I think we have seen the last 'easy' Pep win over Arteta for a long while. Once City can't control the ball against a top side, they struggle heavily. Their team is also full of many poor individual defenders in isolated scenarios.
City's games against top sides tells us how Pep may want to approach Arteta's Arsenal next time around. A suffocating high press as well as stacking his side with ball to feet players in order to maintain control of the ball.
All of these will be less effective against Arsenal.
All of these will be less effective against Arsenal.
An advantage that Arteta's Arsenal have over Klopp's Liverpool when it comes to playing City is the dogmatic insistence on positional play.
An advantage that Arteta's Arsenal will also have over Tuchel's Chelsea when it comes to playing City is a streamlined recruitment approach
An advantage that Arteta's Arsenal will also have over Tuchel's Chelsea when it comes to playing City is a streamlined recruitment approach
If Arteta is fully supported in the transfer window as he is likely to be, we will procure answers to a suffocating high press by signing a striker with significant aerial dominance.
An Ivan Toney signing for example would establish a Ramsdale-to-Toney dynamic against a press.
An Ivan Toney signing for example would establish a Ramsdale-to-Toney dynamic against a press.
One of the reasons why a City press against Liverpool/Chelsea can be so effective is the inconsistent ability of their goalkeepers to find outlets high up the pitch with a single kick. Mendy and Allison are not on the same level when it comes to long kicks with Ramsdale/Ederson.
We saw a Ramsdale long kick dynamic against City on New Year's Day. It was incredibly effective whenever City choose to press us so high.
With even more aerial presence in central areas, the long kicks become a much more effective weapon than when it's constantly going wide.
With even more aerial presence in central areas, the long kicks become a much more effective weapon than when it's constantly going wide.
I'm not saying we will win the league over City or something. What I'm saying is that we will perhaps be City's most difficult opponents in the league starting from next season.
We have every solution in the modern game available to us, just as City do.
We have every solution in the modern game available to us, just as City do.
Next season, I'd expect Arteta's Arsenal to net some 85 points in the league. Not good enough in a league where Pep Guardiola exists but good enough to be recognized as title challengers with a very young side, younger than what Liverpool had in their title challenge seasons.
Only Tuchel and Arteta have the tactical completeness it takes to challenge Pep Guardiola's City over an extended period of time. Both will also soon have the quality that Klopp had available to him as their team grows stronger with each passing week and each transfer window.
In fact, I'd reasonably expect Arteta to win the league with Arsenal in the next 3 seasons, Pep staying or not. Arsenal are basically mini City with less technical talent (for now) and more of a physical emphasis.
If Tuchel stays at Chelsea, Conte's Tottenham are going to be also-rans or best of the rest. If Tuchel leaves, they will take Chelsea's Top 4 spot.
The level of the competition and quality at the top of the league is simply too strong for Conte to do much with Tottenham.
The level of the competition and quality at the top of the league is simply too strong for Conte to do much with Tottenham.
Conte at Tottenham is basically a waiting game for one of Pep/Klopp/Tuchel to leave or decline.
If none leave, it will basically be down to Tottenham trying to take advantage of a very plausible Liverpool decline in the coming seasons to get in the Top 4.
If none leave, it will basically be down to Tottenham trying to take advantage of a very plausible Liverpool decline in the coming seasons to get in the Top 4.
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