Super Sunday will be super indeed! Arsenal host Manchester City at the Emirates as the clash of titans ensues.
Rollercoaster at Arsenal
This season is full of ups and downs for Arsenal. Unai Emery got sacked recently, and Freddie Ljungberg took over the team. He drew with Norwich in his first match at the helm, lost his second at Brighton, and entered the West Ham clash as a dead man walking. It looked like it was over. 45 minutes had gone by, teams entered the dressing rooms at the half, and Arsenal just played perhaps the worst opening 45 minutes this season.
And then, it happened.
Ljungberg’s gamble with technically superior wingers, Gabriel Martinelli and Nicolas Pepe paid off in the second half. Kolasinac ran down the flank in his own style and crossed the low ball perfectly into Martinelli’s path – boom – the scoreline said 1-1. The energy in the air was different, and the team playing at that moment had nothing to do with the first-half horror. Nicolas Pepe then took the ball at the edge of the box, cut inside, and stunningly hit the far corner with his impeccable left foot. 2-1. Just minutes later, the Frenchman was at it again – receiving the ball in a similar position like earlier, he chipped the pass to his French-speaking compatriot, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who made it 3-1, scoring his 11th goal of the Premier League season.
Rinse and Repeat
It’s very likely that Ljungberg starts with Martinelli-Auba-Pepe trio again. This could emulate Manchester United’s trio who managed to completely ruin Manchester City on the counter with their speed.
Citizens in crisis
As for Manchester City themselves, it’s now safe to say that the team is in crisis. With 14 points behind Liverpool, the title race is basically over already for Pep Guardiola. Even though they’re still the most efficient team in the league, most of those goals arrived in thrashing where City scored early on.
However, the Citizens have a real problem of breaking down tight defences, and leave far too much space behind their full-backs. The injuries aren’t helping either; Kun Aguero and Aymeric Laporte’s injuries looked like the final nail in the coffin for City. Defensive rotation is at an all-time low, which is why City conceded 19 already, resulting in four losses and two draws – exactly the same amount that they had at the end(!) of the last season.
Arsenal vs Man City Prediction
The duel of two very offensive sides could bring out the best of forwards. Gabriel Jesus just scored a hat-trick in the Champions League that should boost his confidence. On the other side, the confidence is blooming for Arsenal’s attacking trio and now it remains to be seen who has more firepower.
Prediction: Over 2.5 goals.
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