please log in to view this image Venue: Etihad Stadium Sunday, December 18th 2016 KO TIme: 16.00 BST please log in to view this image Head to Head Against Manchester City: Played: 169 Wins: 87 Draws: 41 Losses: 41 Goals For: 286 Goals Against: 190 Goal Difference: 96 Last 6 Meetings: Arsenal 3-2 Manchester City (Pre-Season Friendly) Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal Arsenal 2-1 Manchester City Manchester City 0-2 Arsenal Arsenal 2-2 Manchester City Arsenal 3-0 Manchester City (Community Shield) please log in to view this image Arsène Wenger delivered the latest team news update before taking training at London Colney on Friday. on the latest team news… For the City game we should have approximately the same squad who went to Everton. Nobody's back - Ramsey’s not back. He is the closest to coming back and we have some knocks and bruises but they should all be available again. on Ramsey… Next week I believe he should be back in the squad in normal training. on Welbeck… Danny Welbeck is one week away from full training. But of course it will take some time [for him to be fully fit] because he hasn’t played for a long, long time.
No Aguero, Fernandinho or Gundogan for City. They will still come out and try and attack us, so I reckon we should approach this game being prepared to mop up their pressure and trying to hit them on the break. Could be a great opportunity for Sanchez, Walcott, Oxo, Bellerin and our quick players to find space in this game.
With Chelsea's win today, it's vital we win to keep within touching distance of them. The potential of being 8/9 points behind them already isn't one which we want. With City missing three of their most important players, we need to take advantage and beat them. Won't be easy, as they still have quality up top, but if we want to be taken seriously, we absolutely have to get all 3 points.
To be honest. I'd take a draw, although 3 points would set a big marker for us. As long as we don't lose though, because otherwise that will put both chelsea and City ahead of us, which would be psychologically damaging at this stage of the season. There are plenty of games ahead to play catch up with Chelsea, but I just see this one as must not lose, rather than a must win.
After the Everton result a win is pretty much essential. We give Chelsea anymore round and they will run away with the league.
A win is much preferred obviously. Given that City would overtake us and we'd be behind both them and Chelsea if we lose, then I see this as more of a must not lose, rather than must win game.
To be honest a draw isn't good enough with the gap increasing between Chelsea. Had we not bungled the Everton game, we wouldn't be under pressure for this game. City are also so will go out to win. Chelsea would love a draw as it would add even more day light between them and the chasing pack that are us and City. We can't rely on Conte's Chelsea to drop points, we need to put pressure on them to do this.
Sorry Piskie, but I'm with Bear and Lazarus on this one. It's not even a must not lose, we need to win because I realistically can't see us clawing back a 8/9 point gap at this point against a team who are playing once a week, high on confidence and have found their best formula. Had we beaten Everton, a draw would've been acceptable but the loss to Everton means we can't risk falling further behind.
That city back line is there for the taking,if we can get our defending right the counter attack could prove very fruitful.
We've set our selves up nicely for the counter. As long as we don't make any mistakes at the back, we have a good chance of hitting City with another. The pressure is mainly on City and that can create errors the longer the game goes and we can counter them.
Remember, we don't have to do much but wait. We have a lot of pace with Walcott and Sanchez to punish them so City will be stuck in two places.
No Kompany, no city defence, no Aguero, no real threat. glad to see my 2 Arsenal FF involved, shame it wasn't the other way around though, Sanchez has been a great captain so far.