City Preview: 3 Points For Xmas Will Do

    That was a stunner, wake up boiz as no game is an easy ride on the path to winning the EPL, the voice snapped in my head. We knew Everton away was gonna be tough but that’s not what we were expecting from the TEAM. This is the premiership though so why not?  Arsenal were unbeaten away this season so far,  and despite Everton's yoyo form, they was still unbeaten at Goodison park this season, add the fact that Arsenal was the last team to beat Everton at home, you would think the game had banana skin written all over it. We should have known. Having taken the lead in the early stages of the game from a deflected Sanchez free kick, we slowly relaxed our guard and got caught by a silly equalizer we shouldn’t have conceded. The central defensive pairing of Kos and Gabriel isn’t as solid when it’s “Kos-Stafi” but the goal was conceded the moment Walcott missed the tackle that allowed the delightful cross to come in from Leighton Baines. The kick in the teeth was the timing, 43^rd minute of the first half.....Jeezeee. We did the same for the Everton winner, though we have shown in the past that we can turn over a deficit to snatch 1 or all 3 points but conceding the second goal late in the 2^nd half made the job all the more herculean besides that our luck was going to run out soon than later, well on Tuesday night, it did. Stats say its our 11^th straight match without a clean sheet, worrying times if you ask me. On the other side of London, Chelsea is going about the bizness of cruizing to 3 points so far. 11 straight wins of which, 3 straight 1-0 wins against the grinder. You will not always score goals but you give yourself a chance of snatching 3points by keeping a clean sheet. We need to learn that. Now go back and read it again….Arsenal needs to learn that.

Anyway moving on, it’s Man City up next away at the Etihad and then Westbrom on boxing day, it don’t get any easier people. This would be a good time to show the doubters what stuff the team is made off init? A very good way to do that is by getting a win 1-0…2-1…3-0 just get a win. Arsenal losing at Goodison Park in midweek was not the best as couple with Chelsea win this weekend putting them tentatively 9 points clear makes a win at the Etihad more desperately needed. That’s pressure but I don’t think that’s a too tall an order for a team that Arsene believes has matured into men as he calls them.  Arsene knows that as he says:

“The key to big games against City is to defend well together and not be timid every time you get the ball,” said Wenger.

“We have to have a go and try to attack, because that’s part of our philosophy. Overall that’s what you have to do but you have not to forget as well that City’s team is very strong going forward, maybe even more now with Pep Guardiola, so we certainly have to focus on defending well.”    you can read more here.

    Well that kind of puts it nicely succinct, the whole team needs to key into the defensive duties. Harrying and chasing down every 50/50. City without Aguero isnt any easier only a bit less dangerous if you ask me. De Bruyne , Nolito, Gundogan, Sterlin, Yaya, can run riot if you allow them but Chelsea, Leicester  and other teams have shown they can also be ripped apart. City isn't in sterling form right now, Stones, Otamendi and Bravo seem to be on a competition of who gives the opposition the most freebies and we might as well cash any offered cheques. That’s why I say the gunners can do it, they need to stay really focused when defending while balancing being clinical in front of goal when City present them with chances as they always do. I don’t know how they would get that delicate balance right but that’s for the Boss and the team to figure out.  Predicted team selection would be as shown below.

Image Courtesy: The UK Guardian

I do hope, that team is able to get at Man City in ways that hurt them, their achilles heel is their defence but i think midfield battle would be very key. That's it from us here, do enjoy the game wherever you are......Ciaoooo