Chance for Arsenal to shoot down Manchester City

Twentytwo13

29 March 2024 at 3:22 am·3-min read

"Chance for Arsenal to shoot down Manchester City"

Arsenal has found its firepower to shoot to the top of the English Premier League, but it will be severely tested when it travels to Manchester City on Easter on March 31 (11.30pm).

The Gunners lead the table with 64 points after 28 matches, with Liverpool second on goal difference, and City a point behind.

If Arsenal can deliver a knockout punch at the Etihad Stadium, it will all but end City’s title defence and take the London boys a step closer to its first league title in 20 years.

In 2003-2004, Arsenal captured its 13th league crown when it finished the season undefeated. With Arsene Wenger firmly in power, no one would have thought the club would go this long without another title.

The Frenchman stayed with Arsenal until 2018, and while there were many trophies along the way, the league continued to elude the Londoners.

Mikel Arteta has fashioned a side in the mould of Wenger – stylish, attacking, and with a steely determination.

The team was criticised for “not having a proper striker” before the transfer window opened in January, and while Arteta did not splash the cash on a new forward, his players upped their game and started scoring for fun – 33 times in its last eight matches. Arsenal only scored 37 times in its previous 20 league games.

The Gunners, however, are keeping an eye on the fitness of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, as the duo missed training on Wednesday, but reports say they should be fit for Sunday.

So, can Arsenal’s new-found firepower be enough to slay City on its grounds?

That is a possibility as the Manchester club may be without its No. 1 goalkeeper, Ederson, who injured himself against Liverpool last month.

Stefan Ortega has performed admirably since coming in but this will be his first real test.

To add to City’s woes, there are doubts surrounding the availability of John Stones and Kyle Walker, two key defensive members.

Kevin De Bruyne pulled out of Belgium’s squad during last week’s international break but is likely to recover for the clash.

The midfielder, who has already missed 35 matches this season through injury, is pivotal to City’s title charge, and the club has to manage his time carefully to ensure he can influence games.

It all points to a fascinating encounter as City’s Pep Guardiola goes face-to-face with his protégé Arteta.

There are also midweek fixtures as the EPL heads into its final sprint.

FIXTURES (Malaysian time)

SATURDAY
Newcastle vs West Ham (8.30pm)
Chelsea vs Burnley (11pm)
Sheffield United vs Fulham (11pm)
Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace (11pm)
Bournemouth vs Everton (11pm)
Tottenham vs Luton (11pm)

SUNDAY
Aston Villa vs Wolves (1.30am)
Brentford vs Manchester United (4am)
Liverpool vs Brighton (9pm)
Manchester City vs Arsenal (11.30pm)

WEDNESDAY
Newcastle vs Everton (2.30am)
Nottingham Forest vs Fulham (2.30am)
Burnley vs Wolves (2.45am)
Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace (2.45am)
West Ham vs Tottenham (3.15am)

THURSDAY
Brentford vs Brighton (2.30am)
Arsenal vs Luton (2.30am)
Manchester City vs Aston Villa (3.15am)

FRIDAY
Liverpool vs Sheffield United (2.30am)
Chelsea vs Manchester United (3.15am)

The post Chance for Arsenal to shoot down Manchester City appeared first on Twentytwo13.

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