Premier League 2018/19: 3 things Arsenal must do to defeat Manchester City

Unai Emery is set to take charge at the Emirates for his first competitive game as an Arsenal manager and the opponents do not come any bigger than this - reigning champions Manchester City.

Arsenal have had a decent transfer window with some solid signings like Sokratis and Lichtsteiner bolstering the backline, while the likes of Torreira and Guendouzi adding some steel and creativity to the midfield.

On the other hand, Manchester City's transfer activity has been much quieter as Riyad Mahrez has been the only high profile signing for the Citizens.

However, Pep isn't a man who gets into a complacent mode and will be wary that the "coat with the faulty zipper" has long been burnt to ashes and the new Arsenal manager will not show any form of leniency, having everything still to prove.

So as the two rivals go head to head at the Emirates on Sunday, here are some ways by which Arsenal can look to stop the City juggernaut:

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#3 Stop Fernandinho

Unai Emery is experienced enough to understand that Fernandinho is City's, main man. Pep Guardiola's sides may start out as a 4-3-3 but they soon convert to a 3-1-4-2 during their build-up play.

Fernandinho is the one that sits just ahead of the three-man defence and therefore acts as their central fulcrum who can absorb the initial pressure and effectively pass into the creative outlets up front.

Sergio Busquets played that role to perfection during Barcelona's dominant period and Pep has found Fernandinho to be the perfect player for the Busquets role.

Pep needs his pivot to swivel at ease under pressure and build up from the back. On the other hand, when City are defending after losing possession, he needs the same pivot to break up the play as succinctly as he can. The Brazilian marvels at this role and is the hidden gem in a star-studded City lineup.

Liverpool, who defeated City last season negated Fernandinho's presence by using Firmino, who although started as the striker, marked his fellow countryman like a shadow for the entire ninety minutes.

Jurgen Klopp has already given a template of how to beat City and Emery will do well if he follows suit. Ozil might be miserable at this job but Unai needs to assign someone like Ramsey to do the Firmino role without compromising the attacking output.

#2 Pressing the backline

The Manchester City backline is prone to errors

Pep's teams have the symbolic comfort in midfield with gifted midfielders who are extremely comfortable with possession and passing the ball around. Manchester City's defenders are decent on the ball, but not on the level of the likes of Pique and Ramos.

This is something that Emery can target by asking the likes of Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan to press both the defenders as well as the goalkeeper as the Citizens will start most attacks from the back.

Jurgen Klopp and Antonio Conte showed the way when they took the game to City even without possession. With the likes of Otamendi not great passers of the ball under pressure, Arsenal should look to win the ball high up the pitch and attack the City goal.

City's midfield is full of creative (low centre of gravity) wizards who can easily pass the ball around even when under pressure, but they aren't strong enough to receive a long ball under pressure.

Unai knows that the likes of Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and David Silva aren't good enough to play as target men and therefore must force City into playing it long by pressing the back line.

#1 Counter City's High Line

The electrifying Aubameyang will look to break in with speed

Even with two or three at the back, City tend to push up and retain possession while maintaining an extremely high line but this is something that can and must be exploited.

Emery does need all his players to track back and regain a compact shape after losing the ball but he must designate the wingers to anticipate any weak passage of play and break at every opportunity available.

Iwobi and Aubameyang are the ones that can do the job with the likes of Mkhitaryan and Ozil needing to be on their toes if Arsenal are to take the game to City.

It is a gamble between stability and energy-sapping high tempo requirements but the new Arsenal manager has to decide whether he should be playing for a draw or go for the win in his very first game as this match could help him in convincing Arsenal fans that he is worthy of the job.

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