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Arsenal: 5 tactical improvements needed vs Man City

By Ross Kennerley

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City bumps fists with Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal after the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on February 21, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City bumps fists with Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal after the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on February 21, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Auba
WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal with the match ball at full time of the Carabao Cup Second Round match between West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal at The Hawthorns on August 25, 2021 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images) /

2. Aubameyang Bringing Central Aggression

Arsenal will need an out-ball on Saturday and while the likelihood is that Nicolas Pepe will be replaced in the starting lineup with Emile Smith Rowe on the left and Bukayo Saka on the right, there has to be breakaway aggression in transitional movements.

Saka has the pace to run in beyond, and with Martin Odegaard in the side to add deep-lying technical security when Arsenal need to build-out from a low-block position, it could free the 19-year-old to be more proactive in his running beyond.

Such situations won’t arise all too often and with Odegaard bringing some centrality to progression, it frees Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to make those darting sprints at goal against City’s high line.

These fixtures have been boring affairs of late where both sides get to play some pass-a-few-times football with one team dominating on chance creation. Looking to progress up the pitch with bodies in support, Arsenal will still rely on the pace of Aubameyang as an out-ball to stretch the pitch and leave centre-backs facing their own goals.

Arteta’s side will need a similarly engaged and direct style from the captain as seen in the latter stages against Chelsea and the win over West Brom.

Have him on John Stones’ shoulder all game. Stones is at his weakest when facing his own net.

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