Premier League Return - Manchester City away preview

EMPTY-HAD

SO, THE PREMIER League is back this week although it is certainly going to be a completely different experience to what we have always known.

I must admit I was not particularly in favour of football returning behind closed doors. For me it has always been about the fans, the atmosphere, and the whole match-day experience.

Taking that away I am not convinced it will be anywhere near as enjoyable.

Certainly, if the German experience is anything to go by then I am not sure I will enjoy it at all. Even though the fake crowd noise has slightly improved the TV watching experience it has lacked the usual intensity and drama.

Also, I cannot get my head around preparing to watch a Premier League match in the month of June. Usually this month is reserved for tournament football and indeed this week would have seen the opening of the 2020 European Championships.

The last time Arsenal played a league match in this month was in 1947, a 2-1 defeat at Sheffield United on 7 June, the first season after WW2 in a campaign extended due to a severe winter which had led to many postponements.

From an Arsenal perspective it will be interesting to see how the extended break and the new match-day experience will affect the team. We had been on a great run of form before lockdown as Mikel Arteta was slowly getting his ideas across.

Premier League wins over Newcastle United, Everton and West Ham United, along with an FA Cup success at Portsmouth, had seen us as one of the in-form teams in the league at the time of the break, although we will restart the season down in ninth place, such was our poor form prior to that.

It is a tough start as we begin with four away games at places that have in recent years been far from happy hunting grounds for us. But how much is home advantage going to be an advantage now anyway?

With no fans in the stadiums all games will have a friendly-like feel to them, and it is simply going to be a case of seeing which teams adapt better to the new conditions.

Of course, we start at Manchester City, a ground where we have lost on our last three visits and where we have not won since January 2015. In fact, that is our only win in our last eight visits.

But if anyone knows how to get a result against City it will be Arteta. The only problem is Pep will know this and he may well change his tactics in a bid to surprise his former assistant.

So, I am expecting a tense, tactical battle between the two Spaniards as they try to outwit each other.

Arteta may look to pack the midfield in a bid to counter City’s usual strength. I would therefore not be surprised if for this game only he goes with a 3-5-1-1 formation.

With that in mind my predicted starting line-up is as follows: Leno – Sokratis, David Luiz, Mari – Bellerin, Xhaka, Ceballos, Torriera, Saka - Ozil - Aubameyang.

I know Mesut Ozil will be seen as a controversial choice but with three in midfield behind to offer protection and fill the spaces, if the much-maligned German is given a free role in behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang I think we can cause them problems.

The wing backs will be extremely important as they will need to be switched on defensively to prevent City getting in behind us from wide areas while also giving us the width when we are attacking.

Bukayo Saka could be key here as he has already provided nine assists this season from the left. Pablo Mari will be expected to shuffle across to cover when he goes forward so Hector Bellerin will need to tuck in on the other side, making it more of a back four at times.

That midfield three may lack a certain amount of athleticism but with five substitutions now allowed, the likes Matteo Guendouzi, Joe Willock, and Gabriel Martinelli could be used from the bench later on as legs tire. 

As it is our game in hand any positive result will put us right back in the hunt for a European spot, so it is vital we go there on the front foot and not sit back inviting pressure. If we find ourselves behind early on it will be very difficult to come back.

So far under Arteta the team has improved with a better shape in midfield, but our problem is recent seasons has been our inability to compete in the big games away from home. 

It is now 25 matches since we last won away at one of the big six, that win at City in January 2015, and we have conceded 56 goals in those 25 games.

Recently things have improved slightly with three draws in the last four, and we did really well to get a point at Chelsea with ten men in our last big six away match. If we show the same courage and spirit on Wednesday evening then we can definitely come away with a positive result.

Before lockdown I predicted we could get a result at City and I see no reason to change my mind now. I am not convinced we have quite enough to win but I certainly feel we can get a draw, so I am going with a tight 1-1.

Looking ahead to the restart and a return to his former club, Atreta, speaking to Sky Sports, said: “It is going to be very strange, but I am really excited. It is really special. I spent four great years there.

“The players have looked after themselves really well, they are ready.

“We have played two friendlies to get minutes in the legs and to adapt to playing in an empty stadium.”

Asked about how he has spent the lockdown period, Arteta said: “I spent time trying to get to know the players better. I want us to be a better team than before and to be competitive in every game.

“But it is going to hurt with no fans."

Yes, Mikel, it will hurt us as well.