Match Day Thread Manchester City vs Arsenal - Matchday Thread (FA Cup)

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Venue: Etihad Stadium
Date: Friday 27th January 2023
KO time: 20:00 GMT

Overall Record

Wins: 98
Losses: 62
Draws: 45

Last six meetings

Arsenal 1-2 Manchester City
Manchester City 5-0 Arsenal
Arsenal 0-1 Manchester City
Arsenal 1-4 Manchester City (League Cup)
Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City (FA Cup)

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Turner

Tomiyasu
Saliba
Kiwior
Tierney

Partey
Elneny

Trossard
Vieira
Smith Rowe

Nketiah

 

Given there’s over a week between the City game and Everton away, I think there’s a strong chance he plays a strong XI on Friday. Doubtful that he’ll throw Kiwior straight into the deep end.

 

Maybe yeah. FA cup is good. If we get past this round, a domestic double might be on. But think there's got to be a way of resting Partey and Xhaka. Maybe Zinchenko and Elneny? Or White? Just rest our two CMs.

 

Holding starts?? Yeah I didn’t expect that, that inclusion significantly weakens our backline.

Haaland and KdB start so not looking forward to this….

 

Agreed! Also not happy that Odegaard isnt starting, there are 8 days between this and our next match, Odegaard is a massive influence as to why Arsenal are ticking so well at the moment. Unless the usual starting 11 have niggling injuries I just dont understand why we arent going out there full strength, not fussed about the FA cup this year, but it's a massive match as Man City are the only ones that will stop us winning the PL and we cant afford to lose 3-0, 4-0. I'm still concerned what might happen to our mental state short/medium term if we get a belting.

 

HT. 0-0.

Actually did better than I expected. We’ve defended pretty well, been aggressive in winning the ball, intercepted at vital moments and looked dangerous when turning over possession or when building attacks. Trossard has been absolutely superb and unlucky not to score twice.

The main weakness has been Holding who has been too aggressive with Haaland and now that he’s been booked, means we should probably take him off to avoid getting sent off. Doubtful Arteta will do this, though. He needs to learn how to channel his aggression.

 

Saliba coming on? Makes sense
Lokonga coming on? Erm…

 

We look like a completely different side without Partey in the middle.

 

Lokonga again not showing for the ball and hiding behind players. Needs to show more.

 

1-0 City. Ake. Annoying but we’ve been inviting pressure this half. Good finish from Ake tbf.

 

City have been annoyingly good at keeping the ball and winning fouls (although part of that is due to how passive/drained we are), but I’ve not seen anything that makes me think we should fear them when we play them in the league. They’re not as good as years gone by IMO. They’re far from perfect.

 

FT. 1-0 City.

Never like seeing us lose, but I felt we dealt with City’s threats quite well and, in that first half, we had the best chances. City this season don’t have that air of invincibility they’ve had in the past. We are more than capable of beating them in a couple of weeks.

 

Agree with you BG, crap match from a neutral perspective but both teams were in 2nd/3rd gear, I do believe we matched them throughout. I still think if we'd started with Odegaard and Saliba the result may have been different. Saka had a quiet night but their LB Ake did a great job and scored the winning goal. All in all glad we held our own and even more happy we dont have a reply to contend with.
I'm confident we can hold or beat them at the Emirates after tonights viewing which is a good sign.

 

The main takeaway here was the drop off once Partey was subbed.

Lokonga seems scared to engage and doesn't press - Man City had soo much more space once he came into midfield. He has ability but really he's not ready for this level at all.

This is why we need to add some strength in midfield.