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Gary Neville: Roberto Mancini will be under pressure if his Manchester City side fail to beat Arsenal
The Englishman believes that the Blues face a tough task against Arsene Wenger’s side as they look to bounce back from Monday night’s defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
18 Dec 2011 15:55:00
By Alex Meyers
Getty Images
Manchester United legend Gary Neville says that Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will come under increasing scrutiny should his side not defeat Arsenal in Sunday's crucial Premier League match.
City will kick of their home match against Arsenal in second place following Manchester United’s lunchtime victory over QPR.
Whilst the 36-year-old does not doubt the quality of Mancini’s side, he believes that following their defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in their last outing their weaknesses are starting to show.
“City have to address a potential weakness," Neville wrote in his column for The Mail on Sunday.
"In their last two big away games, at Liverpool and Chelsea, they have played the best football of the season but only in short periods.
“For the first 25 minutes of those games, they have dominated. And then, for some reason, they have slackened off the intensity and allowed sides back in.
“If it happens again in a big game, you would have to say a pattern is emerging. Roberto Mancini will want to put that to bed right away.
“Also, City haven’t kept a clean sheet in eight successive League games and he will want to put that right today.
"City have been consistently the best side this season, look powerful and strong, have quality throughout, have upped their level of football and deserve to be where they are.”
Neville believes that Mancini will have to face criticism from the media if his side fails to pick up three much-needed points at home.
He continued: “After the Community Shield, it was Roberto Mancini who was meant to be under pressure but then it moved to Arsene Wenger.
"Once Arsenal recovered, Andre Villas-Boas became the focus of the intensity and even Sir Alex Ferguson was questioned when Manchester United went out of the Champions League.
“The cycle will be complete if City lose again against Arsenal. Having gone out of the Champions League and lost at Chelsea on Monday, the spotlight will be back on Roberto Mancini.”
The former Manchester United right back went on to say that the match will also prove whether Arsenal can be a force in the Premier League and has praised the spirit and maturity of the Gunners.
He added: “The win against Chelsea at the end of October was important but this game will answer the question as to whether they are really back and can be a force again.
“What's interesting about this Arsenal side is that they look a bit more mature and mentally stronger than we’ve come to expect from them in recent years.
“We’ve become used to referring to Arsenal as fragile, but there are signs that’s no longer the case."
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City will kick of their home match against Arsenal in second place following Manchester United’s lunchtime victory over QPR.
Whilst the 36-year-old does not doubt the quality of Mancini’s side, he believes that following their defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in their last outing their weaknesses are starting to show.
“City have to address a potential weakness," Neville wrote in his column for The Mail on Sunday.
"In their last two big away games, at Liverpool and Chelsea, they have played the best football of the season but only in short periods.
“For the first 25 minutes of those games, they have dominated. And then, for some reason, they have slackened off the intensity and allowed sides back in.
“If it happens again in a big game, you would have to say a pattern is emerging. Roberto Mancini will want to put that to bed right away.
“Also, City haven’t kept a clean sheet in eight successive League games and he will want to put that right today.
"City have been consistently the best side this season, look powerful and strong, have quality throughout, have upped their level of football and deserve to be where they are.”
Neville believes that Mancini will have to face criticism from the media if his side fails to pick up three much-needed points at home.
He continued: “After the Community Shield, it was Roberto Mancini who was meant to be under pressure but then it moved to Arsene Wenger.
"Once Arsenal recovered, Andre Villas-Boas became the focus of the intensity and even Sir Alex Ferguson was questioned when Manchester United went out of the Champions League.
“The cycle will be complete if City lose again against Arsenal. Having gone out of the Champions League and lost at Chelsea on Monday, the spotlight will be back on Roberto Mancini.”
The former Manchester United right back went on to say that the match will also prove whether Arsenal can be a force in the Premier League and has praised the spirit and maturity of the Gunners.
He added: “The win against Chelsea at the end of October was important but this game will answer the question as to whether they are really back and can be a force again.
“What's interesting about this Arsenal side is that they look a bit more mature and mentally stronger than we’ve come to expect from them in recent years.
“We’ve become used to referring to Arsenal as fragile, but there are signs that’s no longer the case."
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|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
|
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