Manchester City 3-1 Arsenal: Unai Emery needs to rethink his strategies

Arsenal has successfully gone into the sixth position on the Premier League table after getting beaten 3-1 vs Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Arsenal’s performance today is one to forget because they gave their fans false hope in the first half when the it ended 2-1 in favour of the home side. Unai Emery decided to use three at the back today.

The first half started off poorly for the gunners as Alex Iwobi got the chance to clear the ball but opted to dribbling which ended poorly for him as he was disposed hence Aguero receiving a good cross which he scored in the 45th second of the game. The gunners looked lost after the goal because they kept clearing the ball away from their box, but finally equalised through a corner in the 11th minute after Koscielny headed the ball into the back of the net after Monreal had got a touch on it.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 03: Raheem Sterling of Manchester City misses a chance on goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

This gave the gunners some confidence as they now started controlling the ball for more than 15 seconds but they were still failing to make accurate passes in the final third. Manchester City on the hand kept putting pressure on the Arsenal defenders but the gunners tried to remain compact at the back so that they can regroup in the second half.

Just as it seemed like Arsenal were about to contain the City side, a quick good play from the home side saw Aguero double their lead in the 44th minute. The first half ended 2-1 in favour of Manchester City.

Most of the Arsenal fans expected Unai Emery to make substitutions at the start of the second half but he didn’t. The second half was all Manchester City as it pressed the gunners to look for a third goal which they finally got in the 61st minute. Unai Emery later removed Sead Kolasinac & Alex Iwobi to bring in Aaron Ramsey & Denis Suarez. The gunners later lost Mustafi ( injured ) and Unai Emery brought in Mavropanos.

Denis Suarez didn’t make a lot of impact and was easily getting out muscled by the opponents, and what’s surprising is that he liked going into the midfield yet we are told he will be a winger.