Tackling Yaya Toure:
Much of City’s impressive showing this term can be credited to the fine display on the field by midfielder Yaya Toure. The Ivorian has been equally effective going forward and tracking back to do the dirty work. For a defensive midfielder, he has so far scored 17 goals and assisted 5 more in the league, truly menacing the oppositions in all the matches he has played.
Arsenal are not known to handle physically endowed players very well, but if Wenger fails to restrict Toure in the upcoming match, he may well walk away with the match for his side. Arsenal have an additional task of going past Toure while trying to break the City defence. It would be a wholesome task and the manager needs to be spot on. Doubling up on him using both Flamini and Arteta might be one option that Wenger has.
Treat it as an away match
First and foremost, out of all tactics that are deployed, Arsenal have to come prepared for the game. The opening 10 minutes that was played at Stamford Bridge looked as if Chelsea were playing against brick walls and if it is the same case this Saturday, there are every chances of a humiliation in front of their home crowd.
Lately the number of impatient fans calling for Wenger’s head have steadily increased, they have waited long enough and now they are justified in asking for the results. Therefore, Arsene Wenger cannot expect the same passion showed by the fans throughout the years anymore and he should be prepared to play in an environment which cannot be called as Home. The approach on his part should be pragmatic and not based on his hard philosophies that has governed the club for so long.