You may think it crazy to suggest that the game between Arsenal and Manchester City this weekend is crucial to the title race.
It’s an early-season game and, of course, both teams could recover from defeat at this stage.
But psychology plays such a big part in football these days and an autumn defeat at home to Manchester City could leave Arsenal once again hitting that glass ceiling.
Arsene Wenger has again opted not to add steel to his midfield over the summer.
The signing of Danny Welbeck seems to have gone down well but Arsenal still lack a real brute in the centre of the park. Arsene doesn’t want a destroyer.
Perhaps Abou Diaby can avoid injury this season and stake a claim as midfield general.
But Wenger seems prefer players with great technique to those who are better suited to tackling and breaking things up. Sometimes you can find players with all those qualities but it’s not easy. And, since Vieira, Arsenal have struggled in that department.
As ever, Arsenal do look like a good side this season, but we still worry that they could be overrun in the midfield by the sheer power of Manchester City.
The game possibly comes at a good time for Arsenal as City are showing indifferent form at the start of this season, having lost at home to Stoke a couple of weeks ago.
We all know that Arsenal haven’t faired well against the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City over the last few years. The really powerful teams can run them off the park.
So, in many ways, this is a vital game for Arsenal. Win and Wenger’s continued lack of investment in the defensive midfield will be partly vindicated. But if they lose the game the same old questions will be raised about the Frenchman’s apparent blindness towards the nuts and bolts of his team – a lack of graft to complement the craft.
Arsenal fans – has the team progressed and can it now deal with the more powerful Premier League rivals like Manchester City?
