City will start the 32 fixture of this Premier League season on Sunday, at 16:00 (17:00 Central Europe hour and 18:00 Eastern Europe hour), playing away on Emirates with Arsenal. Beside our away fixture, there will be some interesting games like Liverpool – Villa, Sunderland – Spurs and our rivals home game with a desperate QPR.
Let’s look at the match officials and the league table for both of the teams :
Match Official for the game : Martin Atkinson
We had Atkinson away this season at QPR, Liverpool and Wigan, three games with many mistakes against us from him.
This fixture is a huge one both in the Champions race and in the relegation zone. We were unlucky to catch Arsenal this season when they were in form, both in december and now this week, while our rivals had two games with them, one when Arsenal was in a pathetic situation and ended 8-2 and one after Wenger decided to make a schoolboy decision and letting them take the whole 3 points.
Let’s take a look at our past games with Arsenal :
Past games :
And this went on untill :
So City’s last league win on Arsenal’s ground was in 1975, 37 years ago. It’s about time to change that, don’t you think?
Our last two games on Emirates were to cracking ones, although both ended with 0-0. In april 2010, City went for the win at Arsenal, trying to get close to Spurs, who we were fighting for the last spot in Champions League. Arsenal dominated us all game, had huge opportunities to score, but we managed to keep cool and snach a point. Some said that we didn't play football, just defended, but at that time, we didn't had any other chances, we weren't as good as we are now, so Bob really had the best approach for the game. And beside that, the situation was dreadful after Shay Given injured himself so with Hart on a loan spell at B’gham, we had to use a young Faroe gk, Gunnar Nielsen, who had the game of his life, at the debut.
Then last season, City had again one incredible game with Arsenal, in january. Although we looked much better that six months ago, we still didn’t manage to win the game there. Arsenal looked cracking, many chances but only the reactions of Zabs, Vinnie and Hart kept our point, that would be decisive in that season for our Champions League race. Talking about Zaba, he had a moment with Sagna, then Mike Jones sent both off, after a dubios decision.
http://www.mysoccerplace.net/video/zaba ... a-red-cars
Let’s look at the “+” and “–“ of the teams:
City +
- we didn’t concede any goal in the last three games here.
- we have nothing to lose, only to gain
- better squad
City –
- our away form
- team might have given up, the confidence looks very low.
- we miss key players like Lesco, Kun, Vinnie is unfit, etc.
Arsenal+
- They are getting better after a dreadful season
- Van Persie
- They need to fight for every point to get in the Champions League
- this is the only competition they have left.
Arsenal –
- Their defence and their gk.
- Their 37 years record with us.
- They miss just two players
Possible starting lineups :
City :
** = Aguero might not start, his situation is unclear at the moment.
Arsenal :
Szczesny – Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscelny, Santos – Song, Rosicky, Arteta, Ramsey – Walcott Van Persie.
Best odds :
Arsenal 2.20
draw 5.79
Manchester City 2.50
Media opinion on the game : Arsenal are huge favorites because City is on a downfall that can cost them the league. Many think that Wenger has a personal row with City after our transfer attacks to their players and that he will do everything in his power to win the game no mather what.
Personal opinion: Since our away game at Swansea, we said after every game that we still have chances and the next day we need to get a grip and fix things. I am not confident on winning this and winning the title, but i am very convinced that this will be our LAST chance. We don’t need a draw here, we need to take them down and the only thing to do this is to win it and give 200 %. This game is much easier than a trip to Swansea, Norwich, etc, because Arsenal will open up and we will have spaces. There isn’t any big secret behind the tactic that Arse have. All the balls go to Van Persie and we need to stop that. We will have a problem without Lesco and Vinnie who isn’t 100 % fit, but we need to give all to win this. Huge moment will be that we can be at a 8 pct gap between us and filth when the game starts and our morale and confidence which isn’t at it’s best now, will suffer another blow and we could play and without any interest left.
C’mon City!
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