Arsenal need to master the fear tactics to beat Manchester City

It may not be the biggest game in England, but Manchester City versus Arsenal at the Etihad, is the most important fixture in the Premier League at this moment, and this evening both teams come into loggerheads to decide the future of the current English season.

Will the Gunners be courageous and make their mark at the Cityzens’ home turf or will Pep Guardiola’s team reign supreme yet again?

There is no bigger premier league stake than facing your potential title rival in a game where you stand the most chance to influence. For the past 6-seasons, the Premier League history has shown us that a fixture against City while challenging them for the title, is as important as a Champions League final: ‘You don’t dare lose the game, and most important of all — beat them’. In fact, that should be the golden rule when challenging for the premier league title; to win it, you must beat Manchester City.

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As much as fans or neutrals may find it annoying, this is the standard that Manchester City has set up for the premier league. 80-points average can no longer win you a title, and if it can, then make sure you win as much games as Manchester City and take points off them whenever you slip up. It is as simple a trick, but harder to achieve.

Liverpool, credit to them, have tried it on multiple occasions, succeeding only once when they blazed through the league, taking out teams, Manchester City inclusive, until they were miles in front and safe from any slip up. Arsenal, however have not had the luxury of being victorious over Manchester City since the two teams started their affair for the premier league title.

Arsenal on the multiple occasions they dared challenge Manchester City, sadly fell off before things could get interesting. The only excitement was last season when they at least managed to take things to the final day. And even then, matchday 38 was as predictable as it could have ever been. There was no agency, no steel to actually do Manchester City the damage when they needed to.

The 2023/24 season as Rodri put it after City had won the league, shows Manchester City despite being a boogey on every opponent in the English League’s back, only consists of players who are only human — psychology affects them just as everyone else. A sniff of fear or weakness in their opponent, gives Manchester City a boost in confidence, an error Arsenal made when they settled for a 0-0 draw last season at the Etihad when they should have gone for the win.

This season, presents the Gunners another chance to do things right; get at City when the chance presents itself, and show steel whenever they come at you. As much as Manchester City thrives on mind games and instilling fear in their opponent, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal need to start doing the same to City and Pep Guardiola like Jurgen Klopp did when challenging the Spaniard.

But can they?