At a Glance:
- Arsenal visit Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.
- The outcome of this showdown will have significant ramifications on the title race.
- Paul Merson has made his prediction ahead of the encounter.
Arsenal’s pursuit of the Premier League title resumes on Sunday afternoon when they play Manchester City at the Etihad, and Paul Merson has made his prediction ahead of the pivotal showdown.
Mikel Arteta’s side narrowly overcame Sporting CP on Wednesday night to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League in back-to-back seasons for the first time in the North London club’s history. Kai Havertz’s 91st-minute winner in the first leg in Lisbon was enough to send the Gunners through, although Arteta won’t be overwhelmingly confident after this outcome, given the nature of his team’s performance across the two matches.
Their attention turns back to domestic action on Sunday, when they visit their fierce title rivals in a huge game which could ultimately determine the outcome of the title race. Having lost to Bournemouth last time out, the pressure is on Arsenal to respond in the north-west.
Paul Merson issues Man City vs Arsenal predicition
In the reverse fixture at the Emirates, Arsenal needed a stoppage time equaliser from Gabriel Martinelli to rescue a point against City. Pep Guardiola’s outfit set up defensively in that clash, absorbing pressure for long periods in a low block.
Given a draw would be a positive result for Arsenal this weekend, it would be no surprise to see Arteta’s team replicate this pragmatic style when they travel to Manchester. The Gunners are generally effective when they do this, and have successfully negated some of the best attacks in world football this season.
However, Merson isn’t convinced Arsenal will be able to emerge from the north-west with a point.
“It’s just unbelievable how it has all turned around,” the pundit wrote for Sportskeeda.
“Absolutely mind-blowing to say the least! You just look at it and go, ‘wow’.
“In hindsight, you can’t see anything but a Manchester City win. I saw Arsenal in the first 15 minutes against Sporting in the Champions League and told my boy it would be 0-0. You just can’t see them scoring!
“Defensively, Arsenal are solid. If they don’t lose this game, they win the league. For City, though, a draw is no good. They must win.
“I can’t see Arsenal winning all their remaining games if they lose to City on Sunday. It’s hard to watch Arsenal at the moment. But the players need to look at the bright side of it. If they beat City, the league is done and they win it. That is how they must think about this game.
“Football is so unpredictable, and Arsenal will be hoping this game goes in their favour against all odds. But the way they’ve been playing is a big concern.”
Merson’s prediciton: Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal
Paul Merson urges Mikel Arteta to ‘take the game to City’
While Arsenal will likely set up with a resolute defensive structure and play for a draw, Merson doesn’t believe this is the right approach for Arteta to take. In fact, the former Gunners star thinks the Spanish coach should adopt the polar opposite tactics.
| Rank | Team | Games Played | Points |
| 1 | Arsenal | 32 | 70 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 31 | 64 |
“If Arsenal go to the Etihad, sit behind the ball, absorb all the pressure and try to play for a draw, they will get destroyed by City!” he wrote.
“Even if they have a go and lose the game, it at least gives them confidence. Imagine if they sit behind the ball and lose 1-0? I don’t think it does any good for their confidence.
“Mikel Arteta is the only person who can tell if he’s asking these players to play in a certain way, or are they actually going into their shells due to the pressure? Apart from Declan Rice, I don’t see anyone else being expressive on the pitch.
“There is no pace in that team, no urgency, no desire to get inside the box. They look nervous and what a bad time to be that way.
“I don’t know what Arsenal turn up for this game. They need to take the game to City here. I’m desperately trying to make a case for Arsenal, but I’m finding it extremely hard to do so. My heart says draw, but my head says Manchester City win.”
