Both Manchester City and Arsenal look stronger than during last season’s epic title race.
Arsenal definitely have the tools to challenge for the Premier League again and Sunday afternoon’s clash looks very important, even in September.
After two gruelling games at Tottenham and then Atalanta, Mikel Arteta could be tempted to ease off and aim for a repeat of the goalless draw at the Etihad in March.
We’ll know if that’s the case if we see Jorginho’s name in the team’s lineup beforehand!
Personally, I think that sends the wrong signal. Arsenal lack the creativity and pressing of Martin Odegaard, but Arteta still has enough talent to cause City problems.
Manchester City are too good for Arsenal to simply aspire to survive – they are better than last year
Mikel Arteta will send the wrong signal if he starts Jorginho (centre) – it will suggest he intends to stay back
Several stars such as Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and William Saliba are said to have formed part of the City squad.
Some Arsenal players (Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and William Saliba included) would enter the City squad.
I don’t think anyone in the world, not even Real Madrid, can play City for 90 minutes and win.
But Brentford showed last weekend that the champions can be beaten by showing adventure at the right moments.
Arsenal could fall behind if they fall behind. It’s early in the season, not spring, and Erling Haaland is fit, energetic and energised. Pep Guardiola will be willing to take risks to win, so Arteta can’t plan just to survive.
I’m not saying Arsenal will win the league, but I wouldn’t be surprised either.
They only lost by two points last season, which was quite a challenge, and the summer signings they have made, plus the return of Jurrien Timber, will be important when the strength of the team is tested.
Riccardo Calafiori will have no problems in the Premier League. The Italian is robust, physical and versatile, capable of playing as a centre-back, left-back or as part of a three-man defence.
I saw him at the Euros last summer and he has authority. He won’t be afraid of playing an important game for a big club.
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Jurrien Timber has been like a new player since returning from injury and this is a monumental test for him and Arsenal’s depth.
Raheem Sterling could get a chance against the club with whom he won four Premier League titles
Timber is something of a new signing after last season’s injuries following his move from Ajax. He brings the pace and stability at left-back that Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu sometimes failed to offer. We have yet to see Raheem Sterling and Mikel Merino properly, but both are internationals and have vast experience.
We know all about Sterling. Merino is a great technical talent and a big, strong guy who loves the physical side of the game.
Arsenal’s resilience also gives their supporters hope. They have a group that looks hungry and fighting together.
His defensive work to help beat the Spurs was as good as I’ve seen in a long time.
Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard love to attack, but they have improved the other aspect of their game under Arteta. Their recovery speed is partly the reason Arsenal remain unbeaten away from home in 2024.
Last season, Arsenal were four points clear of City and Liverpool. The team knows how to win big games. They had setbacks against Fulham, West Ham and Aston Villa, but now they seem less vulnerable to those surprises.
You’d bet on Arsenal as champions against any other team. Unfortunately for them, City will also be better this time around because Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne missed parts of last season.
City have a slight advantage in this game because they play in the Champions League at home on Wednesday, and Arsenal in Italy, in Bergamo, 24 hours later.
Mikel Arteta’s side did not concede a goal against City last season but will be questioned if they sit back and simply absorb the pressure.
Manchester City have a slight advantage as they played in the Champions League a day earlier.
I predict a 2-1 win for City to maintain their title favourite status by a slim margin.
I know they travel on private jets, but sleep patterns can be disrupted. At Liverpool, Gerard Houllier made us spend the night in Europe after games so we could rest. The players didn’t like it, they wanted to go home, but results improved for the next league games.
I expect Arteta to be bolder than he was at the Etihad last season. Arsenal have the quality to give City’s defence a hard time if they are brave.
If they fall behind and Arsenal lose, there will be questions about their approach. I would like Kai Havertz or Trossard to play as a No. 10. I think City could win the game 2-1 and still be title favourites by a very narrow margin.
But anyone expecting a one-horse race is seriously mistaken. Arsenal are the real rivals and will once again press City until the end.