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As Arsenal and Mancheter Metropolis go head-to-head within the title race, we have a look at the important thing speaking factors and the components that might outline the match.
Arteta takes on his former boss
Wednesday’s duel throws up the fascinating tactical battle between one of many world’s greatest managers, Pep Guardiola, and his former right-hand man Mikel Arteta.
Arteta spent three-and-a-half years as Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester Metropolis, from July 2016 to December 2019, when he left to take cost of Arsenal.
Now the Gunners boss has turned his workforce into the most important challengers to his outdated membership.
Vincent Kompany, who performed below the pair at Etihad Stadium, noticed them as kindred spirits.
“Like all good teaching workers is meant to work he [Arteta] was undoubtedly an extension of Pep, most likely the one within the teaching workers that was nearer to the gamers, and understanding totally what Pep needed as a supervisor,” stated Kompany.
“To say the whole lot comes from Pep or the whole lot comes from Mikel is tough to say as a result of they work as a workforce, however they spoke the identical language for certain.”
Wednesday’s showdown might simply be billed because the grasp dealing with his apprentice, however a modest Guardiola has at all times sought to minimize his affect on Arteta’s growth and subsequent success at Arsenal.
“I might prefer to say [the influence has been] rather a lot however I’d deceive you,” stated Guardiola. “Mikel and I labored collectively for 3 years. He was taught since he was born. Perhaps I realized extra off him than he did off me after we labored collectively.”
See: Guardiola hails Arsenal as greatest workforce within the league
Will Arteta clean up his workforce?
The consistency of Arteta’s workforce choices has arguably been one in all Arsenal’s strengths this season.
The Gunners have had the identical beginning XI for his or her final six matches and will now make it seven in a row for the primary time of their Premier League historical past.
Nevertheless, there have been indicators that the leaders could also be tiring, and that now could be the second for Arteta to freshen issues up.
After averaging 2.4 targets per match within the first half of the season, Arsenal have struggled of their final two outings, shedding 1-0 at Everton earlier than drawing 1-1 at house towards Brentford.
Arteta could be moved handy Leandro Trossard his first Premier League begin for Arsenal, rather than Gabriel Martinelli, because the Belgian has impressed since shifting from Brighton & Hove Albion and scored his first aim for the Gunners towards Brentford on Saturday.
Trossard began in Arsenal’s latest 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Metropolis and, however for an excellent save by Stefan Ortega, may need opened his account for the membership sooner.
Having scored for Brighton towards Man Metropolis in October, he might turn out to be the third participant to strike towards the Residents for 2 completely different golf equipment in the identical Premier League season, after Andy Carroll and Darren Bent in 2010/11.
Takehiro Tomiyasu may additionally get the nod. Ben White enjoys a productive partnership with Bukayo Saka on the fitting flank, with their combos key to Arsenal’s offensive menace, however Tomiyasu additionally performed effectively within the cup defeat and could be deployed to maintain Jack Grealish quiet.
A lot is dependent upon whether or not Arteta decides to undertake a cautious method or take the sport to Metropolis.
Has Guardiola discovered a successful components?
Man Metropolis have been under their imperious greatest this season, with Guardiola seemingly struggling to search out the simplest personnel and techniques. However one thing clicked in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa.
Having beforehand used Joao Cancelo, Rico Lewis or Nathan Ake as inverted full-backs who transfer into the centre of the pitch, Guardiola as a substitute deployed Bernardo Silva in a deep-lying midfield function with duty for serving to defensively out large.
The Portuguese had been benched for 3 of the earlier 4 matches in all competitions, and the change immediately gave Metropolis extra management in midfield.
Bernardo’s technical high quality took the stress off Rodri in between the defence and assault, serving to the champions to maneuver the ball rapidly and easily between the strains. Out of possession, Bernardo tracked the runs of Leon Bailey.
In the meantime, skilled centre-backs Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte began collectively for the primary time because the FIFA World Cup 2022 and helped prohibit Villa to only six photographs, with two on track.
Whereas it’s at all times harmful to attempt to predict Guardiola’s plans, he could have discovered his successful components simply in time for the most important match of the season to date.
Can Arsenal change the file?
Arsenal can be battling the burden of historical past on Wednesday, as they tackle a aspect who’ve dominated them lately.
They’ve misplaced their final 10 Premier League matches towards Man Metropolis, their longest run towards an opponent of their historical past.
At house, the Gunners have suffered six straight defeats towards Guardiola’s aspect in all competitions, and Metropolis might now turn out to be the primary workforce to win seven straight journeys to Arsenal.
Man Metropolis are the one workforce Arteta has did not beat within the Premier League, shedding all 5 of his conferences with them.
In the meantime, Metropolis have received their final 22 league matches performed on a Wednesday, the longest successful run on a particular day within the competitors’s historical past.
The omens are actually not good for Arsenal, however the 2022/23 workforce are a brand new breed who’ve been proving doubters mistaken all season, they usually have turned Emirates Stadium right into a fortress.
They’re unbeaten in 13 house league matches, successful 11 of these. It’s their longest undefeated run on house turf for 4 years.