Arsenal FC – Manchester City: Key Battles (Part 1)
Three years back, writing this article would have been an utter waste of electronic space. Manchester City were just another middle table club whose priority was to finish in the Premier League top half while Arsenal were fighting title battles with fellow
English giants. Sheikh Mansour’s petro dollars however have turned Eastlanders to genuine title contenders.
Where Arsene Wenger refuses to spend big amounts on stars; focusing on youth development instead, Manchester City have taken the opposite route. Sheikh Mansour has spent a billion dollars on the club ever since he bought the club outright. Eastlanders spent
145 million alone on transfers this season.
Even though Arsenal are not leading the Premier League, this can rightly be tagged a ‘top of the table clash’ for Clash of the Titans it is. With a never-ending list of world class players set to grace the Emirates Stadium, there would be some titanic battles
on the pitch.
Bettor.com now identifies the key battles that will take place on the pitch:
Jerome Boateng – Samir Nasri
After having impressed with Die Mannschaft at the world cup, it was only a matter of time before a big club came calling for Boateng’s potential. Citizens paid 10.4 million pounds for the player’s services – one of the cheapest transfers for Sheikh Mansour
– and the German has featured reasonably well in his new jersey. The younger brother (half brother) of Milan star http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Kevin-Prince-Boateng-c20792 has fought off intense competition to make the right back berth his own.
The Citizens fullback will be up against one of the most in-form players in the Premier League, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Samir-Nasri-c32360 – good thing the German is defensively sound.
Nasri has managed to outshine Francesc Fabregas – no mean feat – scoring some truly mesmerising goals in the process. The Frenchman draws defenders out of position almost effortlessly at times. His ability to play the incisive passes and involve the onrushing
midfielders will be critical to Gunners' chances.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nigel-de-Jong-c27882 – Francesc Fabregas
This one is a battle between the Kung-Fu master and the artist. Fabregas is Arsenal’s midfield orchestrator and much of the playmaking responsibilities fall on the skipper’s tender shoulders.
Usually, when Fabregas plays well, Gunners win the game. The match against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 is the most recent example. Fabregas’ passing, creativity and vision are second to none in the Premier League as we have seen him unlock most resolute of defences with one
casual flick of his boot. The skipper has been struggling with injuries for much of the season and Arsenal need him in supreme form this point till the end of season.
For the aforementioned reasons, Fabregas is the most dangerous Arsenal player and Nigel De Jong – the man responsible for damping his influence – will have to produce a master class. While De Jong is not the most intelligent of midfielders, he has all the
physical traits to outplay the relatively tender Fabregas. Should De Jong fail in his assignment, Manchester City will be left with mountain to climb.
Continued in Part 2...
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