Peter Anderson ⚽ With 17 games to go, Wednesday night's top-of-the-table clash against City can hardly be described as a title decider for Arsenal.

But I believe it will go a long way to shape the outcome of this season's EPL. In mid-January Arsenal were on top of the world. City were struggling while Arsenal beat Man U and Spurs to take maximum points from two potentially sticky games. Then they wobbled. Knocked out of the FA Cup by City, they then went on to lose to Everton and draw with Brentford. Now they face a resurgent City again knowing that defeat will put City on top of the league. That will hurt, considering they were 8 points ahead of City a few short weeks ago.

A wobble was inevitable. Every league winning team has a wobble during the season. The skill is in making the wobble short and not letting the wheels come off, like Keegan's Newcastle famously did in '96. It is also better to have the wobble mid-season to allow for a comeback and not have it at the season's end like Rodger's Liverpool in 2014. Even City had a wobble during their 100 point winning season, when they drew with Palace then got beat by Liverpool at Anfield. I get the feeling that if Arsenal lose to City on Wednesday the wobble may derail the season. Last season ended in disaster for them, when an awful run-in ended their push for UCL football, and I wonder if that will still be fresh in the players' minds.

For what is is worth, I don't think they will lose. The game is at the Emirates, where they have been fantastic this season; the crowd will be up for it and the players know the significance of the fixture. Also, City look vulnerable at the back. Pep has got rid of two excellent full-backs in Cancelo and Zinchenko, and now is struggling to find his best back four. He has overlooked City's best centre-back pairing of Dias and Laporte, played Ake at centre-back and full-back and also used the 18 year old Lewis. I dread to see the team sheet on Wednesday night! Pep's tinkering is making us susceptible to conceding stupid goals and counter-attack goals. 

If Arsenal can get the diamond of Odegard-Saka-Martinelli-Nketia working then they will surely score multiple times. There is something not quite right at City at the moment and if Arsenal turn up I feel the game is there for the taking. Let's hope it is a cracker - worthy of the best two teams in England and a great advertisement for English football. 

May the best team win.

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports

A Looming Cracker

Peter Anderson ⚽ With 17 games to go, Wednesday night's top-of-the-table clash against City can hardly be described as a title decider for Arsenal.

But I believe it will go a long way to shape the outcome of this season's EPL. In mid-January Arsenal were on top of the world. City were struggling while Arsenal beat Man U and Spurs to take maximum points from two potentially sticky games. Then they wobbled. Knocked out of the FA Cup by City, they then went on to lose to Everton and draw with Brentford. Now they face a resurgent City again knowing that defeat will put City on top of the league. That will hurt, considering they were 8 points ahead of City a few short weeks ago.

A wobble was inevitable. Every league winning team has a wobble during the season. The skill is in making the wobble short and not letting the wheels come off, like Keegan's Newcastle famously did in '96. It is also better to have the wobble mid-season to allow for a comeback and not have it at the season's end like Rodger's Liverpool in 2014. Even City had a wobble during their 100 point winning season, when they drew with Palace then got beat by Liverpool at Anfield. I get the feeling that if Arsenal lose to City on Wednesday the wobble may derail the season. Last season ended in disaster for them, when an awful run-in ended their push for UCL football, and I wonder if that will still be fresh in the players' minds.

For what is is worth, I don't think they will lose. The game is at the Emirates, where they have been fantastic this season; the crowd will be up for it and the players know the significance of the fixture. Also, City look vulnerable at the back. Pep has got rid of two excellent full-backs in Cancelo and Zinchenko, and now is struggling to find his best back four. He has overlooked City's best centre-back pairing of Dias and Laporte, played Ake at centre-back and full-back and also used the 18 year old Lewis. I dread to see the team sheet on Wednesday night! Pep's tinkering is making us susceptible to conceding stupid goals and counter-attack goals. 

If Arsenal can get the diamond of Odegard-Saka-Martinelli-Nketia working then they will surely score multiple times. There is something not quite right at City at the moment and if Arsenal turn up I feel the game is there for the taking. Let's hope it is a cracker - worthy of the best two teams in England and a great advertisement for English football. 

May the best team win.

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports

7 comments:

  1. Unknown - thanks for your comment but the Unknown moniker does not get carried on TPQ. Use some handle that distinguishes you from other commenters.

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  2. Red Ron Comments

    Decent win for the Reds V a very poor Toffees.

    When City won the title in 2014, they were top of the table for just 15 days. Arsenal were the chase setters for 128 ! LFC for 18.

    Don't write off M U. like the Gunners they don't have the CL as a distraction. LFC to close the gap with the Barcodes to 6 points?

    Roll on the weekend trip to the north east.

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  3. I really thought the Toffees would stick it to them, they were rubbish. Pool weren't much better. Poor game.

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    Replies
    1. I loved the game. One of the few times this season I have actually enjoyed watching Liverpool

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  4. "I loved the game. One of the few times this season I have actually enjoyed watching Liverpool"

    There's one for the books!

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  5. Arsenal not up to it then. The signs were there from Everton and Brentford.

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    Replies
    1. Yep, they just didn't turn up. No Partey and Martinelli off the boil at the wrong time. I hope they don't now fade away

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