will be his calling card once again against the Gunners.
Arsenal, on the other hand, are a pale side to the vibrant team we saw last season. The transition to a more possession dominant team isn’t going as planned. Everything seems a bit laboured. The midfield doesn’t feel right while the attack is heavily relying on a moment of magic from Saka. The defense looks solid but one lapse in concentration and the opposition have a goal.
Arsenal lack a bit of dynamism. Everything seems more and more predictable. The buildup is too slow and there’s been a lack of progressive passes from midfield. Thomas Partey has been sorely missed. Some criticize him for being too vertical and forward thinking, but that is exactly why he works so well. He plays the pass that many defensive midfielders would shy away from.
I feel Arsenal’s best chance of getting a result on Sunday is to go pragmatic like they did during the community shield. However, that will heavily depend on a Thomas Partey – Declan Rice pivot being available. Partey starting such a huge game so soon is a huge risk to take but one that might be necessary.
Injuries
Manchester City welcomed Bernardo Silva and John Stones back this week so Pep Guardiola has a full squad to choose from except Kevin De Bruyne.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are sweating over the fitness of Bukayo Saka after he limped off against Lens. His situation could have been handled better as it’s been clear he’s been playing through injury for the last couple of weeks. It would be a huge blow to lose him in such an important game, especially with the lack of a natural replacement for Saka in the squad.
To make matters worse, Martinelli is also doubtful having been subbed off against Everton and hasn’t featured since. That’s two-thirds of your attack possibly out. Martinelli especially will be a miss given his ability to carry the team up the field when the game gets difficult.
Verdict
Manchester City always seem to turn up when it matters and one would expect no less on Sunday. They will press vehemently and try to be as dominant as possible.
Arteta needs to have everything spot on if he’s to get a result against Pep Guardiola. Injuries are part of the game so he will have to somehow manage to find the best tactics to work on the day. Arsenal especially need a remedy for missing keychances in the most crucial of games.
Mikel Arteta needs this win. A win that would send a message to the grandmaster. A win that would say I am coming for your crown. A win that officially launches a title race. Anything else would leave many questioning whether he has it in him to against his mentor at the very top of European football.
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