Arsenal Vs Manchester City: 3 tactical ways Mikel Arteta could set up

1. Be bold and press high

While Guardiola’s City have dominated almost every team in the world in recent years, the one opposition they have repeatedly failed to overcome is Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. The Reds have routinely got the better of them in one-off match-ups, despite City’s more impressive form over longer periods.

The reason why Liverpool can hurt City like other teams cannot is that they are brave enough to press City. Oftentimes, teams allow City to have the ball and look to compact the space in their own defensive third. While some have beaten City using this tactic, usually, City have simply missed a lot of chances. It is not the defensive team playing well, but being clinical on the counter-attack and getting lucky in their own penalty area.

Liverpool are the only team to have consistently challenged City, and it is because of their willingness to put pressure on the distributors in deep areas. City are not allowed to suffocate the match and control proceedings through extended periods of possession. Liverpool go on the offensive and they cause City problems as a result.

Whether Arsenal have the talent to execute this gameplan is questionable. But Arteta has been keen to implement a high-pressing approach thus far. Perhaps he, like Klopp, is bold enough to use it against the very best.