Journalist Adrian Clarke believes that Arsenal will have the edge over Manchester City in one key aspect of the game when the two sides meet on Sunday.
Arsenal have been backed to come out on top in one major battle against Manchester City this weekend.
Mikel Arteta will expect his side to go toe-to-toe with the reigning champions at the Etihad Stadium. Whilst Arsenal have a poor record on the road against Manchester City, they have shown in recent times that they are capable of beating the very best.
The north London club have already beaten Pep Guardiola’s side twice this season, in the Community Shield and in the reverse fixture at the Emirates Stadium. On top of that, the Gunners have also beaten Manchester United and have taken four points off of Liverpool in the current campaign.
Arsenal have every reason to back themselves this Sunday, and they certainly shouldn’t be overawed by the occasion. They will use the pain of last season to fuel them, when their defeat at the Etihad Stadium during the run-in all but ended their title hopes. The likes of Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and William Saliba will be keen to show exactly what they can do. Arsenal also have a “big game player” in Kai Havertz who can be relied upon to step up to the plate.
Arsenal backed to win physical battle v Man City
In what is likely to be a fierce, physical encounter, the visitors will also feel that they can impose themselves.
As asserted by Adrian Clarke on the Handrake Off podcast, “I think about us down the years at the Etihad, we’ve been blown away, we’ve been outmuscled, we’ve been overpowered. I think this is the first year, in recent times, when we can go there and compete, as a football team but also in that physical battle. I think, in a way, we might even be stronger than them in the physical battle.”
There is steel throughout this Arsenal side. Beyond the summer signings of Havertz and Rice, the likes of Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Ben White, and Jakub Kiwior can all be relied upon to win their duels.
Arsenal must show fighting spirit against Man City
White has been hailed by his Arsenal teammates for his “warrior” spirit recently, and this fighting attitude will need to permeate the team on Sunday.
If the Gunners can win the physical battle, constrict space, and take the game to Manchester City then they stand an excellent chance of pulling off a statement victory. Such a win would by no means guarantee them the Premier League title, of course, but it would provide a huge confidence boost at a crucial time and would also send out a real statement of intent.