Steve Nicol told ESPN that Arsenal cannot defend with Martin Odegaard, Dani Ceballos, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka against Manchester City today.
The Anfield legend made it clear that Arsenal are ‘getting nothing’ from the game, as he also questioned both Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka’s defensive qualities without Thomas Partey.
Given that Partey has only returned to training, he may well end up starting from the bench against the runaway leaders.
Pep Guardiola’s side have been ripping it up this season and Liverpool legend Nicol doesn’t give the North London side a chance of getting anything from the game.
“You look at this line-up, Odegaard, Ceballos, Smith Rowe and Saka,” said Nicol. “You cannot defend against Manchester City with these players.
“These players are all good with the ball going forward. They aren’t good when they are pushed back and they have to defend properly.
“There is no Thomas Partey. Does he play Elneny? And let’s be honest. Elneny and Xhaka in the middle of the park defensively aren’t particularly great either.
“So does he attack? If he is going to play that same line-up, it’s a different ball game playing against Benfica and Leeds then a proper team in Man City. Whichever way you want to slice it. Arsenal are getting nothing.”
The positive Arsenal can take is that they have beaten Man City under Arteta and that in a big game – FA Cup semi-final, so there’s no reason why it cannot be done again.
They’ll need more of that energy and quality today, and if they can provide that, then an upset might just be on the cards.
Not only that, if anyone knows Guardiola inside out then it’s the man prowling Arsenal’s touchline.
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