Premier League: Can the Apprentice wreck the Sorcerer’s New Year?

Arsenal vs Manchester City

Everyone likes to show their old boss what they have learned; put it into practice and maybe even show that they can take on their chief advisor… on a level footing.   

Premier League: Arsenal vs Manchester City brings together two old friends, as Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta prepares to host his old mentor and the master, Pep Guardiola.  Arteta spent almost four seasons at the Etihad Stadium, under the guidance of Guardiola, and he was held in high esteem when he went back to the Emirates Stadium, which he graced as a player until his retirement in 2016. He won the FA Cup and the Community Shield in his first season as Arsenal head coach to restore some pride to the old club.

It hasn’t all been plain sailing since, and an eighth placed finish last term raised questions over the manager’s progress at the club. But the Gunners are firing again this term with some exciting young players at the fore, and they will need to be at their best if Arteta is to foil his ex boss. Guardiola’s team come into the game on the back of an efficient 1-0 win away to Brentford while Arsenal’s last outing produced a 5-0 thrashing of Norwich City.  

The pre-match Arsenal vs Manchester City betting odds, here at SBOTOP, are backing the Sky Blues at a price of 1.46 to keep the bandwagon rolling as they look to extend their lead at the top of the table, but Arsenal have it well within their capability to cement their own top four position. 

Talking Points

Smith–Rowe is Gunners’ jewel in the crown  

Arsenal have won their last four league games, scoring 14 goals and conceding just once, in a 4-1 win away to Leeds United. And Arteta is beginning to mould a team in his own image. As a player he was a stylish forward thinking midfielder, often playing in the ‘number 10’ role behind the main strikers. And he has his own apprentice in that role in this present crop of young guns. Attacking midfielder Emile Smith-Rowe, with eight goals from 17 matches, is fast becoming one of the most complete young players in English football, challenging the likes of Man City’s Phil Foden and Chelsea’s Mason Mount for an England place.

He has ten goals and six assists from his first 39 league appearances and that’s a tally experienced internationals would be pleased with. And Arteta has plenty of other young talents that are beginning to take the step up. Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard has four goals and has a superb array of passing in his armoury as well as a dangerous dead ball delivery, while Gabriel Martinelli is staking his claim to be Pierre Emerick- Aubameyang’s replacement, scoring four goals from 12 appearances. Add into the mix young England star Bukayo Saka and the return from injury of flying wing back Kieran Tierney and these are exciting times for the Gunners.   

The Sky Blues are gliding away…

It looks so effortless for Manchester City at the moment. They barely got put of second gear in a 1-0 win over Brentford. Foden gave the Sky Blues a 16^th minute lead and they could have added more while taking 75 per cent possession and restricting the ambitious Bees to just two shots on target. The peerless Kevin De Bruyne made the assist and also rattled the crossbar with one of his thunderbolts, but one goal was enough.   

In the previous game they scored six against Leicester City, before the Foxes went on to beat Liverpool 1-0, a result which helped the Sky Blues to extend their lead to eight points. It must be frightening for some opponents when they see the City team sheet. The boss even managed to leave out Foden and Jack Grealish after they were reportedly seen clubbing following a win over Leeds United. Guardiola’s squad rotation has given plenty of opportunity to Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva, who have seven goals each, as well as the impressive Ilkay Gundogan.

Little wonder that young Spain star Ferran Torres has opted for a move to Barcelona. He started the season superbly before getting injured and now places at the Etihad are at a premium.    

History

It’s no surprise, given their long standing position among the Premier League front-runners, that the Gunners have had the better of the head to head Arsenal vs Manchester City results. They have won 27 of the last 58 encounters, while the Sky Blues have won 21 and there have been ten draws.

But Pep Guardiola’s men have won the last four, leaving the Emirates with a 1-0 win last season and hammering Arsenal 5-0 in the third match of the current campaign. Ilkay Gundogan got the ball rolling and goals from Ferran Torres (two) Rodri and Gabriel Jesus made it a rout.  

In terms of recent form over the last six games the two teams have identical records, a lone defeat followed by five consecutive victories.

Betting Tip

	Arsenal vs Manchester City	Double Chance Arsenal or Draw @ 2.50
	January 01, 20:30 (GMT+8)

The draw at 3.97 or an Arsenal win at 6.37 would be good news indeed for Liverpool and Chelsea, but do the Gunners have enough to halt the relentless march of the champions elect? Well someone’s going to interrupt the Sky Blues’  winning run before then end of the season and I’m putting my faith in Arteta.

 

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