Story of the Day 1/27

No Consequences

Manchester City vs Arsenal.  The Cityzens host the Gunners at the Etihad.  A 3:00 kickoff on ESPN+.  Josep Guardiola takes on his protégé Mikel Arteta.  Arsenal sit atop the Premier League table with 50 points.  Manchester City are just a mere 5 points behind with 19 matches remaining.  A miniscule deficit compared to the comebacks in recent years which robbed Liverpool of glory.  A match that could foretell the future and fortune of both clubs.  There’s just one problem, this isn’t a Premier League match.  The outcome of today's battle will have no consequences on the the campaign for England’s most sought after trophy.  Today's match is to determine which club has the right to reach the fifth round of the prestigious FA Cup.

A Manchester City Win

The possible impacts of this match cannot be understated.  First, let’s ponder a potential City victory.  Arsenal and City have to play each other twice more the rest of the Premier League season.   With only a 5-point lead, the pressure will start to mount for Arsenal.  A win for City will give an up and down squad the confidence they need to believe in another come-from-behind success story.  After their 4-2 victory over Tottenham two matches ago, a dejected Pep ripped into both the players and spectators.  Professing that "Arsenal will destroy us."  Claiming that winning the Premier League in 4 of the last 5 seasons has made the team complacent.  A win over Arsenal could reinvigorate the competitive flame in Europe's most feared side.  Make no mistake, no matter their position in the table, this is the best team in Europe, let alone England.

An Arsenal Victory

Meanwhile, Arsenal are looking to rack up trophies while they have the team atop the English first division table.  The hardest league to win with the historic top-6 and the constant influx of cash allowing even newly promoted clubs to spend ungodly amounts of money.  Dwarfing budgets of historic European and global clubs like Juventus and Bayern Munich.

If the Gunners manage to outshoot the stars of Halaand and De Bruyne, Arsenal will have all the confidence in the world.  Having lost the previous 5 matches to Pep's creations, Arsenal and Mikel will be looking to finally overcome the reigning champions.  Solidifying their place as the current leaders of English football.  Allowing the positive form to carry on into the upcoming Premier League matches. With a diffused Manchester City attack and a pompous confidence of Arsenal, they may be able to extend the 5-point lead.  Furthering the gap to the point where the two matches versus City do not matter at all.  Potentially allowing Arsenal to rest and rotate the squad and further their ambitions in the Europa League and FA Cup.

Do either teams want to win?

A ridiculous notion.  Every club, manager, and player desires to win each trophy they compete for.  However, boards and managers meet before each season to plan out their campaigns.  Setting goals for what they hope to achieve for the supporters.  While important, the FA Cup is not the priority for either club.  Arsenal are sitting atop the table halfway through the season with a chance to win their first Premier League title since the 2003-2004 "invincibles".  With 6 combined 2nd and 3rd place finishes since the undefeated season, Mikel Arteta is determined to bring Arsenal back to the heights of English football.  As a result, does Arteta want to risk additional fixtures that may drain the depth of the squad?

We will find out once the starting XI's are released from both managers.  There is no doubt we will see a heavily rotated City side due to their obscene squad depth and talent.  However, Arsenal have a few key players that they rely on for their success.  Ødegaard is Arsenal's best and most important player.  The Premier League's best player of the season will have to play for any shot of success against Manchester City.  He is their creative engine. City have the ability to rotate the quality of Rodri or Debruyne for Foden, Bernardo, or Ilkay.  Furthermore, if Saka and Zinchenko are also omitted, it will become quite clear as to the mindset of the manager.  

Likewise, Pep's Cityzens are focused on one thing, the Champions League.  After winning the 2018/2019 FA Cup and four of the last 5 Premier League titles, City are focused on completing their quest at Champions League glory.  The hardest and most competitive trophy to achieve in all of European football.  Although, City do have the (chequebook) depth to compete in any and all competitions.

However, Pep has the ability to achieve his second career treble.  Winning the continental competition, top domestic league, and main domestic cup.  Guardiola was able to complete this this quest once with Barcelona during the iconic 2008/2009 season. His first year as a first-team gaffer. An accomplishment that only 4 other European clubs have managed to claim in the Champions League era.  A win today can keep that dream alive.

Prediction

With that being said, yes, both managers will kill to advance to the next stage.  The opportunity at winning is all that Pep or Mikel need for motivation.  No matter the scenario, this match will be incredibly entertaining.  With rotated squads, both clubs will lose the clinical ability that allows for controlled possessions and effectively controlled attacks.  Losing some of that composure will allow for more counter attacking opportunities and chances created.  With younger players looking for a role in the first team, the match will be filled with hunger and tenacity.

3-2 Manchester City.  1-1 with Pep brining on De Bruyne, Halaand, and Foden/Grealish in the second half with hopes to punch Manchester's ticket to the fifth round.  Going down 2-1, Arteta responds by bringing on Saka to make it 2-2.  A late third goal by City's feverish attempts to avoid a replay that would result from a draw, sends City through to the fifth round and Arsenal back to London empty handed.  

Thankfully for us spectators, we have at least two more meetings between the two clubs to decide the fate of the Premier League title race.  


UPDATE:  

Starting XI for City announced

GK: Moreno;  Def- Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Ake;  Mid- De Bruyne, Rodri, Ilkay;  Att- Mahrez, Halaand, Grealish.  

Pep is going for gold with a First-team XI.

For Arsenal: Saka in, Ødegaard out.

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