Live streaming EPL match today Arsenal vs Manchester City 2 March 2018.
Arsenal need to make five signings and replace Petr Cech in major summer overhaul, says Paul Merson
Arsenal have an immediate opportunity to bounce back from their Wembley shocker against Manchester City. Arsene Wenger’s side were well-beaten in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday as City ran riot. The two meet again at the Emirates with the pressure firmly on the beleaguered boss.
A defeat here will surely end any hope of Arsenal making the top four, while City can take another step towards the title.
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Here is all you need to know ahead of the clash.
Paul Merson believes Arsenal need to sign at least five players in the summer as the current squad is ‘not good enough’. The Gunners are currently sixth in the Premier League – ten points below fourth-placed Tottenham – and suffered a 3-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday. Arsene Wenger’s job at the Emirates appears to be on the line with the club set to review his future at the end of the season.
MORE: FOOTBALL OPINION Three issues Arsene Wenger must fix to avoid another Man City mauling GOSSIP Manchester United star decides to QUIT club after rejecting offer from Ed Woodward Is Arsenal v Manchester City on? Premier League fixture set to go ahead despite snow chaos Asked what Arsenal need following the desperate defeat to Manchester City last weekend, Merson told Sky Sports: ‘You tell me what they don’t need? That might be easier.
‘They need a goalkeeper. Petr Cech was great, but he’s not great anymore. They need central defenders. You can always get by with full backs, so they are not high on the agenda. ‘They need two holding midfield players and they need another centre forward. They basically need a whole new spine of the team.
Wenger shows his frustration at questions over future Play Video Loaded: 0% Progress: 0% PlayMute Current Time 0:00 / Duration Time 0:00 Fullscreen ‘Without a good, solid spine you are never going to win the Premier League. This is not anything new either. I’ve been saying this every year for the last 10 years.’ Merson added: ‘It’s very simple because the players are not good enough to play for Arsenal Football Club. But whoever brought them in, they are not good enough either.
There now has to be change and for whoever takes it now it was one of the top jobs in world football. It’s not the top job now. ‘With what they need and how far they are behind, it’s going to take three, four, five years to catch back up and nowadays, managers get two or three years tops. Merson believes Arsenal need an upgrade on Petr Cech (Picture: Getty)
‘For me, I just don’t see how any new manager can see a job like that through. The change needed now has just become far too much. ‘The job is now a four-year plan to get back to anywhere near where they once were. It’s a very worrying situation.’ Wenger has been under pressure at Arsenal for a number of years but fresh question marks were raised over his tenure following the defeat to Manchester City at Wembley. Ahead of Thursday’s Premier League clash against City, Pep Guardiola offered his support to Wenger, saying: ‘We accept the opinions of the fans and the people and you feel alone. Guardiola faces second clash against Arsenal in a week Play Video Loaded: 0% Progress: 0% PlayMute Current Time 0:00 / Duration Time 0:00 Fullscreen MORE: FOOTBALL
Manchester City’s Premier League clash at Arsenal is under review because of the weather.
The Blues have travelled to the Emirates for the re-arranged fixture, a repeat of Sunday’s League Cup final.
Though the game is currently scheduled to go ahead, it has been thrown into some doubt, with Storm Emma seeing temperatures plunge below freezing and heavy snowfall blanketing the country.
Arsenal said this morning that, as it stands, the game – which is due to kick off at 7:45pm – is on.
However, a spokesman told the M.E.N officials would be monitoring the situation throughout the day and talking to police, local authorities and City.
They said a decision would be made as early as possible and they would announce it immediately if it did have to be called off to prevent as many wasted journeys as possible.
City have sold out their allocation of around 3,000 tickets for the game, with the Blues hoping to secure one of the six wins they need to be officially crowned Premier League champions.
Pictures taken at the ground yesterday showed the Emirates pitch covered in snow.
However, the main concern is the safety of staff and fans getting to the game and entering the stadium if snow or ice makes the area surrounding the Emirates dangerous.
The club issued a statement on its website saying: “We want to remind supporters attending Thursday’s match against Manchester City that severe weather may affect their travel arrangements to and from Emirates Stadium.
“We recommend everyone coming to the game keeps themselves up to date of the latest travel information and leaves extra time to get to the ground, where necessary.”
When is it?
The clash is on Thursday March 1.
Kick-off is scheduled for 7:45pm – providing the weather doesn’t stop play.
What channel is it on?
Arsenal vs City is live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
Arsenal come up against Manchester City for the second time in four days following Sunday’s disappointing Carabao Cup final defeat to Pep Guardiola’s men.
The Gunners were dismantled by a City side who took their chances and pounced on individual defensive mistakes to secure the first silverware of the season, prompting mass speculation that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger could be set to leave the club at the end of the campaign.
Wenger’s side have recorded just two victories in their last 16 Premier League matches against fellow ‘big six’ teams (D6 L8) and currently sit in sixth position in the league.
With their top four hopes already looking slim it is vital that Arsenal bounce back with a win against City and they’ll take comfort from their impressive home form which has been their saviour so far this season.
Arsenal injuries
Nacho Monreal is out with a back injury and could be unavailable for the next fortnight, according to Wenger.
“He is out for the two games this weekend – Thursday and Sunday certainly. He might be out for two more games – Milan and maybe one more [Watford],” Wenger said at his pre-match press conference.
“He has an inflamed back.”
Alexandre Lacazette is sidelined with a knee injury, although his return has been shortened to “four weeks from now, maybe three and a half weeks” according to Wenger.
Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla remains a long-term absentee with an Achilles injury.
Arsenal suspensions
Arsenal have no players suspended for this game.
Arsenal potential starting line-up
Henrikh Mkhitaryan returns to the team after being cup tied for the Carabao Cup final.
Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil are expected to continue in the team while Alex Iwobi could start ahead of Jack Wilshere in the three-man attack.
Following the dismal defensive showing on Sunday there could be a formation change to four at the back, although Nacho Monreal is out after suffering a back injury at Wembley.
Monreal’s injury means that either Ainsley Maitland Niles or Sead Kolasinac will fill in for the Spaniard at left-back.
Petr Cech will be back in goal with Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny expected to continue in defence.
Man City team news
Fernadinho will miss Thursday’s game after suffering a hamstring strain during the Carabao Cup final win.
The Brazilian midfielder was replaced by Bernando Silva in the second half at Wembley and while initial prognosis isn’t as bad as first feared, he won’t be fit enough to play in the match at Emirates Stadium.
City are 25 points ahead of Arsenal in first place and remain favourites to win the Premier League title following a scintillating season under manager Pep Guardiola.
Sergio Aguero is the club’s top scorer with 30 goals to his name so far this season.
Best Opta match facts
- Arsenal have won just two of their last 11 Premier League meetings with Manchester City, drawing five and losing four. Indeed, both teams have found the back of the net in eight of their last nine clashes in the Premier League.
- Manchester City have won only one of their 20 Premier League away games against Arsenal (D7 L12) – winning 2-0 under Roberto Mancini in January 2013.
- Manchester City could become the first side to beat Arsenal three times in the same season since Chelsea in 2005-06 – those three defeats also all occurred at different grounds.
- Manchester City’s points total of 72 from 27 games is the most ever set by an English top-flight side at this stage of the season (3 pts for a win). If they win this game, it’ll match Arsenal’s Premier League tally from last season (75 points from 38 games).
- The Gunners have won five of their last six Premier League games played on Thursday (L1), including a 3-2 away win against Crystal Palace in December.
- Mesut Ozil has provided 49 assists in 138 Premier League appearances, if he assists in this game he’ll set a competition record for the fewest games taken to reach 50 assists (currently held by Eric Cantona, 143 apps).