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Will RvP Be Kept Kompany? Is Yaya Toure Going To Be On Song? The Key Battles That Could Swing Sunday's Game
In clashes of the titans we hardly expect big wins. Though we 8-2 say it, that trend has been bucked. We don't expect a 1-6. But we expect these men to make a difference on Sunday
16-Dec-2011 5:21:00 PM
By Arkaprabha Chakraborty
Getty Images
With Man City still coming to terms with their first league loss of the season against one London side, it seems to be the perfect time for another one to gun down the still-reeling giant. But Arsenal have it all to do going to the Etihad Stadium, fast becoming a fortress for the men in light blue.
What the final score will be, in what people are billing as El Airlino (Etihad vs. Emirates), is anybody's guess. But three battles that could swing the tie this way or that would be...
It's always taken for granted that Mario Balotelli will be daft and that Roberto Mancini is the only manager brave enough (or maybe stupid enough?) to risk keeping him in the squad. But recently, the 21 year old has been in fine scoring nick and has finally begun to show some overdue maturity on-field, fireworks off it nothwithstanding.
Per Mertesacker has not had the easiest of times since coming to England from the slower and less physically demanding Bundesliga, but has grown into his role at the heart of the Arsenal defence with the injury to the Gunners' favourite Verminator. With Vermaelen's return into the side, the tall German has found a start hard to come by.
But with the injury to Andre Santos forcing the Belgian to slot in at left back, Mertesacker gets
the nod for arguably Arsenal's biggest game of the season. And he certainly will be up against it when he faces the unpredictable Italian. It has been seen before that Mertesacker is vulnerable to pace, so he must be thanking his lucky stars that Super Mario isn't the fastest forward around.
But what he does have is strength and amazing technical ability for his age. However, if Mertesacker can play a tight marking game, his prowess in the air will surely reduce the chances Balotelli will have to take it on the chest or latch on to crosses. And, as always, he's a ticking time bomb so if the German international can frustrate him enough, there may just be another moment of madness to add to the growing highlight reel of Balotelli's career.
For Alex Song, the City game couldn't have come at a better time. Arguably in the form of his life, he has been an impregnable rock in front of a slightly shaky Arsenal defence, deflecting everything down the middle to the wings instead. How advisable that would be with David Silva and probably James Milner on either wing remains questionable, but Manchester City will probably have very little joy down the middle of the park.
That is unless Yaya Toure puts in an exceptional shift in his box-to-box role. We know what the burly Ivorian offers. Pace to get past a man, determination, a lot of stamina and good finishing.
Yet while Alex Song seems to be improving game after game, the younger Toure at Man City
had quite a poor game last time out against Chelsea. Continuously gave away the ball, often dispossessed even by the tiny Juan Mata. He also showed a low sense of discipline and professionalism when this happened, kicking out Mata when he was on the ground and even cuffing him on the head.
Alex Song, on the other hand, enjoyed his duel against Marouane Fellaini and came out on top in the fiesty encounter. But we know how confidence can lead to overconfidence and one bad game may lead to renewing one's determination to do well in the next. What these two midfielders carry over from their previous games will surely decide where the possession lies during the game.
Possibly the most underrated centre-back in the Premier League, he is Manchester City's captain from amongst a galaxy of stars for a reason. And having led from the back (only because that's where he is supposed to be), he has been a veritable slab of granite protecting Joe Hart. That City have conceded only 15 goals this season is not a koincidence (sic), its because of Kompany and company.
There is nothing to say about Robin van Persie that hasn't already been said this season. That he has outscored the world's best forwards in the calendar year with 33 goals and counting should itself underline what he's all about. There might be mutterings of 'one-man team' but as long as the man is fit, why should it matter?
This might easily be the battle that decides the outcome of the game. Arsenal have certainly
stopped being free-scoring and leaky simultaneously, so those expecting another 8-2 may want to bet on a slightly tighter affair. But being so dangerous on the break, if City expectedly pressurize them at home, Kompany will have to be on top form to ensure that Arsenal's Flying Dutchman doesn't bring City even more bad luck. They can ill afford it with only a two point lead at the top.
But for all of van Persie's skill and pace, if Kompany's excellent tackling, awareness and anticipation come together, we can expect a frustrating night for RvP. But he'd better be cleaner than he was against Chelsea, a suprisingly poor game where he was all over the place because we all know about van Persie's free-kicks and, after Everton, have a better idea about his volleys.
But we can predict only so much. These are just three possible subplots in a game where there could be 55 of them (Disclaimer: Calculated based on an 11 on 11 game. None of us claim to be math geniuses. We used a calculator).
What do YOU think will happen? Leave us a shout in the comments section below.
What the final score will be, in what people are billing as El Airlino (Etihad vs. Emirates), is anybody's guess. But three battles that could swing the tie this way or that would be...
| Mario Balotelli |
vs | Per Mertesacker |
It's always taken for granted that Mario Balotelli will be daft and that Roberto Mancini is the only manager brave enough (or maybe stupid enough?) to risk keeping him in the squad. But recently, the 21 year old has been in fine scoring nick and has finally begun to show some overdue maturity on-field, fireworks off it nothwithstanding.Per Mertesacker has not had the easiest of times since coming to England from the slower and less physically demanding Bundesliga, but has grown into his role at the heart of the Arsenal defence with the injury to the Gunners' favourite Verminator. With Vermaelen's return into the side, the tall German has found a start hard to come by.
But with the injury to Andre Santos forcing the Belgian to slot in at left back, Mertesacker gets
the nod for arguably Arsenal's biggest game of the season. And he certainly will be up against it when he faces the unpredictable Italian. It has been seen before that Mertesacker is vulnerable to pace, so he must be thanking his lucky stars that Super Mario isn't the fastest forward around.But what he does have is strength and amazing technical ability for his age. However, if Mertesacker can play a tight marking game, his prowess in the air will surely reduce the chances Balotelli will have to take it on the chest or latch on to crosses. And, as always, he's a ticking time bomb so if the German international can frustrate him enough, there may just be another moment of madness to add to the growing highlight reel of Balotelli's career.
| Yaya Toure |
vs | Alex Song |
For Alex Song, the City game couldn't have come at a better time. Arguably in the form of his life, he has been an impregnable rock in front of a slightly shaky Arsenal defence, deflecting everything down the middle to the wings instead. How advisable that would be with David Silva and probably James Milner on either wing remains questionable, but Manchester City will probably have very little joy down the middle of the park.That is unless Yaya Toure puts in an exceptional shift in his box-to-box role. We know what the burly Ivorian offers. Pace to get past a man, determination, a lot of stamina and good finishing.
Yet while Alex Song seems to be improving game after game, the younger Toure at Man City
had quite a poor game last time out against Chelsea. Continuously gave away the ball, often dispossessed even by the tiny Juan Mata. He also showed a low sense of discipline and professionalism when this happened, kicking out Mata when he was on the ground and even cuffing him on the head.Alex Song, on the other hand, enjoyed his duel against Marouane Fellaini and came out on top in the fiesty encounter. But we know how confidence can lead to overconfidence and one bad game may lead to renewing one's determination to do well in the next. What these two midfielders carry over from their previous games will surely decide where the possession lies during the game.
| Vincent Kompany |
vs | Robin van Persie |
Possibly the most underrated centre-back in the Premier League, he is Manchester City's captain from amongst a galaxy of stars for a reason. And having led from the back (only because that's where he is supposed to be), he has been a veritable slab of granite protecting Joe Hart. That City have conceded only 15 goals this season is not a koincidence (sic), its because of Kompany and company.There is nothing to say about Robin van Persie that hasn't already been said this season. That he has outscored the world's best forwards in the calendar year with 33 goals and counting should itself underline what he's all about. There might be mutterings of 'one-man team' but as long as the man is fit, why should it matter?
This might easily be the battle that decides the outcome of the game. Arsenal have certainly
stopped being free-scoring and leaky simultaneously, so those expecting another 8-2 may want to bet on a slightly tighter affair. But being so dangerous on the break, if City expectedly pressurize them at home, Kompany will have to be on top form to ensure that Arsenal's Flying Dutchman doesn't bring City even more bad luck. They can ill afford it with only a two point lead at the top.But for all of van Persie's skill and pace, if Kompany's excellent tackling, awareness and anticipation come together, we can expect a frustrating night for RvP. But he'd better be cleaner than he was against Chelsea, a suprisingly poor game where he was all over the place because we all know about van Persie's free-kicks and, after Everton, have a better idea about his volleys.
But we can predict only so much. These are just three possible subplots in a game where there could be 55 of them (Disclaimer: Calculated based on an 11 on 11 game. None of us claim to be math geniuses. We used a calculator).
What do YOU think will happen? Leave us a shout in the comments section below.
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