Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Arsenal tomorrow, and he’s earmarked two players as potential threats.
Speaking about what Arsenal can bring to Sunday’s clash at the Emirates, Sky Sports quote the former Barcelona boss as saying: “They have an exceptional build-up, they have quality and they have energy.
“They have [Bukayo] Saka, [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang and all the players with the quality in the middle.”
It doesn’t take a footballing genius like Guardiola to realise that these two are Arsenal’s most dangerous players.
51-cap Gabon international Aubameyang will be coming into the game off the back of scoring a hat-trick in the club’s last Premier League game against Leeds.
In Saka’s case, the £10,000-a-week starlet will line up against the Citizens having just scored a crucial goal against Benfica in Rome.
In that respect, the two players earmarked by Guardiola should be oozing with confidence when Guardiola brings his side to north London tomorrow.
However, the former Bayern Munich boss shouldn’t underestimate the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Nicolas Pepe.
These are two players who could stretch Manchester City.
Smith Rowe loves floating into pockets of space, where his quick release of the ball usually sees Arsenal go on the attack before opponents have the chance to regroup.
With Pepe, the Ivorian’s pace and directness should make him a useful asset tomorrow.
With the £72 million man lurking on the shoulder of the City defenders, they might be more reluctant to push up and adopt a high line.
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