Martin Keown believes Manchester City will have to alter the tactics they used to expose Arsenal’s weaknesses last season following injuries to Kyle Walker and John Stones.
The champions will be without two of their senior defenders for Sunday’s summit meeting against the currentPremier League leaders after thy suffered setbacks on international duty with England.
Aside from their defensive capabilities, both players offer their manager attacking qualities that helped City beat Arsenal on three occasions last term, most significantly at the Etihad in April when the Gunners were crushed 4-1.
And while the Gunners appear a much more resilient force this term, Keown is confident City still possess the tools required to provide an acid test of Arsenal’s title hopes.
‘That is the risk you run with these friendlies,’ Keown told the Daily Mail. ‘If you are honest enough to play and now, unfortunately for Walker and Stones, they are out of Sunday’s clash.
‘That is a boost to Arsenal and a blow to City because of what they can bring to the team. Had Walker been available, he would have brought his pace in flying down the right flank so Phil Foden can move inside to open up the pitch with his left foot.
‘Likewise, Stones would have brought his intelligence in moving seamlessly from the central defence into midfield. That movement is usually the trigger for Kevin De Bruyne to push up alongside Erling Haaland, which was crucial to City beating Arsenal twice in the Premier League last season.
Predicted Man City line-up vs Arsenal
‘Guardiola will be forced into changing his backline which, from right to left, will most likely consist of Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake.
‘That is hardly a bad four to turn to and, unlike Walker, I suspect Akanji will be told to move into midfield so Arsenal do not overwhelm City there. It would be risky for that role to be given to Ake, because he will be focusing on Bukayo Saka.’
Regardless of the side City pick, Mikel Arteta is adamant his reinforced squad is now far better equipped to deal with the magnitude of a fixture that could well define the title race.
‘[Last season] there were many factors that didn’t help us,’ he said.’We got the injuries in the Sporting game, and there was a lot happening and that momentum shifted to a more negative momentum.
‘We were struggling to keep up [with City] because they kept winning, they won 14 or 15 games in a row and they managed to do it.
‘[It showed] the level that we are facing and where we want to be. Certainly, that’s where we want to be and you have to make strong steps to get there.
‘I think we have made some big ones in the last two or three years and we’re getting much closer and now it is about how you close that gap and actually try to be better than them.’
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