Feature

Arsenal v Man City: What to look out for as top two collide

By Ben Pearce 8 Feb 2023

Could Trossard start? Can Arteta overcome his former boss? We look at the key talking points

As Arsenal and Manchester City go head-to-head in the title race, we look at the key talking points and the factors that could define the match.

Position Pos	Club	Played Pl	GD	Points Pts
1	Man City MCI	38	+61	89
2	Arsenal ARS	38	+45	84

Arteta takes on his former boss

Wednesday's duel throws up the fascinating tactical battle between one of the world's best managers, Pep Guardiola, and his former right-hand man Mikel Arteta.

Arteta spent three-and-a-half years as Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City, from July 2016 to December 2019, when he left to take charge of Arsenal.

Now the Gunners boss has turned his team into the biggest challengers to his old club.

See: Arteta: Arsenal's challenge is to reach Man City's level

Vincent Kompany, who played under the pair at the Etihad Stadium, saw them as kindred spirits.

"Like any good coaching staff is supposed to work he [Arteta] was definitely an extension of Pep, probably the one in the coaching staff that was closer to the players, and understanding fully what Pep wanted as a manager," said Kompany.

"To say everything comes from Pep or everything comes from Mikel is difficult to say because they work as a team, but they spoke the same language for sure."

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Wednesday's showdown could easily be billed as the master facing his apprentice, but a modest Guardiola has always sought to play down his influence on Arteta's development and subsequent success at Arsenal.

"I'd like to say [the influence has been] a lot but I’d lie to you," said Guardiola. "Mikel and I worked together for three years. He was taught since he was born. Maybe I learned more off him than he did off me when we worked together."

See: Guardiola hails Arsenal as best team in the league

Will Arteta freshen up his team?

The consistency of Arteta's team selections has arguably been one of Arsenal's strengths this season.

The Gunners have had the same starting XI for their last six matches and could now make it seven in a row for the first time in their Premier League history.

However, there have been signs that the leaders may be tiring, and that now might be the moment for Arteta to freshen things up.

After averaging 2.4 goals per match in the first half of the season, Arsenal have struggled in their last two outings, losing 1-0 at Everton before drawing 1-1 at home against Brentford.

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Arteta might be moved to hand Leandro Trossard his first Premier League start for Arsenal, in place of Gabriel Martinelli, as the Belgian has impressed since moving from Brighton & Hove Albion and scored his first goal for the Gunners against Brentford on Saturday.

Trossard started in Arsenal's recent 1-0 FA Cup defeat to City and, but for a superb save by Stefan Ortega, might have opened his account for the club sooner.

Having scored for Brighton against Man City in October, he could become the third player to strike against the Citizens for two different clubs in the same Premier League season, after Andy Carroll and Darren Bent in 2010/11.

Takehiro Tomiyasu might also get the nod. Ben White enjoys a productive partnership with Bukayo Saka on the right flank, with their combinations key to Arsenal’s offensive threat, but Tomiyasu also played well in the cup defeat and might be deployed to keep Jack Grealish quiet.

Much depends on whether Arteta decides to adopt a cautious approach or take the game to City.

Has Guardiola found a winning formula?

Man City have been below their imperious best this season, with Guardiola seemingly struggling to find the most effective personnel and tactics. But something clicked in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa.

Having previously used Joao Cancelo, Rico Lewis or Nathan Ake as inverted full-backs who move into the centre of the pitch, Guardiola instead deployed Bernardo Silva in a deep-lying midfield role with responsibility for helping defensively out wide.

The Portuguese had been benched for three of the previous four matches in all competitions, and the change instantly gave City more control in midfield.

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Bernardo's technical quality took the pressure off Rodri in between the defence and attack, helping the champions to move the ball quickly and smoothly between the lines. Out of possession, Bernardo tracked the runs of Leon Bailey.

Meanwhile, experienced centre-backs Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte started together for the first time since the FIFA World Cup 2022 and helped restrict Villa to just six shots, with two on target.

While it is always dangerous to try to predict Guardiola’s plans, he may have found his winning formula just in time for the biggest match of the season so far.

Can Arsenal change the record?

Arsenal will be battling the weight of history on Wednesday, as they take on a side who have dominated them in recent years.

They have lost their last 10 Premier League matches against Man City, their longest run against an opponent in their history.

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At home, the Gunners have suffered six straight defeats against Guardiola’s side in all competitions, and City could now become the first team to win seven straight trips to Arsenal.

Man City are the one team Arteta has failed to beat in the Premier League, losing all five of his meetings with them.

Meanwhile, City have won their last 22 league matches played on a Wednesday, the longest winning run on a specific day in the competition's history.

The omens are certainly not good for Arsenal, but the 2022/23 team are a new breed who have been proving doubters wrong all season, and they have turned Emirates Stadium into a fortress.

They are unbeaten in 13 home league matches, winning 11 of those. It is their longest undefeated run on home turf for four years.