Chris Sutton has offered Arsenal a blueprint for how Mikel Arteta’s side can win away to Manchester City with the BBC pundit not fully convinced by Pep Guardiola’s squad.
The Gunners travel to Etihad Stadium this Sunday chasing their first win away at the Citizens in a Premier League match since January 2015. Arsene Wenger oversaw Arsenal’s last win at Manchester City through goals by Santi Cazorla (24’) and Olivier Giroud (67’) nine years ago.
Arsenal have since lost each of their last seven trips and also suffered a defeat in the FA Cup at Manchester City. But Arteta has turned the tide in the Gunners’ record against his former mentor having beaten Guardiola’s squad 1-0 when they visited Emirates Stadium in October.
Chris Sutton predicts Man City will beat Arsenal 1-0
Nathan Ake invertedly deflecting Gabriel Martinelli’s (86’) hit home also ended Manchester City’s 12-match league winning streak over Arsenal. It was also the first time that the north London natives kept the Citizens from scoring since their 2-0 win at Etihad Stadium in 2015.
READ MORE: All Arsenal player wages for the 2023/24 season, ranked
Celtic hero Sutton does not expect lightning will strike twice, though, as he tips Manchester City to beat Arsenal 1-0 this Sunday. But he expects a ‘cagey’ affair and has offered Arteta a blueprint to winning at Etihad Stadium as the Citizens have not fully convinced Sutton lately.
Sutton told the BBC: “When I think about City’s form, I am not exactly convinced by some of their recent performances because they have not been as free-flowing as they usually are.
“They are also yet to beat any other teams in the top five in the league this season. But then you check their results and they have still won 20 of their past 22 games in all competitions.
“Meanwhile, Arsenal are top, having scored the most goals in the top-flight this season and conceded the fewest. They also come into this on the back of eight straight league wins.”
Mikel Arteta cannot let the Citizens establish control
Arsenal being brave and trying to stop Manchester City from establishing their free-flowing football may be what Arteta needs to win on Sunday. Like Sutton says, the Gunners hit home the most goals (70) and conceded the fewest (24) in the Premier League through 28 games.
Manchester City also gave Liverpool plenty of chances when the title rivals drew 1-1 before the international break. The Citizens were there for the Reds’ taking as Jurgen Klopp’s team ramped up the pressure. So, Arteta cannot see Arsenal let Manchester City establish control.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
