Journalist James McNicholas has now sent an urgent warning to the Arsenal team ahead of their encounter with Manchester City this weekend.
Arsenal will travel to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday for a huge Premier League fixture.
The Gunners do not have a good recent record on the road against Manchester City. They have not beaten the north west club on their own patch since 2010, and there have been some humiliating defeats at the hands of the reigning champions since then.
In 2013, Arsenal were beaten 6-3 by Manchester City away from home. Mikel Arteta himself was on the bench for the north London club that day.
In 2021, the Gunners were beaten 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium, with Arteta at the helm by this time.
Last season, during the run-in, Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes were all but ended as Pep Guardiola’s men put them to the sword to the tune of a 4-1 scoreline.
In these mentioned defeats, and several others that Arsenal have suffered at the hands of Manchester City in recent years, there is a consistent theme of the Gunners conceding early on.
Arteta will know that if the hosts are able to amass an early lead on Sunday, then his side will be all but out of the game already.
The Premier League title will not be won or lost by either Arsenal or Manchester City this weekend, as there are still plenty more points to play for and stern tests to come. However, a defeat for Arteta’s men, particularly a heavy one, could result in a catastrophic loss of momentum and confidence.
How Arsenal should approach Manchester City clash
As such, James McNicholas has urged a measure of pragmatism. Speaking on the Handbrake Off podcast, the reporter said, “when we’ve had disappointing trips to Etihad in the past, it’s because we’ve been blown away early. I think that’s what we desperately, desperately have to avoid. Obviously in the context of this game, but I think in the wider context of the title race, I just think that would be so demoralising for the team and would take so much momentum away. I think we’ve got to stay in it, we’ve got to live the game…getting into those final twenty minutes, and then it can go either way.”
When Arsenal beat Manchester City by a 1-0 scoreline in the reverse fixture at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season, they did so by keeping things tight, playing sensibly, and looking for openings on the counter-attack. They got their reward via Gabriel Martinelli’s deflected strike in the 86th minute. A similar approach and gameplan is what is required on Sunday.
What Arsenal must aim for at the Etihad Stadium
Whilst Gary Neville is of the opinion that Arsenal need to beat Manchester City themselves, a draw would not be a disaster either, and would keep them ahead of the Cityzens in the Premier League table.
That being said, Arteta ought to be optimistic that his side can pull off a win. Doing so would certainly send out a clear statement of intent, and would put the north London outfit in charge as far as the title race is concerned.