The first piece of Premier League action since 9 March 2020 and we are being seduced with the attacking thrill of a Manchester City and Arsenal meeting.
It has been three months since a ball was kicked by a Premier League player. The last performance came on a lonely night in Monday Night Football, where Leicester thumped the other team playing in the opening of the re-opening, Aston Villa. A 4-0 final score in a solo show.
Since then it’s been nothing but dark days. The amount of uncertainty in everything that we know or knew as life was halted in a matter of days and weeks. Mikel Arteta, a fully-recovered COVID-19 patient. Pep, directly impacted after he lost his mother to the virus that swept the nation.
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The world was hurting and continues to hurt. The struggles to heal is real. There are many different wounds still open that we just can’t seem to close or stop from turning septic. Nevertheless, we make another attempt to get back on our feet, this time with the return of football, and to try to get life back on track by reinstating at least one of the things that make us happy.
Arsenal and Man City – What’s new?
The first game canceled and one of two catch-up fixtures. A strong comeback game for us to get straight back into the swing of things. What is important to note, Arsenal’s swag under the guidance of Arteta.
Another note to jot down, both teams are boasting full-strength squads. After having more time with his side, Mikel Arteta could show us what he really is about and how good he can be as the main man at the helm.
This will be the first time the Spanish pair will meet in opposite dugouts. Freddie Ljungberg was the caretaker at the time Man City blanked out the Gunners with a 3-0 scoreline at the Emirates. This was on the 19th of December. A day later, they appointed Mikel Arteta as manager.
Safe to say… It has been quite a journey for Arteta. If Sheffield United lose their fixture against Villa somehow, Arsenal has a chance of moving up two places into 7th. If the Blades do not drop three points, the best the can do is overtake their North London rivals, Spurs.
Sane excitement
Pep’s Man City will be a world-class winger heavy. Leroy Sane is back and is expected to start. The German will get plenty of minutes on the pitch. He has missed the playing field the most out of the lot and will probably not get a full 90 minutes.
There is nothing for Pep to play for. He has the freedom of experimenting with his squad because they lay second with little threat of being knocked down. The predicted Man City line-up doesn’t have Phil Foden in it, however, wouldn’t be surprised if Guardiola used him over somebody in attack, barring Leroy.