A MATCH FOR ALL SEASONS : ARSENAL CLASH WITH MANCHESTER CITY IN TITLE-DECIDER
PREVIEW by Kabs Kanu
Beat Manchester City at their home grounds at the Ethihad today and Arsenal would have scaled the highest peak in their search for their first Premier League Championship trophy in 19 years.
It is a statement victory that Arsenal must fight to pull off at all costs because not to win today will hand the title advantage to Manchester United, the new serial winners who know how to hunt down opponents and overcome them when the rubber hits the wire, as Liverpool can attest , after their experiences with City these past seasons.
The reason that a win is more imperative for Arsenal is that with them leading City by only 5 points ( When it could have been 11 at this time ) , they have played 2 more matches ahead of City and will find themselves second on the table if the blue-half of Manchester prevail today and in the matches they have at hand, with an even more superior goals aggregate. It is a must-win for Arsenal more than it is for City, who can even afford a draw in the worst case scenerio.
With English Football now capturing the limelight in all countries of the world, especially Africa, Sierra Leoneans are thickly immersed in the excitement and breathcatching anxiety of the action , with Arsenal having more supporters in Sierra Leone than in some parts of England itself.
The question on everybody’s lips is, who will win this match, one of the greatest fixtures of our times ? On hindsight, most people might be tempted to tip City because they are more star-studded, more experienced, have won more matches between the two sides in recent seasons and have prevailed in such title challenges during the past seasons. But when you consider how bold Arsenal play soccer these days and their knack to score from any position and at any time, you want to hold off predicting victory for Manchester City.
Minus their recent mistakes, Arsenal have taken the world by storm this season. Their football is pulsating and their ability to tear defences apart and score goals is pulverising. In Granit Xaka, Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard, they have forwards who can score the much-needed goals . The Arsenal of today have no respect for defences and goalkeepers . They can play and they can score at any time and from any angle.
Arsenal also have a brilliant midfield led by Ghanaian supremo Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard . It is their defence that has become shaky in the absence of the injured William Saliba. But in Rumsdale, they have a goalkeeper who can be very difficult to beat, regardless of recent mistakes. So, whatever it is, it will not be an easy day for Manchester City.
But then , when you also look at the Manchester City squad, you are inclined to think they are better positioned to win, especially playing at home tonight. Riyard Mahrez, Erling Haaland , Julian Alvarez , Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne , Phil Foden, Bernado Silva , Ilkay Gundogan, Jack Grealish are names that inspire fear. With Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish running the show at midfield and Haaland being an unstoppable goalgetter and the leading scorer this year, Arsenal will have to play the game of their lives to beat them.
The Manchester City coach, Pep Guardeola is a master tactician. He knows how to tweak his team when the going gets rough but Arsenal’s coach, Michel Arteta can also thrill with his tactical genius.
This is a mighty showdown today and for me, I think the team that takes its opportunities well will win this title decider . But in soccer, you never say never, so only the final whistle will decide today who won.
