Manchester City v Arsenal: the tactical battles that could decide title clash

Mikel Arteta is not a clone of Pep Guardiola but they do have a similar outlook on football. Both came through the Barcelona academy, Arteta spent three years as Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City and both favour a 4-3-3 with a hard press. When shapes and philosophies match, gaining a tactical advantage to outweigh City’s advantages in terms of personnel and form will be tough for Arteta. At the moment, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gündogan or Bernardo Silva are simply a better unit than Arsenal’s three, with Thomas Partey and Martin Ødegaard suffering dips in form and Granit Xhaka struggling with illness.

Is there anything Arsenal can do to tip the balance? Everton, Brentford and Tottenham have taken points off City with a back five, compressing the space, but that was before Guardiola’s side hit the relentless streak of the past two months. Arteta’s dabble with a back five late on at Anfield was unconvincing and given it is by attacking wide that Arsenal will probably pose the greatest goal threat, a shift away from 4-3-3 seems unlikely.

What if William Saliba had stayed fit? It should be remembered how he was physically dominated by Ivan Toney but, still, it seems less likely that Arsenal would have conceded seven goals in their past three games had Saliba been there. Which is not to scapegoat Rob Holding: rather he is a symptom of the lack of squad depth that meant few regarded Arsenal as title challengers at the start of the season. Now, after struggling against Michail Antonio and Carlos Alcaraz, Holding faces Erling Haaland.

Or does he? Takehiro Tomiyasu is injured but there are other options. Bringing in Jakub Kiwior, signed from Spezia in January, for a first Premier League start would seem an enormous