An early morning to you all!
After the high tempo game against Everton last week, Arsenal had to travel to Naples to seal CL Round of 16 qualification. Napoleans tried hard and almost pushed us out of competition. In the end, we were lucky to qualify after a miserable performance but well deserved considering all the 6 matches in Group stage. Today, we are up for a big match kicking off early against Manchester City at Etihad. Lets tune to the last encounter at Etihad between the two sides.
After the high tempo game against Everton last week, Arsenal had to travel to Naples to seal CL Round of 16 qualification. Napoleans tried hard and almost pushed us out of competition. In the end, we were lucky to qualify after a miserable performance but well deserved considering all the 6 matches in Group stage. Today, we are up for a big match kicking off early against Manchester City at Etihad. Lets tune to the last encounter at Etihad between the two sides.
Lineup Then:
Manchester City
Starting XI : Hart - Zabaleta - Kompany - Lescott - Clichy - Silva - Toure - Garcia - Sinclair*1 - Dzeko*2 - Aguero*3
Subs : Pantilimon - Nastasic - Kolarov - Barry - Rodwell*1 - Tevez*2 - Balotelli*3
Subs : Pantilimon - Nastasic - Kolarov - Barry - Rodwell*1 - Tevez*2 - Balotelli*3
Goal Scorers: Lescott
Assist Makers: Silva
Arsenal
Starting XI : Mannone - Jenkinson - Mertesacker - Koscielny - Gibbs - Arteta - Diaby*1 - Cazorla - Podolski*2 - Ramsey - Gervinho*3
Subs : Martinez - Djourou - Santos - Coquelin*3 - Oxlade-Chamberlain - Walcott*2 - Giroud*1
Goal Scorers: Koscielny
Assist Makers: Cazorla
*subbed players along with their order
Blast from the Past:
Mannone continued to feature between the posts as our first and second choice GKs were out injured and he put up a fantastic performance. Gervinho was set up twice beautifully with a through ball, once by Ramsey and then Cazorla but Gervinho being Gervinho wasted the chances totally. Then Podolski was set up by Jenkinson after beating Kompany but Thor's wrong foot skewed the ball over the bar. Man City had their share of chances and converted one of the corners while nearing the Half Time. Silva found Lescott while Mannone missed punching the ball away and the No.6 scored with a header. Chances came galloping at both ends in the second half but no one could really convert them. Koscielny looked like fouling Aguero inside the D Box but no penalty was given. After 80 mins, Cazorla's Corner was not convincingly cleared by Lescott and it was scorched in by Arsenal's No.6, Laurent Koscielny. It was the day of Centre halves and No.6 scoring the goal for their respective teams. Koscielny could have become from Hero to Zero if his wavered clearance was put in by Aguero. Eventually, he missed it and the game ended as 1-1 draw. Please watch the short highlights below.
Mannone continued to feature between the posts as our first and second choice GKs were out injured and he put up a fantastic performance. Gervinho was set up twice beautifully with a through ball, once by Ramsey and then Cazorla but Gervinho being Gervinho wasted the chances totally. Then Podolski was set up by Jenkinson after beating Kompany but Thor's wrong foot skewed the ball over the bar. Man City had their share of chances and converted one of the corners while nearing the Half Time. Silva found Lescott while Mannone missed punching the ball away and the No.6 scored with a header. Chances came galloping at both ends in the second half but no one could really convert them. Koscielny looked like fouling Aguero inside the D Box but no penalty was given. After 80 mins, Cazorla's Corner was not convincingly cleared by Lescott and it was scorched in by Arsenal's No.6, Laurent Koscielny. It was the day of Centre halves and No.6 scoring the goal for their respective teams. Koscielny could have become from Hero to Zero if his wavered clearance was put in by Aguero. Eventually, he missed it and the game ended as 1-1 draw. Please watch the short highlights below.
Current Mood:
Manchester City who are in delightful form at home have won all their 7 Home games scoring a whooping 29 and conceding just 2 goals. Their only defeat at home this season came against the Mighty Bayern Munich. They took revenge for that at Allianz Arena. Now they will be high on confidence with also having an extra day rest.
Arsenal on the other hand have the best defensive record this season. We have won 5, drew & lost 1 away games scoring 14 and conceding 5. The solo defeat came against the other Manchester Club at Old Trafford. The last game against Napoli also ended in defeat but there is a difference in the team this season. They are quick to get back to winning ways after losing a match. Be it Aston Villa or Man Utd defeat and they are expected to put in a fine show against the home side.
Arsenal on the other hand have the best defensive record this season. We have won 5, drew & lost 1 away games scoring 14 and conceding 5. The solo defeat came against the other Manchester Club at Old Trafford. The last game against Napoli also ended in defeat but there is a difference in the team this season. They are quick to get back to winning ways after losing a match. Be it Aston Villa or Man Utd defeat and they are expected to put in a fine show against the home side.
Injury List:
Manchester City
Wright(Knee), Nastasic(Calf), Richards(Hamstring),
Manchester City
Wright(Knee), Nastasic(Calf), Richards(Hamstring),
Arsenal
Oxlade-Chamberlain(Knee), Miyaichi(Hamstring), Diaby(Knee), Sanogo(Back)
Predicted Lineup:
Manchester City
One of the teams which have a great squad depth and can rotate as much as they can. Most likely, Aguero, Negredo, Nasri and Zabaleta will return to the sides giving the team a huge boost.
Arsenal
Ever since Walcott returned from injury, I was expecting him to start match after match but Wenger surprised me every time. This time, he will start as Wenger is confident too saying he is match fit than ever.
"Honestly I haven't made that decision but it took him a while to get back to real sharpness. Since this week he looked to me that he has found back his normal level. He is coming back from surgery and it took him a while to get back to his full power."
Sagna could also return to the starting XI. Else where, I predict the same line up as that of the squad which faced Naples.
"Honestly I haven't made that decision but it took him a while to get back to real sharpness. Since this week he looked to me that he has found back his normal level. He is coming back from surgery and it took him a while to get back to his full power."
Sagna could also return to the starting XI. Else where, I predict the same line up as that of the squad which faced Naples.
Talisman:
Manchester City
Kun Aguero, their best player by far will be the key to success, if any, for the home team. He has been scoring goals for fun and he is the 2nd top scorer and also joint 3rd assist maker in PL this season. His pace and agility could become a threat to the BFG.
Arsenal
For Arsenal, it will be Theo Walcott whose pace will be mostly used in counter attacks against the home team. Özil and him will connect to create the chances and score. He will also be with full of energy as he has not played full 90 mins in a really long time.
Factos:
- This match pits the two most clinical teams in the Barclays Premier League with Manchester City scoring with 20.6% of their shots and Arsenal 18.9%.
- Arsenal have scored more goals than any other team away at City in the Barclays Premier League era (28).
- No team has won more Barclays Premier League fixtures against City than Arsenal (21, along with Chelsea) or won more often on City's own ground (10, along with Chelsea).
- There have been six red cards in the last six Barclays Premier League meetings between City (four) and Arsenal (two).
- The last time Arsenal won at the Etihad Stadium, Samir Nasri was playing for the visitors and netted the opening goal (October 2010).
- City have the best home attack (29 goals) and the best home defence (two conceded), while Arsenal have the joint-best away attack (14 scored) and the best away defence (five conceded).
- Manchester City have scored in 57 consecutive home games in the Barclays Premier League. This run started after three games at the Etihad without scoring, the first of which was a 0-3 defeat by Arsenal.
Score line Prediction:
Overall, it is the game between the Best Attack v the Best Defense in the league. Expecting a tough encounter for both sides drawing each other with the score line 2-2.
Come on Arsenal, let's crack the wall of City!
Come on Arsenal, let's crack the wall of City!
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