Manchester City v Arsenal: the tactical battles that could decide title clash
The Guardian says We pick out five important areas, including how Mikel Arteta’s team may be able to wound the Premier League champions
Shape and the midfield
Mikel Arteta is not a clone of Pep Guardiola but they do have a similar outlook on football. Both came through the Barcelona academy, Arteta spent three years as Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City and both favour a 4-3-3 with a hard press. When shapes and philosophies match, gaining a tactical advantage to outweigh City’s advantages in terms of personnel and form will be tough for Arteta. At the moment, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gündogan or Bernardo Silva are simply a better unit than Arsenal’s three, with Thomas Partey and Martin Ødegaard suffering dips in form and Granit Xhaka struggling with illness.
Is there anything Arsenal can do to tip the balance? Everton, Brentford and Tottenham have taken points off City with a back five, compressing the space, but that was before Guardiola’s side hit the relentless streak of the past two months. Arteta’s dabble with a back five late on at Anfield was unconvincing and given it is by attacking wide that Arsenal will probably pose the greatest goal threat, a shift away from 4-3-3 seems unlikely.