5 Things We Learned: City vs Arsenal

It has been a rough couple of fixtures and we’re back with the newest edition of ‘5 Things We Learned,’ focused on our recent loss against league rivals and title challengers, Arsenal. Blame it on injuries, poor form, the wrong tactics, or whatever you’d like.. we simply weren’t good enough. However, it’s not all doom and gloom as we know what this team is capable of when our backs are against the wall. Without further delay, read our thoughts on our key takeaways from a hurtful, yet recoverable loss.

• With a fully fit squad, we wipe the floor with this Arsenal team.

Through 90 minutes of football at the Emirates, Arsenal failed to show they are better than us even without our two best players in KDB and Rodri. Full credit to them for winning but a lucky deflected goal takes nothing away from the fact that despite our being outgunned, the game should have been a draw, potentially a win if we were able to convert a few changes in the first half. We are better than this team and we know it. Now they have to try and do it again at the fortress and we will presumably have our midfielders the fulcrum and heart of our team, back and ready to roll. Good luck and congrats on the win but I hope you bring the same energy then. 

• Will the real Kovacic please stand up? 

For much of his short City tenure, Kovacic has been praised as the perfect signing, fitting seamlessly into our team and wow’ing City fans with his ability on the ball and tenacity out of possession. But since his return from injury, he has been objectively BAD in the past few fixtures. Rash slide tackles, losing possession, lack of control.. this isn’t the smooth, experienced Kovacic we initially thought we had. So which is it? Is he a bargain, perfect fit of a signing? Or a washed-up, declining asset? IMO, it seems a case of trying to do too much to overcompensate for the loss of our key midfielders combined with a desire to impress his new club. Kovacic has the core skillset to be a important member of this squad. I’m giving him the benefit of doubt and banking on him turning his recent bad form around. 

• Our defense is still the best in the world. 

Losing 0-1 at the Emirates with our two most important players out isn’t as bad as some are making it seem. In fact, even if we didn’t score, it looked like our defense was holding it down for a 0-0 draw until Martinelli’s deflected shot went in. Luck plays a big part in footballing fortunes but the display from our defense was once again a comprehensive one. Dias, despite his struggles with the ball on the day, was once again imperious in defense. Gvardiol showed why he’s the best young defender in the world and had former City player Gabriel Jesus completely shut down. Walker neutralized Trossard to the point of an early sub. We might have some issues with creation or finishing but the defense will always keep us in the game.

• Haaland - should we be worried?

Haaland is Haaland. As ridiculous as it is to say, that’s really all you need to know/say when it comes to his recent “drop” in form. Inevitably, managers and defenders are learning how to defend him better. Yet even so, he leads the league in scoring. I think it’s safe to say that he’ll be fine, even if by his ridiculous standards, he’s not firing at full capacity. Not the biggest fan of people giving him credit for being a decoy and I would however, like to see him contributing a bit more to our overall effectiveness as a team. He’s too good of a player to be so one-dimensional and we need him to do more at times. Full credit to Saliba, who is an absolute freak of a defender. More than capable of going toe-to-toe with Haaland.

• Too many players playing out of position. 

Bernardo at the 6. Phil and Alvarez on the wings. Rico Lewis as the #10. Pep is a genius and he makes things work but at crucial points in the match, instinct is just as important as training and repetition. It was clear that several of our players have LEARNED how to play certain positions and fulfill certain roles, however, it doesn’t come naturally to them. This is a liability against top opponents, especially when they aren’t surrounded by elite players in their natural positions. Whether due to injuries, short-sighted recruitment, or Pep’s stubbornness, we looked like a team playing their roles instead of a team playing to win. Too much structure and rigidity and not enough freedom and ingenuity. Players perform the best when the split-second decisions come as second nature. Instinct. Need to find a happy medium.

Written by: SHEIKH