A blockbuster showdown that could decide who goes on to lift the 2022-23 Premier League title takes place at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, as reigning champions Manchester City play host to leaders Arsenal.
While the Citizens, who progressed to the FA Cup final last weekend, are vying to retain the top-flight title and keep their treble-winning hopes alive, the Gunners are focused solely on securing their first Premier League crown for nearly two decades.
Arsenal have been leading the way at the summit since August, but a recent wobble in form has seen them drop points in their last three matches, including last Friday’s chaotic 3-3 draw at home to basement club Southampton, which has allowed second-placed Man City, who have two games in hand, to close the gap at the top to five points.
City have prevailed in their previous two meetings with Arsenal this season, including a 3-1 league win at the Emirates Stadium in February, and they can move one step closer to knocking the North Londoners off their perch with another triumph in front of their own fans.
As managerial mastermind Pep Guardiola prepares to go toe-to-toe with his former apprentice Mikel Arteta on the touchline, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at three key battles to look out for on the pitch in Wednesday’s clash at the Etihad.
Bukayo Saka vs. Nathan Ake or Aymeric Laporte
Nathan Ake has been one of Man City’s standout performers throughout this season and he has acquitted himself admirably on the left side of Guardiola’s backline, but with a hamstring injury potentially ruling him out of Wednesday’s clash, Aymeric Laporte could be the man tasked to suppress the qualities of Arsenal starboy Bukayo Saka.
Saka has been one of the key architects behind Arsenal’s title charge and is the only Premier League player to be in double figures for both goals and assists so far this season, recording 13 goals and 11 assists in 32 league matches, highlighting his threat as both a creator and finisher from the right flank.
The 21-year-old, who contributed to two goals in the 3-3 draw with Southampton, is set to be heavily involved again for the Gunners on Wednesday, and Laporte will need to be on top of his game if he is to shackle Arsenal’s sizzling No.7.
Laporte has not had regular first-team football this season, starting only seven times in the Premier League, but the Spaniard has been a reliable defender for Guardiola over the years and City have won their last five top-flight meetings with Arsenal when the 28-year-old has played, keeping four cleans sheets in the process.
Saka has attempted 4.63 take-ons per game in the Premier League this term, but he only has a 36% success rate, which bodes well for Laporte and co on Wednesday.
Rodri vs. Martin Odegaard
Elevating his game to new heights since taking the Arsenal captaincy, Martin Odegaard deserves to be in the conversation for Premier League Player of the Season having enjoyed a stellar campaign as the Gunners’ chief midfield conductor.
The Norwegian, who has contributed with 12 goals and eight assists in 31 league games, has linked up brilliantly with the likes of Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus in the final third, but his influence is sure to be tested by Man City lynchpin Rodri, who has also enjoyed an impressive 2022-23 campaign.
Indeed, the Spaniard has shown his class both in and out of possession for the Citizens, completing more passes (2,346) and more passes into the final third (243) than any other Premier League player this season, while also boasting the second-most ball recoveries (264) in the division.
Along with displaying his artistic attributes in attack, Odegaard will have to put in his defensive duties to prevent Rodri, arguably the most dominant deep-lying playmaker in the top flight, from dictating play in City’s midfield, with a collective high press from Arsenal’s frontline expected as they attempt to foil Guardiola’s men from playing out from the back.
Erling Braut Haaland vs. Gabriel Magalhaes & Rob Holding
Keeping the Premier League’s top scorer Erling Braut Haaland quiet is a challenge that many defenders have struggled with throughout this season, and Arteta will hope that the centre-back pairing of Gabriel Magalhaes and Rob Holding can step up for the big occasion on Wednesday having seen his side’s defensive prowess weaken in recent weeks.
The absence of William Saliba has truly been felt by the Gunners, who have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last five games without the Frenchman, and they must quickly rediscover their solidity at the back if they are to have any chance of stopping goal machine Haaland.
Both Gabriel and Holding started in Arsenal’s 1-0 FA Cup defeat against City at the Etihad in January, and although Haaland was not on the scoresheet that day, Holding particularly struggled to deal with the presence of the Norwegian – coming out second best in the majority of his physical battles before being tactically withdrawn at half time on a yellow card.
Haaland has a significantly lower aerial duel win percentage (35%) compared with both Holding (95%) and Gabriel (75%), but that has not stopped the striker from excelling in the final third this term. City’s No.9 scored one of his 32 Premier League goals in the 3-1 victory at Arsenal earlier this year, and he enters Wednesday’s contest in electric form having found the net 15 times in his last eight appearances in all competitions, albeit drawing a blank against Sheffield United on Saturday.
The 22-year-old, who has scored 20 top-flight goals on home soil including four hat-tricks, will be motivated by the prospect of becoming the Premier League’s all-time record goalscorer in a single campaign, with just two goals required for him to equal the feat set by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole (34).
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
