The big news coming in from the Premiership is that Jose Mourinho has been sacked. Given the Blues’ terrible run of form, it was coming, one felt, and if the rumours of major player unrest were true, then the Board’s hands were pretty much tied. They had to either let go of the players or Mourinho, and chose the latter. And so, six months after he won the league, the Special One has exited Stamford Bridge, for the second time. Still, if you had to give one manager a full season to get things back on track, Jose would certainly be one of the top names mentioned- his track record speaks for itself.
The Portuguese’s sacking has overshadowed the big clash between Arsenal and Man City in Round 17. The game takes place on Monday, three and a bit days before Christmas, and both teams will keen to lay down a marker of their title ambitions. Yes, Leicester are currently ahead of the duo, but not by much. Arsenal are two behind the Foxes, while City are a point behind the Gunners. The Christmas period tends to be taxing and takes a lot out of small squads, so it might not be surprising to see Leicester slip down when we look at the league table this time next month
Man City have been a bit shaky in recent weeks, with losses to Leicester and Liverpool taking the sheen off their campaign. However the big news for Manuel Pellegrini is that Sergio Aguero has returned to training and is likely to feature in this game. For all his injury problems, Aguero remains City’s most threatening striker, and his combination with David Silva saw the Argentine score five times against Newcastle.
Video Sergio Aguero scores 5 in 20 minutes against the Magpies
Another player more important to City’s success is Vincent Kompany. ALL of City’s clean sheets this season have come with the Belgian at the heart of defence. Without him, they’ve not managed even one, and that’s a telling stat. City’s skipper has returned to training, but the chances of him featuring in his clash are minimal.
If Aguero and Kompany had been fit all season, one could argue that there might not have even been a title race at this point- City look a completely different team when those two are fit and firing.
Arsenal have their own injury list and a big one at that. Several key players are on the treatment table– the likes of Santi Cazorla, Danny Welbeck, Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta, Tomas Rosicky and Francis Coquelin are all out on the sidelines. Alexis Sanchez has a chance of featuring in this game, and like Aguero, he will give his side’s chances of success a massive boost.
Arsenal form- last five games
Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal
Olympiakos 0-3 Arsenal
Arsenal 3-1 Sunderland
Norwich 1-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 3-0 Dinamo
Man City form- last five games
Man City 2-1 Swansea
Man City 4-2 Gladbach
Stoke 2-0 Man City
Man City 4-1 Hull
Man City 3-1 Southampton
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last four clashes against City. They drew 2-2 in the corresponding fixture last season and also won 2-0 at the Etihad. For City’s last win over the Gunners, you need to go back to December 2013, when they won 6-3.
Last meeting- Man City 0-2 Arsenal (18 January, 2015)
Both teams are No.1 and 2 respectively when it comes to goal difference in the Premier League, highlighting their good form. Arsenal have let in fewer goals than all teams bar Man United this season, while City have scored more than all teams bar table topping Leicester.
It promises to be an exciting clash. And for one of Wenger and Pellegrini, it promises to be a pivotal moment in what has been a tightly contested Premier League season.
Arsenal v Manchester City
December 21, 2015- 20.00 UK KO at the Emirates Stadium
Other Round 17 clashes
West Brom v Bournemouth
Stoke v Crystal Palace
Everton v Leicester
Man Utd v Norwich
Chelsea v Sunderland
Southampton v Spurs
Newcastle v Villa
Watford v Liverpool
Swansea v West Ham