Martin Keown believes Manchester City will have to change the strategies they used to exploit Arsenal’s vulnerabilities last season due to injuries to Kyle Walker and John Stones.
The champions will be missing two of their experienced defenders for Sunday’s important match against the current Premier League leaders after encountering setbacks while playing for England.
In addition to their defensive skills, both players contribute attacking abilities that helped City defeat Arsenal three times last season, especially at the Etihad in April when the Gunners were soundly beaten 4-1.
While the Gunners seem stronger this season, Keown is sure that City still have the necessary tools to test Arsenal’s chances for the title.
‘This is the risk of playing in 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.
‘This is a boost for Arsenal and a setback for City because of what they bring to the team. If Walker had been available, he would have brought his speed in attacking down the right side so Phil Foden can move inside to open up the pitch with his left foot.
‘Similarly, Stones would have brought his tactical awareness in transitioning from central defense to midfield. This movement is usually the signal for Kevin De Bruyne to move up alongside Erling Haaland, which was crucial to City defeating Arsenal twice in the Premier League last season.
Predicted Manchester City lineup against Arsenal
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‘Guardiola will have to change his defensive lineup, which will probably include Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and Nathan Ake from right to left.
‘That is not a bad four to rely on, and I believe Akanji will be asked to move into midfield unlike Walker, so Arsenal do not dominate City there. It would be risky to assign Ake for that role, as he will be focused on Bukayo Saka.’
Regardless of the team City selects, Mikel Arteta is confident that his bolstered squad is now much better equipped to handle the importance of a match that could determine the title race.
‘[Last season] there were numerous 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.’
