Premier League preview: Arsenal v Manchester City
Ever had the feeling that you’re not welcome?
Emmanuel Adebayor will have that feeling on Saturday evening, as he returns to the Emirates Stadium for the first time as a Manchester City player since his £25million summer switch from Arsenal.
In truth, a hostile reception is unlikely to hold many fears for a man who was repeatedly shot at while aboard the Togo team bus in Angola in January, but it will give the giant forward something to think about in a match that is much more vital for his current club than his former one.
Adebayor is an interesting, verbose character. He’s just been signed up by the BBC as a pundit for the World Cup, and it’s easy to see why. Opinionated, not shy to show his emotions and an entertaining watch, he should provide plenty of entertainment during the tournament, just don’t expect the Arsenal fans to be watching.
September’s goal, the subsequent goading pitch-length sprint and a crude stamp on former strike partner Robin van Persie ensured that the Togolese forward burnt all of his bridges with the Gunners’ faithful during City’s 4-2 early season victory, and while he paid the price for his antics with a three-match ban, that won’t be enough for the Arsenal supporters. The reception they’ll give him on Saturday will be deafening, but mixed in with the anger towards Adebayor will be a hefty dose of anger towards their own team.
The shambolic final 10 minutes at the DW Stadium on Sunday evaporated any faint title hopes just when it seemed that they were about to return, and while Arsenal will be hopeful of getting back to winning ways following consecutive Premier League defeats – just how did they lose that game at Wigan? – and the loss at Barcelona, motivation is sure to suffer, except perhaps in one man.
Van Persie is out to make up for lost time. His eye-catching cameo in a losing cause at White Hart Lane didn’t earn him at start at Wigan, and that fact that involvement was restricted to a 90th-minute substitute appearance was a source of frustration to the travelling Gunners, many of whom had been singing his name throughout the second half.
With the World Cup fast approaching, the Holland striker will be keen to play himself into some sort of form ahead of South Africa, and with only three matches left to play this season, he should be knocking on Arsène Wenger’s door ahead of this one.
If he plays, then it probably means that Nicklas Bendtner doesn’t.
Often a scapegoat for Arsenal’s failings in front of goal, the Danish striker appears to have matured in recent weeks. He’s still only 22, and looks like once again being a key player for Arsenal next season. Lacking pace, perhaps Wenger should be more inclined to partner him with van Persie in 2010/11, something that he was largely incapable of doing this campaign because of the Dutchman’s injuries.
For it is next season that Arsenal are focussing on now, after a campaign that has promised so much has delivered so little.
City are still looking to deliver Champions League football for next season, and will be under pressure to deliver a good result at the Emirates, just as they got at Stamford Bridge. The Gunners still have their pride though, and so won’t roll over easily.
A draw looks the likeliest outcome, as does damage to Adebayor’s eardrums.
Prediction: Arsenal 2 Manchester City 2
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