Wembley Stadium’s structure will feel all the more cavernous in the absence of all fans on Saturday, as Arsenal take on Manchester City for a place in the prestigious FA Cup Final.
You’ll be able to hear everything coming from the side-lines as the professor, Pep Guardiola, faces his long-time apprentice, Mikel Arteta, in the opposite dugout.
Current champions City will enter the match with confidence, having not lost in their last nine matches at Wembley, winning most recently in the Carabao Cup Final over Aston Villa this season.
The Gunners may find some solace in that they inflicted that last defeat onto their opponents at this stage of ‘16/17’s competition (2-1 AET) – they’ll be hoping they can cause some unwanted Deja Vu.
However, both times the two sides met this season The Citizens ran out comfortable 3-0 winners, with Guardiola’s experience proving definitive so far, at least.
In fact, The Sky-Blue’s have won every one of the seven meetings since that 16/17 semi-final, collating an incredible aggregate score of 20-2.
Arteta will be without suspended Eddie Nketiah and injured Pablo Mari, Bernd Leno Garbeilli Martinelli and Calum Chambers, while Mesut Ozil remains a doubt.
The absent list doesn’t run as long for his former leader but could be just as significant, as cultured striker Sergio Aguero remains on the side-lines, as does cup ‘keeper Claudio Bravo.
FA Cup top goalscorers
Arsenal:
Eddie Nketiah (2)
Man City:
Sergio Aguero + Gabriel Jesus (2)
Player to watch
Kevin De Bruyne:
No prizes for calling this one correctly if it comes in, I can accept that. The Belgian enigma scored three times against Arsenal in the two league games this season and is simply one of the best players in the world.
He scored the opening goal from the spot against Newcastle in the quarter-final, and with Arsenal’s self-destructive defending he could get the opportunity from twelve yards again.
He’s not been in the best goalscoring form in the last few games, but I think that will have changed by Saturday evening.
Match Preview written by Alfie House
Comments