3 Key Battles that Could Decide Arsenal's Match with Man City

3 key battles that could decide Arsenal’s crucial clash with Man City

By Adam Keys | Apr 26, 2023

Manchester City's Algerian midfielder Riyad Mahrez (L) fights for the ball with Arsenal's Ukrainian defender Oleksandr Zinchenko during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium in London on February 15, 2023. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Ian Kington / IKIMAGES / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by IAN KINGTON/IKIMAGES/AFP via Getty Images) /

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Arsenal need a big performance from Thomas Partey. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) /

2. Midfield: Reducing the distances

Arteta made some tactical tweaks against Southampton on Friday which saw Thomas Partey drop into the defence to start the build-up. This led to huge distances between him and Martin Odegaard, and left Zinchenko isolated in midfield as Fabio Vieira ghosted his way through 60 minutes.

The last time Arsenal and Manchester City went head to head! 📊 pic.twitter.com/e1HpO14hKm
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 25, 2023

With Granit Xhaka a doubt going into the game, Arsenal need to address this. If he’s out, Jorginho can provide the stability Arsenal need in the form of a double pivot, because a failure to do so could see Kevin De Bruyne run riot and exploit the spaces left in that area.

Going to a double pivot would also allow Odegaard to operate more as a #10, rather than a right eight, which would give him slightly more freedom to orchestrate play in the final third, and reduce the dependency on him to come deep to receive the ball.

Continued on the next slide…

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