March 28th 2024.
Arsenal is currently at the top of the Premier League table, riding on an impressive eight-game winning streak. In their upcoming match against title rivals Manchester City, former Arsenal player Cesc Fabregas predicts that his former team will surprise people and come away with a 2-1 victory at the Etihad this weekend.
Their recent victory over Brentford at the Emirates secured their position at the top of the table going into the international break. This was their eighth consecutive win in the English top flight. After a challenging winter period that saw a dip in their results, many questioned Arsenal's title credentials. However, under the leadership of Mikel Arteta, the team has made an emphatic recovery and is now aiming for another statement performance against Manchester City on Sunday.
In their previous encounter in October, Arsenal emerged victorious with a 1-0 win, thanks to a goal by Gabriel Martinelli. A repeat of this result would see them go four points clear of the defending champions. Manchester City, on the other hand, has been plagued with injuries, with players like John Stones, Kyle Walker, Kevin De Bruyne, and Manuel Akanji struggling for fitness.
Arsenal has also faced some injury concerns with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Martinelli, but there are hopes that they will all be able to feature in the match against Manchester City. Fabregas, while previewing the match on the Planet Premier League podcast, believes that City's injury woes could be a key factor in the game. He also feels that Arsenal is even better than what many fans believe this season.
The former Arsenal captain stated that Manchester City's manager, Pep Guardiola, always approaches games with the same mindset and will field an offensive team to win the game. He also praised Guardiola for giving opportunities to younger players and believes that their quality and pace at the back will be crucial. Fabregas also highlighted the importance of Kyle Walker for City's high line and their ability to counter-attack.
Fabregas believes that Arsenal has made significant progress in the past year with the addition of two or three new players. He described them as a more solid and mature team with the ability to counter-attack, keep possession, defend high or deep, and control various aspects of the game. He also pointed out that Arsenal has already beaten Manchester City once this season, making it a challenging game for them to showcase their progress.
When asked for his prediction, Fabregas confidently stated that based on what he has seen and felt from both teams, his prediction is a 2-1 victory for Arsenal. He also shared his thoughts on Arsenal's new midfielder, Declan Rice, who joined from West Ham last summer for a significant fee. Fabregas believes that Rice is the complete package in midfield, bringing dynamism, physicality, quality, intelligence, and maturity to the team. He also praised Rice's versatility and stated that he adds a sense of security to the team, especially in big games like the one against Manchester City.
In conclusion, Fabregas believes that Arsenal is a step ahead of what people think and that they will surprise everyone with their performance against Manchester City. He also stated that having Declan Rice in midfield is a significant advantage for Arsenal, and he is confident that the team will come out on top in their upcoming clash.
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