The tie of the weekend sees two big teams go head to head, Manchester City host Arsenal is what promises to be a brilliant game of attacking football. City will be hoping to close the gap to leaders Chelsea as they drew last week, while Arsenal seem to be picking up after a couple of rather shoddy results.
The tie sees two of the best players go head to head with Alexis Sanchez and Sergio Aguero trying to outdo each other on the pitch. Both players have scored goals a plenty for their clubs while the limelight would be on the pair, there are quite a few players who could take the centre stage. Arsenal would be hoping to do well to get a result at a ground where they haven’t done well and here are 3 keys to Arsenal trying to get a win at the Etihad.
Do not play with a high line
Arsenal are missing Debuchy as the right back will be out for quite a few months with a dislocated shoulder, he will be missed massively at the back although Chambers could get a go as the right back but the major threat of Sergio Aguero should be neutralized. Aguero has the pace to burn and beat the Arsenal centre backs and Mertesacker and co. should ensure that they do not try to play the offside trap against one of the deadliest strikers in the world.
Support Alexis Sanchez as quickly as possible
While Arsenal may or may not try to block out Aguero, Manchester City might have a similar plan to deal with Alexis Sanchez and try to stifle his influence in the game. Sanchez has been the best player for Arsenal this season and one of Fernando or Fernandinho will be sent out to make sure he does not get much time on the ball and deal a lot of damage.
Arsenal would need to ensure that Giroud, Cazorla or Walcott, whoever ends playing as the other attackers end up supporting Alexis and giving him the outlets for passes or creating chances. Banking on Alexis to do it all would be a major folly in Arsenal’s plans and City would then be able to kill the game off easily.
Forget trying to match the centre of City’s midfield
Manchester City might start with the midfield partnership of Fernando and Fernandinho, both of whom are immensely physical and can tackle really well. If Arsenal try to play and match them in midfield that would be rather suicidal in the game, Arsenal might have to try and turn the players about and use their pace to nullify the strength of the City midfielders.
They have the likes of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott and Sanchez to help them out in that regards and hopefully that should be the one tactic which could help them win the game.
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