That headline may have a tone of arrogance to it…and I’m just not like that. But I think any City fan referring to the football ground at HA9 as being our second home can be forgiven for saying so – let’s have it right; we have been there a HELL of a lot in the last decade or so!
In fact, this is our 3rd visit in the last 11 months alone and with a positive outcome tonight, 3 will become 4 this season!
A quick mention about our last game…
I enjoyed it! I thought Bournemouth made a really good game of it and I felt a little sorry for them in the end…just a little.
Ederson reminded us that he’s not just about ‘good feet’ and accurate passing – he really did show us what a good ‘keeper of the goal’ he is too! Excellent performance from the Brazilian.
I thought Nicholas Otamendi had one of his better games, particularly with some very determined & brave shot blocking. If the pairing of him & John Stones was also to be used as a ‘points gathering exercise’ by Pep with regards to who might be staying a Manchester City player next season; then Nicolas leads slightly at the moment after that game, I would say…
The run in the team that Gabriel Jesus is getting at the moment is just doing wonders for him! Another goal and his confidence is growing for all to see. His work rate too, which has never been an issue but rather, in fact, one of his strengths, was incredible last Wednesday evening. At one point, he covered so much ground chasing down The Cherries’ defence and then the keeper, it caused them to flap a little and hit it anywhere they could just to get it away from his advances.
But one last comment regarding our last outing has to be about David Silva.
I think at some point – possibly more than once – I’ve suggested in my blog that we City fans should start an appeal to get the Spanish magician to stay another season. Well, it seems that it’s not just the fans who want that – Pep has recently admitted that he too has tried to convince David to stay on a little longer.
Of course, he’s going to slow down and would be used sparingly should he stay for an 11th season…and perhaps it’s the momentum towards the end of the season and his City career that’s driving him on with 'extra vigour' at the moment.
But…flippin’ ‘eck! It was ANOTHER fantastic, man of the match performance from the 34-½ year old! And what a free kick!
And on the same night, wasn’t it a shame Liverpool lost and, therefore, can’t reach our record, 100-point total? Cheers Arteta!
v Arsenal
 |
| Wembley Stadium |
Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:
(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 8/11).
Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 3-6-1 / 4-3-3:
_____________________Jesus____________________
Sterling_________________________________Mahrez
___________De Bruyne_______B. Silva_____________
_____________________Rodri_____________________
Mendy___________________________________Walker
_____________Laporte_______Garcia______________
____________________Ederson__________________
Subs: Carson, Zinchenko, Cancelo, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Doyle, Gundogan, Foden, D. Silva.
Ederson, in a rare occurrence, grabs the gloves for a domestic cup competition.
Probably considered our strongest defence possible; Benjamin, Aymeric, Eric & Kyle are likely to be the 4 that start.
Rodders takes his place just ahead of those; dropping back as a 3rd central defender at times and especially when Benny & Kyle ‘bomb on’.
My thinking here, which could be wrong of course, is looking largely at 'minutes played' just 72 hours earlier by certain players whilst, at the same time, considering the big pitch and forecasted temperature. So…I’m going for an attacking midfield / wing quartet of Raheem, Kevin, Bernardo & Riyad.
Gabriel continues his fine run of games as our only out & out striker.
Scott gets a Wembley spot on the bench as reserve keeper; Oleksandr, the-recovered Joao & Nicolas are the likely back-up defenders from the side. Fernandinho, Tommy, Ilkay, Phil & David make up a large midfield contingent in ‘the 9’.
Notable absences:
- Claudio Bravo – Finally, we have some confirmation of the reason behind Claudio’s recent absence, which is official a small “muscular injury” that he’s failed to recover from in time. Whether it’s linked to the issues he had at the very beginning of the restart, I don’t know, and there are no further details as yet on how long he is expected to be unavailable for.
- John Stones – Not selected.
- Sergio Aguero – Recovering from knee surgery.
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
Yeah.
As I say regarding my predicted line-up, I’m including freshness / energy levels in my thinking and although I believe Bernardo can often be more effective on the right flank; I still do like him in the middle. Perhaps Phil might be better there instead? Either way, that’s a very good 11 indeed to send out to face The Gunners.
Result? I think it’ll be a hard game and all the talk from the press in the pre-match press conference about how well we generally play against Arsenal and at Wembley was making me a little jittery, I have to say.
London derby defeat aside, Mikel Arteta has got ‘em playing well since their back-to-back league defeats to us followed by Brighton.
But I think our players will enjoy the big, wide areas and as long as we don’t shoot ourselves in the foot at the back; over the 90+ minutes I think we’ll put those spaces to good use and our fine form will see us though.
It’s a City win for me and, if so, let’s hope it’s an all-Blue Wembley final, hey? Yes? No?
Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…
Prediction: N/A
Result: N/A
Expected weather conditions during the game: Well, all those pundits who were agreeing with the restart protocol of having a rehydration break half way through each half to aid the players who hadn’t played competitive football for so long but-have-since-been sarcastically slaggin’ it off during cooler times, MIGHT shut it for once this evening. As the starting whistle blows, the general temperature will be around 73F & sunny; inside the stadium it’ll probably be more like 80+.
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