Manchester City vs Arsenal: 3 things to look out for

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<p>&mdash; Arsenal (@Arsenal) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/04/26/manchester-city-arsenal-3-things-to-look-for/3/"https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1650990568993099776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 25, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/04/26/manchester-city-arsenal-3-things-to-look-for/3/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div> <h2>1. The response</h2> <p>Exactly how Arsenal responds at the Etihad will go a long way in deciding the Premier League title.</p> <p>After three consecutive draws to Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton, the Gunners let two 2-0 leads slip and were down 3-1 to the Saints.</p> <p>How they start the game against City will be telling and if they are still in the mode that saw Southampton play through them with ease, the title will be sitting in City&#8217;s trophy cabinet at full time.</p> <p><em>Continued on the next slide&#8230;</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/04/26/manchester-city-arsenal-3-things-to-look-for/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span>&nbsp;Thing to look for #2 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_133982" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-133982 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/04/26/manchester-city-arsenal-3-things-to-look-for/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1702,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1482609865-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1702" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1482609865-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1482609865-768x510.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1482609865-1536x1021.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1482609865-2048x1361.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:2560px;">Will Granit Xhaka be fit to start? (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>2. Arteta’s team selection</h2> <p><a title="Predicted Arsenal XI vs Man City: Does Arteta stick or twist for crucial clash?" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/04/26/manchester-city-arsenal-3-things-to-look-for/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/04/25/predicted-arsenal-xi-man-city/" rel="">Mikel Arteta’s team selection</a> will tell us a lot about the thinking and mentality of the club. With City breathing down their necks and in pole position for the title, Arsenal now needs to win at the Etihad.</p> <p>Given the gravity of the situation, can Arteta afford to have Rob Holding starting in such a big game? Given Saliba has been ruled out, perhaps Arteta goes for a different strategy.</p> <p>It is these kinds of changes that will make or break Arsenal’s title ambitions and if Arteta chooses wrong, the Gunners can say goodbye to the league title.</p> <p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/04/26/manchester-city-arsenal-3-things-to-look-for/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Thing to look for #3 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_133545" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-133545 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/04/26/manchester-city-arsenal-3-things-to-look-for/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2132,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1251122963.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2132" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1251122963.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1251122963-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Arsenal have made plenty of fast starts to matches this season. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>3. The fast start</h2> <p>It is something that Arteta’s side has been notorious for this season. The ability to score goals… and quickly.</p> <p>Against Liverpool, Arsenal were ahead 2-0 inside 30 minutes and against West Ham, the Gunners slammed two past the Hammers inside 20 minutes. So, the attacking weaponry is there, it just has to show itself on the biggest stage of all.</p> <div class="embed "> <blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="SQQrPANzia"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/04/26/manchester-city-arsenal-3-things-to-look-for/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/04/25/arsenal-must-take-advantage-important-man-city-injury/">Arsenal must take advantage of important Man City injury</a></p></blockquote> <p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" title="“Arsenal must take advantage of important Man City injury” — Pain in the Arsenal" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/04/26/manchester-city-arsenal-3-things-to-look-for/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/04/25/arsenal-must-take-advantage-important-man-city-injury/embed/#?secret=s1kkmtY6w5#?secret=SQQrPANzia" data-secret="SQQrPANzia" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div> <p>A quick start and putting City on the back foot is crucial to Arsenal getting anything from this titanic clash.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">