Not Gunner hide
Pep’s men wary of Arsenal repeating FA Cup triumph
Arsenal will not adopt a defensive approach when they visit English Premier League leaders Manchester City today. Pep Guardiola’s City are off to a best ever start to the campaign with 28 points from 10 games, having remained unbeaten and scored 35 goals in the process. Arsenal’s three league defeats this season have come on the road but manager Arsene Wenger is adamant they will play to their strengths and not risk defending deep against a top attacking unit at the Etihad. “We’ll of course try to play our game. We’ll not hide,” Wenger said. ”The best way to defend sometimes is to attack.”
LONDON: Unbeaten Manchester City’s season shows no sign of losing momentum with 15 wins from 16 in all competitions after the 4-2 Champions League victory at Napoli.
City have not lost a competitive match anywhere since April but that defeat came in the English FA Cup semi-finals against Arsenal, the team who will visit the Etihad in the English Premier League today.
Manager Pep Guardiola has said he sees no possibility of City emulat- ing the achievement of Arsenal’s “Invincibles” of 2003-2004, by going through an entire Premier League season unbeaten.
“Apart from the defeat at Watford, Arsenal have won a lot of games,” said Guardiola.
“It’s complicated for us. We hope we can recover well after the travel and the game in Naples.
“It’s so tough when you have the Champions League to consider.
“Arsenal played without their real squad on Thursday (Europa League group game against Red Star Belgrade), so they have effectively rested for one week.
“We will lack energy, so our fans will be important.”
City have scored 35 goals and conceded just six in their 10 league games so far, winning at Chelsea and thrashing Liverpool 5-0 in the process, leaving many rival managers wondering how they might be stopped.
Among the players to have impressed this season is Raheem Sterling, the winger who Arsenal wanted to sign in August and who might have been allowed to leave had City’s attempt to sign Alexis Sanchez been successful.
Sterling has not been a prolific scorer during his short career but has seven Premier League goals already this season, a total that only Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane can better so far. The winger has another three goals in the Champions League to go with that, including one during Wednesday’s win.
Also among the goals in midweek was Sergio Aguero, who finally became the club’s all-time record scorer with his 178th for City.
The Argentina international, who had looked apprehensive as he got close to the record, should now enjoy the opportunity to relax in front of goal a little more.