It is first versus second within the Premier League this weekend, as defending champions Manchester Metropolis tackle their greatest title rivals Arsenal on the Etihad Stadium.
Having come near ending Metropolis’s reign within the final two seasons, the Gunners will probably be hoping that their new summer time additions will probably be sufficient to lastly get them over the road in 2024/25.
In an effort to show their title credentials, they will first need to undergo Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Metropolis facet this Sunday.
Here is the 4 key battles which may outline the sport on the Etihad.
The perfect defender on the planet vs the perfect striker on the planet?
That is what these high of the desk Premier League clashes are actually all about.
Each Erling Haaland and William Saliba head into this recreation in arguably the type of their lives too. Haaland has been in demonstrative type within the first few weeks of the 2024/25 marketing campaign, netting a moderately ridiculous 9 objectives in simply 4 league video games so far.
On the different finish, Saliba has been as spectacular, marshalling the Gunners defence in quite a lot of strong outings – notably final week in a 1-0 win over north London rivals Tottenham.
The defender can also be one of many very, only a few that acquired the higher of Haaland on two events final season, maintaining the striker off the scoresheet in each Premier League clashes.
Can he do it once more on Sunday? We’ll quickly discover out.
With Martin Odegaard out of motion for an prolonged time period, it appears to be like like Kai Havertz will probably be requested to drop again into an attacking midfield function.
And due to that function change, he’ll be tasked with going head-to-head with the perfect defensive midfielder – and probably finest all-round participant – on the planet in the present day: Rodri.
Robust gig, eh?
Mikel Arteta will probably be hoping that the Germany worldwide’s intelligent and fixed motion will trigger Rodri some issues.
Arsenal’s ‘Starboy’ was many (together with myself’s) choose to win the 2024/25 participant of the 12 months award, and to that, he must be a match-winner within the two video games in opposition to champions Metropolis.
Standing in his approach will probably be Croatia star Josko Gvardiol. The defender has been completely impressed on the left-hand facet of Metropolis’s fluid defence because the flip of 2024, however will definitely have his work reduce out for him when up in opposition to Bukayo Saka.
For simply what number of objectives Metropolis have scored to this point in 2024/25, the dearth of output from their large gamers has been fairly shocking.
Jeremy Doku is one among their large choices that, regardless of beginning three video games and having Haaland to intention at within the field, has but to register a single objective contribution so far.
The Belgian is more likely to get the prospect to begin in opposition to Arsenal due to his tempo and trickery, however he’ll want so as to add some finish product to his recreation if he will get something out of the not too long ago returned Jurrien Timber.
