January 27, 2023, 22:52 PM
January 27, 2023, 22:52 PM
In a duel of giants this season, Manchester City beat Arsenal (1-0), this Friday in their round of 16 duel of the FA Cup.
City thus advanced to the round of 16 in the FA Cup against an Arsenal that is leader in the Premier League, with five points ahead and one game played less than Josep Guardiola’s team.
With Matt Turner in goal, Rob Holding in defence, Fabio Vieira in the center and Leandro Trossard starting for the first time in attack, the Arsenal coach, Mikel Arteta, opted for the rotations for this match, while Guardiola chose a more classic eleven, with Erling Haaland at the top and the presence of figures such as Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez, Jack Grealish or Ilkay Gündogan.
Despite this, Arsenal came to be superior at the start of the clash, with good chances from Takehiro Tomiyasu (5) or Trossard (21).
Little by little, the trend was changing, especially in the second half, which Arsenal faced without Thomas Partey, changed at halftime.
The Londoners were ceding control of the game to City, that went to a 4-4-2 scheme with the entry of Julián Álvarez instead of Mahrez in 58.
The Argentine world champion sent to the stick, shortly before Grealish assisted Nathan Aké, whose shot at ground level surprised Turner (1-0, minute 65).
Arsenal then tried to react. Arteta opted for the tricks of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Martinelli or Martin Odegaard, but City’s substitute goalkeeper, Stefan Ortega, was very attentive and avoided a draw.
Guardiola, the teacher, thus won the battle in this game against Arteta, his outstanding student and former assistant, although both showed that their teams aspire to the maximum and the fight for the Premier League looks exciting.
In the league, the duel between the two will be on February 15, at Arsenal’s home.
The FA Cup round of 32 continues this weekend.
Liverpool visit Brighton, while the Manchester United receives Reading, from the second division.
