Are Manchester City Rattled?

In this weekend review, News Manager, Ufuoma Egbamuno asks if Premier League champions, Manchester City are rattled by Arsenal’s newfound pragmatism. Plus, there are bits on Chelsea; Barca, and the Milan Derby

There used to be a time when players from Manchester City would give the little pat on the back statements after a 5-0 home thrashing or a 3-1 away win at the Emirates to Arsenal players.

Or even manager Pep Guardiola would come with those usual niceties and platitudes of his for Mike Arteta after a drubbing.

Looks like that era is gone. 

“I don't know if they have mastered it," Man City’s John Stones said of Arsenal's tactics after Sunday's Clash of the Titans.

 "They've done it for a few years, and we know (how) to expect that. You can call it clever, or dirty - whichever way you want to put it,” he added.

But it was Bernando Silva who went a step further. 

Asked by British broadcaster TNT how Arsenal compared to Liverpool, who battled for the title against City for years under their former manager Jurgen Klopp, he said:

“Well, perhaps because Liverpool has already won the Premier League and Arsenal hasn't.

“Liverpool at that time had also won a Champions League, while Arsenal hasn't.

“Liverpool always faced us head-on, to win matches. From that perspective, our games against Arsenal haven't been like the matches against Liverpool were, and still are.”

This sudden shift from the usual platitudes the City players and manager always give to Arsenal after a drubbing in the not-too-distant past begs a pertinent question: are they rattled now?

For all of Silva’s gushing about the Liverpool/City rivalry, how many times did Liverpool get maximum points at the Etihad during those title races from the 2017/2018 season till Klopp left?

NONE!!!

Liverpool’s only win at the Etihad came in Pep’s first season – a 4-1 drubbing – but the Anfield giants weren’t even in a title race that year.

It’s been four games now since the Cityzens last beat Arsenal in any competition – a Community Shield loss at the beginning of last season; a 1-0 defeat at the Emirates in the Premier League; a 2-2 draw on Sunday and that 0-0 bore fest at the Etihad in April. 

In May, Ballon d’Or hopeful, Rodri spoke about the ultimate difference between the two teams.

"Arsenal, also they deserved [to win the league], they did an unbelievable season, but I think the difference was in here (pointing to his head).

"When they came here, they faced us at the Etihad, I saw them and said, 'Ah, these guys, they don't want to beat us, they just want a draw.'

"That mentality… I don't think we would do it the same way.”

Suddenly, it’s the Man City players legislating for Arsenal how they should play.

We didn’t get this sort of remarks when it was all rosy – the 4-1 demolition at Etihad which sealed City’s title win two seasons ago; the 3-1 win at the Emirates a few months before that same season or the 5-0 drubbing back in 2021 after Granit Xhaka was sent off.

It only tells me one thing: Manchester City know they have got a fight on their hands and a proper rivalry.

Not the lovey-dovey of the last few years between Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp!

Not the let’s-hold-hands-and-hug-till-the-sun-comes-up type of relationship we’ve come to see between Man City and Liverpool!

Sunday’s clash and the sh**housery that ensued afterward seems like the start of what may be a reincarnation of the Arsene Wenger-Sir Alex Ferguson duel or the Jose Mourinho vs Rafa Benitez battle of years ago.

I absolutely love it, and I can’t seem to wait for what’s in store for us with the reverse fixture on the 1ST of February 2025 and generally, the season as a whole.

RODRI’s INJURY

When Rodri limped off the Etihad on Sunday, it did look like he would be out for a long time.

Now, it has been confirmed that he has suffered an interior cruciate ligament tear in his right knee and could possibly be out for the rest of the season.

I am never one to wish such an injury on a player, but I would be telling lies if I say I didn’t pump my fist when this news broke.

Rodri is arguably, Manchester City’s most important player. City do struggle sometimes when he is absent, never mind that they’ve coped well in the first two months of the season without him.

But surely, to be without him till possibly May 2025 should come at a cost? Right?

As an Arsenal fan, I hope so.

BEST OF THE REST - BARCA BACK?

The midweek loss to Monaco was quite the shock not many of us saw coming but after going a man down so early, maybe, it was a well-deserved victory for the home side.

But Hansi Flick’s side just continued where they stopped in La Liga. 

They’ve been so good and so direct, and nothing epitomizes this more than Raphinha.

Heck, I just might be forced to change my mind on a player I have famously never rated.

AC MILAN BOUNCE BACK

The Milan Derby has been so one-sided in recent seasons that the only outcome I expected was an Inter win again.

In fact, I made the costly error of having a straight win for Inter as my bet option in all my slips over the weekend.

But credit to Paulo Fonseca’s men.

They started off like a house on fire just like they did against Liverpool in midweek but the difference this time is they found a way to win.

Maybe Inter’s back-to-walls performance in the Champions League against Man City in midweek took its toll on the Italian Champions?

ENZO MARESCA IS COOKING

Chelsea are up to something. It’s early days and the club has spent billions I know.

But its one thing to spend money and another to know how to use the players on the pitch, just ask Manchester United since Sir Alex Ferguson’s exit.

At a ground where they’ve not been that good recently, Maresca’s men got the job done without much fuss.

Looking forward to more of such scintillating performances from Chelsea.

Alright, that will be all from me this week. See you again soon.