Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has
said he does not envy Manchester
City’s squad as both teams prepare to
meet at the Etihad Stadium in
Saturday’s Premier League early
afternoon kick-off.
City, who were champions last two
seasons, spent over £48m more than the
current league leaders in signing five
new players during the summer in a bid
to boost the squad which failed to clinch
any silverware last season.
While the North London outfit, who has
enjoyed a robust level of income since
moving into the Emirate Stadium of
recent, paid Real Madrid £42.4m for
German midfielder Mesut Ozil- who has
gone on to become an instant success –
also bring in Mathieu Flamini, Yaya
Sanogo on a free transfer and Palermo
goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano on a
season-long loan.
Arsene Wenger and Mesut Ozil in
Training,
“City have a very strong squad, I don’t
deny that. I look at my squad and I
don’t envy them,” said Wenger.
Pellegrini’s squad presently boasts of the
most prolific strike force in the division
having scored 41 goals in 15 games,
thanks to the firepower of Argentinean
Sergio Aguero- the league’s second
highest goalscorer with 12 goals- and
Spaniard Alvaro Negredo, who joined the
‘Sky Blues’ from Sevilla for £24.5m.
Since taking charge of the Manchester
club in June, the Chilean made clear his
vision to transform the side into the best
attack-minded team by bringing in
forward Stevan Jovetic for £20m, winger
Jesus Navas for £14.9m, midfielder
Fernnandinho for £30m.
Despite only signing a defender, Martin
Demichelis for a reported £4.2m in the
summer, the side have only conceded
twice in the league in seven home games
and have not lost any.
Wenger’s men have only lost once on the
road in six top flight matches this season
– at City’s local rivals Manchester United
last month.
The Frenchman added: What is
important is how well you play together-
and on that front, I think we have done
well since the start of the season.”
Coupled with their best away record,
Arsenal have only conceded 11 goals in
15 matches and with Per Mertesacker
and Laurent Koscielny, who have only
conceded once in the last six games they
have started together, likely to lead the
defence; Aguero and Negredo (if
included) may be up against brick wall.
Most importantly fans will have the
privilege to watch the best strike force
face the best defence so far in the
season and Wenger expects an
interesting encounter.
“We like to score goals and we like to go
forward but Man City can do that as
well,” he said.
“Both teams will certainly perform at
the top level in defences but Pellegrini is
an offensive manager. I am as well, so
you should see interesting things on the
offensive level.
“You need a strong defensive
performance and maybe the best way to
do that is to attack, for us to have the
ball and not let them find their flow.”
They are five points clear at the top of
the table, six points ahead of their
hosts, City, who lies fourth.
Some Team News
Lukas Podolski could return to their
squad after being sidelined since August
with a hamstring injury, but Bacary
Sagna (hamstring) is ruled out. Aaron
Ramsey will be expected to return to the
starting line-up after being restricted
to a substitute appearance against
Napoli.
Micah Richards sustained a hamstring
injury against Bayern Munich (in the
midweek) so will not feature on
Saturday, and former Arsenal full-back
Gael Clichy (foot) is a doubt. Yaya Toure
returns after being suspended for the
trip to Germany, while Pellegrini must
decide whether to give England
goalkeeper Joe Hart another chance in
the league or keep faith with Costel
Pantilimon.
said he does not envy Manchester
City’s squad as both teams prepare to
meet at the Etihad Stadium in
Saturday’s Premier League early
afternoon kick-off.
City, who were champions last two
seasons, spent over £48m more than the
current league leaders in signing five
new players during the summer in a bid
to boost the squad which failed to clinch
any silverware last season.
While the North London outfit, who has
enjoyed a robust level of income since
moving into the Emirate Stadium of
recent, paid Real Madrid £42.4m for
German midfielder Mesut Ozil- who has
gone on to become an instant success –
also bring in Mathieu Flamini, Yaya
Sanogo on a free transfer and Palermo
goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano on a
season-long loan.
Arsene Wenger and Mesut Ozil in
Training,
“City have a very strong squad, I don’t
deny that. I look at my squad and I
don’t envy them,” said Wenger.
Pellegrini’s squad presently boasts of the
most prolific strike force in the division
having scored 41 goals in 15 games,
thanks to the firepower of Argentinean
Sergio Aguero- the league’s second
highest goalscorer with 12 goals- and
Spaniard Alvaro Negredo, who joined the
‘Sky Blues’ from Sevilla for £24.5m.
Since taking charge of the Manchester
club in June, the Chilean made clear his
vision to transform the side into the best
attack-minded team by bringing in
forward Stevan Jovetic for £20m, winger
Jesus Navas for £14.9m, midfielder
Fernnandinho for £30m.
Despite only signing a defender, Martin
Demichelis for a reported £4.2m in the
summer, the side have only conceded
twice in the league in seven home games
and have not lost any.
Wenger’s men have only lost once on the
road in six top flight matches this season
– at City’s local rivals Manchester United
last month.
The Frenchman added: What is
important is how well you play together-
and on that front, I think we have done
well since the start of the season.”
Coupled with their best away record,
Arsenal have only conceded 11 goals in
15 matches and with Per Mertesacker
and Laurent Koscielny, who have only
conceded once in the last six games they
have started together, likely to lead the
defence; Aguero and Negredo (if
included) may be up against brick wall.
Most importantly fans will have the
privilege to watch the best strike force
face the best defence so far in the
season and Wenger expects an
interesting encounter.
“We like to score goals and we like to go
forward but Man City can do that as
well,” he said.
“Both teams will certainly perform at
the top level in defences but Pellegrini is
an offensive manager. I am as well, so
you should see interesting things on the
offensive level.
“You need a strong defensive
performance and maybe the best way to
do that is to attack, for us to have the
ball and not let them find their flow.”
They are five points clear at the top of
the table, six points ahead of their
hosts, City, who lies fourth.
Some Team News
Lukas Podolski could return to their
squad after being sidelined since August
with a hamstring injury, but Bacary
Sagna (hamstring) is ruled out. Aaron
Ramsey will be expected to return to the
starting line-up after being restricted
to a substitute appearance against
Napoli.
Micah Richards sustained a hamstring
injury against Bayern Munich (in the
midweek) so will not feature on
Saturday, and former Arsenal full-back
Gael Clichy (foot) is a doubt. Yaya Toure
returns after being suspended for the
trip to Germany, while Pellegrini must
decide whether to give England
goalkeeper Joe Hart another chance in
the league or keep faith with Costel
Pantilimon.
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