Arsenal vs. Manchester City: Complete Player-by-Player Comparison
Arsenal’s match with Manchester City on Monday is one of huge importance to both clubs.
Although Leicester City sit top of the table, it is these two giants who are expected to wrestle over the Premier League title in the second half of the season. A win for either side would be a huge shot in the arm and give them the belief that this could be their year.
When it comes to predicting the outcome of the match, it’s inevitable comparisons will be drawn between the two XIs. It might be a squad game these days, but ultimately the result will be decided by the 22 men out on the field.
Join Bleacher Report as we go through the expected starting lineups and compare the players' attributes. Each matchup assesses the respective qualities of the two players and declares one as the winner.
Petr Cech vs. Joe Hart
1 of 5
These two teams both benefit from having excellent goalkeepers as the ultimate insurance policy.
Joe Hart is still only 28, but it seems as if he has been around forever. England’s No. 1 combines tremendous force of personality with remarkable physical gifts. Former Manchester City and England international 'keeper David James is in little doubt as to his abilities, telling B/R's Rob Pollard, writing for the Manchester Evening News, he believes Hart to be the best stopper in the division:
"I think Hart is the best in the Premier League. Having said that, Petr Cech is having a very good season. We’re talking about the equal Premier League clean sheet record holder, so it’s not bad company to be in with, but I think Joe has again been showing a great level of maturity and ability.
"
James could not help but mention Cech’s recent form. In his last outing against Aston Villa, the Czech Republic international matched James’ record of 169 Premier League clean sheets. He’ll be desperate to set a new benchmark against City.
That’s an incredible individual achievement. Coupled with the fact Cech has more experience than his City counterpart, that gives him a marginal edge. Since his arrival in north London in the summer, Arsenal have looked like a team transformed. That speaks volumes as to the level of influence he exerts.
Hart is a top goalkeeper, but Cech is a leader and an icon.
Winner: Petr Cech
Defenders
2 of 5
Hector Bellerin vs. Bacary Sagna
In this battle, Arsenal’s past faces off against Arsenal’s future. After signing for the club from Auxerre in 2007, Bacary Sagna was a remarkably reliable performer at right-back. At the time, Arsenal’s need for a new man in that position wasn’t particularly obvious—Emmanuel Eboue was breaking through and expected to take the position on a full-time basis.
However, Sagna’s athleticism and concentration showed up some of the flaws in the Ivorian’s game. Sagna became an integral part of the Arsenal team until 2014, when he left for City on a Bosman free transfer. After a slow start to life at the Etihad Stadium, Sagna has capitalised on Pablo Zabaleta’s injury problems to establish himself as a regular at right-back.
Were he still at Arsenal, the 32-year-old would almost certainly find his place under threat from Hector Bellerin. The young Spaniard’s emergence has been one of them most exciting stories to come out of north London in the last few seasons. After beginning the 2014/15 campaign as the club’s fourth-choice right-back, he ended up starting the FA Cup Final ahead of seasoned France international Mathieu Debuchy.
Bellerin’s blistering pace and attacking intent make him the obvious choice ahead of the ageing Sagna.
Winner: Hector Bellerin
Per Mertesacker vs. Nicolas Otamendi
Per Mertesacker does not fare well in individual assessments. As a standalone player, his flaws are clear; he is no great technician and is desperately short of pace. However, he is a terrific organiser and complements Laurent Koscielny perfectly. In central defence, partnerships are more important than individual qualities, and Mertesacker is a terrific partner.
However, on his own, he is no match for Nicolas Otamendi. The Argentinian centre-half is enjoying an excellent first season in English football having arrived from Valencia in the summer.
Winner: Nicolas Otamendi
Laurent Koscielny vs. Eliaquim Mangala
Thus far, Eliaquim Mangala has failed to live up to his enormous, £32 million price tag. While it’s clear he’s a superb athlete, his defensive instincts are not sharp enough to avoid some of the pitfalls of the Premier League.
Laurent Koscielny, by contrast, is as one of the division’s best centre-backs. He has speed, aggression and immaculate timing. What’s more, he can play; when Arsenal bring the ball out from the back, Koscielny is able to instigate passing moves or launch counter-attacks with thrilling dribbles up the field.
Winner: Laurent Koscielny
Nacho Monreal vs. Aleksandar Kolarov
Nacho Monreal should inspire someone like Mangala. After a difficult start to life in English football, he has become one of the most consistent performers in the Premier League. A spell at centre-half last season appeared to toughen him up, and he is now strong in the air as well as tenacious on the ground.
However, he will never match the attacking threat offered by Aleksandar Kolarov. As well as being a solid defender, Kolorov is also blessed with a devastating left foot. He can get to the byline to whip in teasing crosses or shoot from long range or set pieces. It makes him a uniquely dangerous full-back.
Winner: Aleksandr Kolorov
Deep Midfielders
3 of 5
Mathieu Flamini vs. Fernandinho
In ideal circumstances, Arsenal would have Francis Coquelin in this position. Coquelin has been in fantastic form for a full calendar year, but the Gunners have been robbed of his services until the spring by an untimely knee injury. In his stead is will be elder compatriot Mathieu Flamini.
Flamini is a decent squad player, but he is no more than that. Brazil international Fernandinho is a far more accomplished midfielder, capable of an impressive array of technical tricks as well as destructive defensive play.
What’s more, as the younger man—the City man is 30, and the Arsenal man is 31—he gets about the pitch better than Flamini. There’s no real contest in this particular matchup.
Winner: Fernandinho
Aaron Ramsey vs. Yaya Toure
For a long time, Yaya Toure was the quintessential Premier League midfielder. Combining power with grace and imagination, he terrorised defences by breaking forward from his deep starting position.
Aaron Ramsey is now seeking to emulate that. Having been restored to the middle of the park after the injury to Santi Cazorla, the Welshman is showing Arsene Wenger how productive he can be.
There are signs Toure’s powers may be on the wane. Ramsey, however, is going from strength to strength. If he can lock down a position in central midfield, he could soon define that role as Toure once did.
Winner: Aaron Ramsey
Attacking Midfielders
4 of 5
Joel Campbell vs. Kevin De Bruyne
In ordinary circumstances, Joel Campbell would not be near this starting XI. However, injuries have presented him with the opportunity to stake his claim, and he has performed well enough to edge ahead of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the Arsenal squad hierarchy.
Nevertheless, he cannot hold a candle to Kevin De Bruyne. The £54 million summer signing is enjoying a fantastic debut season with City in the Premier League. He has much of David Silva’s creativity and guile but with the added bonus of an eye for goal. De Bruyne has been an instant hit and one of the division’s most impressive performers in 2015/16.
Winner: Kevin De Bruyne
Mesut Ozil vs. David Silva
These are two of the most gifted footballers to have ever graced the Premier League. David Silva’s invention is key for City, but at the moment, it is impossible to look past Mesut Ozil. Fifteen Premier League appearances this season have yielded 13 assists. The German is more consistently creative than any other player in the country.
He’s also showing signs of adding a goal threat to his game. In recent weeks, Ozil has been spotted inside opposing teams' penalty areas far more frequently than he was was when he first arrives on these shores in 2013.
Ozil is better than Silva. In fact, on form, he might just be the best player in the Premier League.
Winner: Mesut Ozil
Alexis Sanchez vs. Raheem Sterling
What a matchup this is between two players blessed with speed, skill and an eye for the spectacular.
Sterling is a massive prospect who has hit the ground running at Manchester City. However, he’s not yet managed to be as consistent as Alexis Sanchez, who is undoubtedly one of the world’s finest football talents.
The very fact Alexis is expected to start this game tells you something about his importance to the Gunners. He only returned to training after a hamstring injury in the last couple of days, yet he is expected to be thrown straight into the fray.
That will alarm Manchester City, who found out what the Chilean is capable of in this fixture last season. On that occasion, Alexis beat Joe Hart with a brilliant side-footed volley. Only a fool would bet against him making a similarly spectacular impact in this fixture.
Winner: Alexis Sanchez
Olivier Giroud vs. Sergio Aguero
5 of 5
Olivier Giroud is arguably one of the Premier League’s most underrated attackers. His lack of pace means he is not perceived as an elite-level striker, but his numbers are impressive. His intelligent moment and aerial power make him a constant menace to English defences.
However, he is no match for Sergio Aguero. The Argentinian is exactly the kind of striker those Gunners fans unconvinced by Giroud would love Arsenal to recruit. He has speed, skill and devastating finishing ability.
The fact Aguero is back in training and ready to face Arsenal could prove to be a huge factor in deciding the winner of this match. Arsene Wenger will know that any defensive lapse is likely to be punished by the clinical Argentina international.
Manchester City will not be as concerned about Giroud. Although he is in excellent form, his one-paced style is easier to contain. Great players decide big matches, and City will hope their talisman of a forward can provide the winning touch at the Emirates Stadium.
Winner: Sergio Aguero
Conclusion: This composite XI from these two teams gives Arsenal six players and City five. Will that give the Gunners the edge in this title showdown? Let us know your thoughts—and your picks—in the comments section below.
