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By Graham Ruthven
Having gone head-to-head for the title in each of the last two seasons, the two rivals could produce a memorable spectacle at the Etihad Stadium.
However, the absence of Martin Ødegaard through injury could impact the dynamic of the game as it did Arsenal’s goalless draw against Atalanta in the Champions League on Thursday. The Gunners don’t have another player who can create like the Norwegian can and so Mikel Arteta might have no choice but to set his team to be more conservative.
Of course, this is something Arsenal did at the Etihad Stadium last season when they held Manchester City to a 0-0 draw. Ultimately, though, that result contributed to Arsenal losing the title race by just two points. An away win over the defending champions would electrify the Gunners’ entire season and grow belief they can go the full distance this time.
City also enter Sunday’s match on the back of a goalless draw in the Champions League, but Pep Guardiola’s team have the highest Expected Goals (xG) per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season (9.3) with Erling Haaland currently on a run of nine goals in his last four league appearances.
Haaland and co. will pose the biggest threat to Arsenal’s defence this season, but if any centre back pairing can handle the Norwegian striker, it’s likely Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba. The Gunners have conceded just once in four league games this season and that defensive resolution is largely due to the partnership of Gabriel and Saliba, although David Raya’s outstanding recent form has been a factor too.
Set pieces will be a key battleground on Sunday. No team has scored more Premier League goals from set pieces since the start of last season than Arsenal (22) and so with Ødegaard missing, this could be how the visitors to the Etihad Stadium pose a threat to the Manchester City goal. That is how they claimed three points against Spurs last weekend.
For two teams with so much attacking talent, Sunday’s clash could be a cagey affair. Arsenal will probably set up to limit City, like they did in the same fixture last season, while the importance of the match might also lead to a more cautionary approach from the hosts. Nonetheless, this has the potential to be a defining match in the 2024/24 campaign.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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