Arsenal v MAN CITY: The PREVIEW – City’s Probable Team
7 Apr
Paddy Power, exclusive betting partners to Manchester City, are offering a £50 FREE BET to new customers. They have plenty of specials for City’s fixture against Arsenal, with odds of 6/1 for Mario Balotelli to score the first goal, especially tempting. Click here to open an account and claim your £50 bet!
Man City’s title ambitions, faltering week by week due to a combination of the Blues’ poor form and Manchester United’s relentless victory charge, could be ended once and for all this weekend, with the visit to the Emirates to face a resurgent Arsenal side posing a challenging task. Should we return from London empty-handed, we would almost be guaranteed the relative disappointment of second place, but if we can acquire the three points, then there would still be hope, limited though it may be.
Securing victory away to the Gunners in the league is something we have found near impossible recently, having failed to beat Arsenal away from home in the past 26 matches, and we have only scored nine goals in that time. However, we defeated them 1-0 earlier this season at the Emirates in the Carling Cup and also by the same scoreline at the Etihad Stadium in the last meeting between the sides.
With regards to team selection, Roberto Mancini will be delighted to welcome back Joleon Lescott from injury, whilst Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri should also be available for selection. Gareth Barry is expected to replace Nigel De Jong in the centre of midfield, though the manager may well be tempted to play both men and utilise Yaya Touré in a more advanced position.
James Milner has not had too many opportunities recently and may again sit this one out, with Nasri hopeful of being named against his former side. Mario Balotelli has attracted numerous headlines, as usual, during the week, and Mancini often selects his fellow Italian after such a week in order to prove a point, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see a forward quartet of Nasri, Silva, Balotelli and Aguero.
Here is the side Mancini could select:
Arsenal were defeated in their last match by QPR, though had been victorious in their previous seven Premier League games before that. Their obvious dangerman is Robin Van Persie, though the Dutchman was unusually quiet at the Etihad, struggling to escape from Vincent Kompany’s pocket. Theo Walcott has started to hit his stride in the past couple of months, whilst the likes of Alex Song, Aaron Ramsey, Tomas Rosicky and Mikel Arteta are more than capable of controlling the tempo of the game.
Referee: Martin Atkinson – So far this season, he has officiated four City games and we have won three, drawing the other. However, he did harshly send Mario Balotelli off against Liverpool, picking on the Italian due to his reputation, whilst Atkinson is known as a ref who prefers to stamp his mark on the game, rather than let it flow.
Prediction: Arsenal 2 – 2 MAN CITY – I have the feeling it will be a hugely entertaining and open affair, similar to the league fixture in Manchester earlier in the campaign. Both sides have attackers capable of destroying the opposition, so much will depend on the clinical nature of the finishing. Goals to be scored by Robin Van Persie, Theo Walcott, Sergio Aguero and Mario Balotelli.
city would have better chance with out na$ri. I don’t think na$ri will be in stable condition during the match.
A good assessment.
For all his faults Balotelli scores goals and Edin hasn’t of late.
No mention of Carlos though?
Did you not consider Mancini might think this the time to throw the dice?
The only players that command a starting place when fit are Hart, Kompany, Yaya, Silva and Aguero; the rest of the usual match day 18 are of a fairly even standard and where two vie for one position both have their pros and cons like Micah and Zaba e’g’
If you’ve called anything wrong it’s likely hinge on Balotelli. Does he sacrifice Mario to select Milner or DJ with Barry and allow Yaya to move into that central midfield general position that he plays so well.
Personally I’d do the latter but heck, Mancini knows his players, there’s a few who will think thay have the strong claims to a shirt but it will be more about attitude and application than anything else I would think, the sort of game when the likes of Zabaleta earn their corn.
David Silva needs some rest, he has been playing almost every single game. I would push Yaya in the advanced role and pair up Milner and Barry and let Silva sit this one out.
I think one player we all have missed is Pizzaro. Against Sunderland, his introduction changed everything
Why is Milner being sidelined?
cant predict anymore.gave the title away to united.hope we win
Just want to say best city website ive ever been on i wait every week to read your predictions/team sheets. I think they should put yaya in a advanced role with dj and barry covering. Balotelli will either shine or get sent off, my prediction 2-1 city aguero balotelli and rvp.
Great site VFAB – keep it going! – if we stick with that back four we should be good for a 1-0. Key that Yaya gets to play up the field and that we don’t start with both Dzeko and Balotelli. Personally I don’t think either are worth their place in the team at the mo. Aguero with Silva & Nasri backed up by a three of YY, NDJ and GB would be my preference with Carlos to come on at 60!
this is my first visit to your site, i like it, on todays game we need some big performances today, after last weeks display we can’t afford to drop anymore points, i would play pizzaro and give silva a rest as i think he’s carrying an injury, is it time to give tevez a start?, i don’t know, maybe
The question is not which player should play because it is obvious that the best player at the time should play. Ball, Tevez or others. The question is should we blame the coach for not making one stable team with replacements. The players like tevez dzeko nasri need games to reach the higher fit. You dont spend millions to have them seated and them give them 20 min or even one game to prove themselves. The attitude of not knowing the reasons for not playing or playing does not motivate such players. And they need to be motivated in the game. In my opinion mostly the coach is to be blamed for the situation.