Former Manchester City defender Andy Morrison says Arsenal will be targeting a win when they face Pep Guardiola’s men at the Etihad later this month.
Rodri criticised the Gunners for playing for a draw in the corresponding fixture last campaign and Morrison says that could fire up their opponents:
” I think the Arsenal players will have Rodrigo’s words ringing in their ears and I can’t see them coming and closing shop again.”
Morrison believes it could be a “goal glut” this time around but, in that scenario, he can only see his former side coming out on top:
“Last season, I think they thought they just needed a draw and that would be enough to edge the title race, this time I think they’ll go all out to win, which will make it more open. I still think the defences are too good for a goal glut so I’m going for us to just shade it.”
City can put down a marker
Usually, you would prefer to have the home game against your main title rivals as late on in the season as possible. At that point in the campaign, it is effectively a ‘six-pointer’.
However, there is also an argument to say that, by beating the Gunners early in the campaign, you can halt their momentum.
Of course, even if City do win the match, it would still be too early to write off Mikel Arteta’s team, but it would put down a marker nonetheless.
A packed September fixture schedule
As manager Pep Guardiola pointed out at the weekend, the season starts in earnest after the international break. The Cityzens will be playing five matches in the space of two weeks.
The Arsenal fixture will come after the Brentford game and the first Champions League match against Inter Milan. Guardiola’s side will then face Watford in the Carabao Cup and an away trip to Newcastle to close out the month.
