Plenty riding on this showdown
FALTERING: NEITHER CITY OR ARSENAL ARE STEPPING UP
Defeat tomorrow could be the final nail in Wenger’s coffin.
When this season’s Premier League fixture list was released, Arsenal against Manchester City in April looked like a potential title decider.
In reality, neither team goes into tomorrow’s game with a realistic hope of catching leaders Chelsea, but instead are focusing on keeping their own faltering seasons on track.
For either side, failure to qualify for the Champions League would be unacceptable, but for third-placed City and the sixthplaced Gunners, this is a genuine possibility.
Next month the pair meet in the FA Cup semifinals, but right now tomorrow’s Premier League clash is far more significant.
Victory for Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal would end a Premier League win drought of nearly two months, and be their first over one of the “Big Six” since they beat Chelsea 3-0 in September, a result which saw the west London side’s coach Antonio Conte change tactics and begin a title charge.
That must seem a lifetime ago to Wenger, who knows another sub-standard showing will increase the fans’ desire to see the Frenchman leave when his deal expires after the season.
Having had a two-week international break to fix things after a 3-1 loss at West Bromwich Albion last time out, Wenger needs one of his big names to step up.
Midfielder Mesut Oezil’s return to fitness, having played for Germany after missing four of Arsenal’s last nine league games, is encouraging, but a perceived lack of physicality in recent games, with players easily outmuscled, must worry Wenger.
Playmaker Santi Cazorla’s absence has been keenly felt while Alexis Sanchez’s absence on international duty with Chile seems to have done little to calm his dissatisfaction.
Sanchez reportedly had an angry exchange with national team goalkeeper and captain Claudio Bravo – who is likely to be on the bench rather than the pitch for City tomorrow.
Pep Guardiola’s team are frustratingly inconsistent, sweeping aside inferior opposition before being shown up by a quality side like AS Monaco in the Champions League.
Despite a decent 1-1 draw with Liverpool before the international break, City were not at their free-flowing best and were given a £35 000 FA fine for failing to control their players when disputing refereeing decisions.
Striker Sergio Aguero may be biding his time with a possible summer move on the cards while winger Raheem Sterling, who impressed on England duty before picking up a back injury, continues to exasperate with his fitful displays.
Guardiola seems to know how to handle him, but having paid Liverpool £49 million for the 22-year-old, City have a right to expect more consistency from Sterling. – Reuters