Will Arsenal enter the Sunday Premier League blockbuster against Manchester City as a favorite?
Between November 2017 and April 2023, the gunners faced civilians 16 times, losing 15 times, and on the way to lift the trophy in 2020, they had their only victory at the closed door behind the FA Cup semi-finals.
But now, Mikel Arteta is undefeated in five meetings with Pep Guardiola, seeking three consecutive home wins at Man City, Arsenal achieved its last in 2009, following the humble 5-1 brauthåland and friends in February.
If the gunner wins again on Sunday, thereby asserting himself as the main challenger to defend Liverpool, Arteta must be bold and start his younger talent “better than Phil Foden.”
Mikel Merino’s role in the Arsenal team
Few Arsenal players these days are extremely difficult to understand, like Mikel Merino.
The media-led tale after Arsenal lost 1-0 at Anfield last month when Merino started with Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice was that Arteta started three defensive midfielders against Liverpool.
Well, this idea proved to be totally nonsense in the following weeks. Merino scored four goals in two Spanish games, heading home to Sofia’s Raminyarl corner against Bulgaria, and bagging a hat-trick as the European champions smashed 6-0 at Kona.
As a result, Merino began his victory at Nottingham Forest, and Rice was given a rest. This states that his fellow countrymen “are in a really high emotional state and want to use it when the player is in that moment.”
He was excellent in both left and right positions. This is probably his best role on this team, with Martin Ødegaard, who was injured on Tuesday, appears to be incompatible on the other side.
Arsenal’s best performance, perhaps, has come as an emergency striker, starting almost every game since last season’s Valentine’s Day, scoring seven goals, winning nets, especially with Real Madrid, Liverpool and Chelsea.
If Merino’s name is on the team sheet this weekend, it will once again be the offensive midfielder on the right.
Arsenal youngsters who are better than Phil Foden
In Merseyside last month and in Basque Country mid-week, travelling Arsenal supporters were almost universally disappointed that they didn’t see the name Ethan Nwaneri in their starting lineup.
In the summer, despite speculation that Chelsea was interested, the teenager signed a new five-year contract with the club, saying, “Signing this deal means everything to me… I’m so excited that I can bring… I want to help him win as much as possible.”
It’s now time to prove he trusts him, as this is an obvious show of faith from the club.
Last season, Nwaneri scored nine goals in all competitions. Eight of them came before my 18th birthday in March. Only Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney excel in the Premier League era.
However, this season he has not yet launched matches, an unused replacement in all three away games. He has seen considerable playing time against both Leeds and Nottingham Forest.
Even in the match, they’re even winning and scoring goals, Arteta’s team struggles to create a ton of open-play changes. This is something that will help Nwaneri deal with.
Nwaneri vs Merino 2024/25 | ||
|---|---|---|
statistics | nwani | Merino |
exterior | 37 | 44 |
Min | 1,378 | 2,635 |
the goal | 9 | 9 |
assist | 2 | 5 |
Goal-XG | +4.1 | +2 |
Target % shot | 46.5% | 36.7% |
Progressive Carry | 56 | 16 |
Take-on is complete | 40 | 9 |
Take-on Success% | 68% | 47% |
Shot creation actions per 90 | 2.65 | 2.36 |
Possibility of being created about 90 | 1.3 | 0.8 |
Touches per 90 | 58.2 | 47.8 |
Average Sofa Score Rating | 7.11 | 7.10 |
Via Fbref, Squawka, Sofascore | ||
As the table documented, nwaneri scored as many goals as Merino last season, but all of the underlying statistics for the British are even more impressive.
The 18-year-old registered more than three times more progressive carry, accumulated more opportunities, and accumulated around 10 touches per game, highlighting the differences in style.
One of the highlights of Nwaneri’s breakout campaign was at the aforementioned Mauling in Manchester City in February, winning a 5-1 defeat.
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has been labelled “incredible talent” by Nwaneri, adding that former Watford striker Troy Deeney is “better than Phil Foden,” a player who will face head-to-head on Sunday.
So if Arteta is bold and brings the game to the vulnerable Man City side, which has already been beaten by the Spurs and Brighton this season, Nuwaneri will have to unleash on Sunday afternoon.
