City thumped Fulham on Saturday with Gvardiol getting a double. The centre-half turned "wing-forwardish type player" has been a revelation of late, regularly popping up with goals and assists and striking up a great relationship with Foden on the City left. At the start of the season he looked out of place and was prone to giving the ball away, but Pep worked closely with him and said that the penny finally dropped around Christmas. City's form has followed Gvardiol's.
Another of the new recruits who has finally worked out exactly what Pep wants is Kovacic. He now looks so comfortable playing beside Rodri. Meanwhile, Arsenal then beat a useless United team 0-1 despite not playing well, setting up Tuesday night's crucial game.
The question now is whether or not City can beat Spurs in London, something they haven't done in the league since Spurs moved into their new stadium. Much has been made of Spur's dominance of this fixture, but there are caveats. Firstly, City won there this season in the FA Cup. And secondly, it wasn't really that Spurs beat City, rather it was Kane who beat City, with MoM performances in all of those games.
Whether showing his extraordinary range of passing from deep or finishing off counter-attacks, he put City to the sword with such ease and delight that it must be noted that he is no longer at the club.
Sure they still have the tools in the box to score against City and if they score first it will be a super difficult game, but I don't feel that the jinx will play a part like in previous years.
The neutrals will be hoping for a draw. Then, it will come down to goal difference on the final day, with The Gunners at home to Everton and City at home to West Ham. City would need to score 3 more goals than Arsenal to equal their goal difference, but win it on their superior goals scored. With Arsenal's history of bottling and Everton's ability to grind out clean sheets, it may not be done and dusted for the Gunners if City do draw agianst Spurs.
I have said from the start of the season that City have been a long way off their best, but at the business end of the season they are in the FA Cup final and will take the EPL to the last day. Another remarkable performance from Pep. But not so good for the league in general. Last season's top two will be unchanged and the three promoted will be the three relegated, making the league look less competitive than it has done in a long time.
Another of the new recruits who has finally worked out exactly what Pep wants is Kovacic. He now looks so comfortable playing beside Rodri. Meanwhile, Arsenal then beat a useless United team 0-1 despite not playing well, setting up Tuesday night's crucial game.
The question now is whether or not City can beat Spurs in London, something they haven't done in the league since Spurs moved into their new stadium. Much has been made of Spur's dominance of this fixture, but there are caveats. Firstly, City won there this season in the FA Cup. And secondly, it wasn't really that Spurs beat City, rather it was Kane who beat City, with MoM performances in all of those games.
Whether showing his extraordinary range of passing from deep or finishing off counter-attacks, he put City to the sword with such ease and delight that it must be noted that he is no longer at the club.
Sure they still have the tools in the box to score against City and if they score first it will be a super difficult game, but I don't feel that the jinx will play a part like in previous years.
The neutrals will be hoping for a draw. Then, it will come down to goal difference on the final day, with The Gunners at home to Everton and City at home to West Ham. City would need to score 3 more goals than Arsenal to equal their goal difference, but win it on their superior goals scored. With Arsenal's history of bottling and Everton's ability to grind out clean sheets, it may not be done and dusted for the Gunners if City do draw agianst Spurs.
I have said from the start of the season that City have been a long way off their best, but at the business end of the season they are in the FA Cup final and will take the EPL to the last day. Another remarkable performance from Pep. But not so good for the league in general. Last season's top two will be unchanged and the three promoted will be the three relegated, making the league look less competitive than it has done in a long time.
Competitive or not, Tuesday's game will be a cracker and watched all around the world.
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| Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports |
It is gonna be very hard to knock City off their perch. Arsenal are showing bottling signs. Last night's performance by Liverpool against Villa shows a side that has completely lost its way. I think it might need a new captain. They look disorganised under Virgil - back line and team in general suffer as a result.
ReplyDeleteArsenal showed no bottling signs at Old Trafford on Sunday.
DeleteBarry - I thought they were unconvincing.
Delete41 P L goals conceded by the Reds this season is 1 short of the tally during Roy Evans final season . 10 League games without a clean sheet is again 1 less than the farcical 1998 Spice Boys season . Lots of new faces needed in defence , midfield & attack # 7 in # 7 out
ReplyDeleteCity to win # 1 - 3 tonight & finish 2 points ahead of the Gunners , who will have a points tally 1 less than the Invincibles # 2004
who are the seven you think should be out?
DeleteDespite nerves Arsenal at least put up a dignified fight unlike Liverpool
Diaz , Nunez , Szobesaslai , Jota , Mo , Matip , Thiago .
ReplyDeletewould go along with that except Jota - great when he is fit and for that reason alone I would retain him
DeleteAnthony, Arsenal's defensive performance at OT was that of champions. Ok the margin of victory should have been greater. They are also the best team at set piece situations.
ReplyDelete