Gunners to keep on firing
Arsenal and Manchester City are embroiled in a titanic tussle for the Premier League title and both teams are sure to throw everything, including the kitchen sink, at their opponents, so it might just pay to banker them in Saturday’s TAB Soccer Any 13 Xtra where R1-million should be up for grabs.
By Mark Gleeson
This weekend sees the Premier League clubs entering the home straight in the race to the league title as club football returns after the international window.
Manchester City have a game in hand, but their eight-point deficit in the Premier League behind leaders Arsenal is a formidable challenge to overcome, especially with the Gunners not showing any signs of imploding.
Manchester City kick off the weekend’s programme with a tough home tie against Liverpool, who have given them much grief at the Etihad in recent seasons.
Plus, there is doubt about whether Erling Haaland will feature for City as he did not play for Norway during the international break due to the groin problem that he suffered in the FA Cup win over Burnley.
Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez, on the other hand, remained on Merseyside and did not join the Uruguay national team in Asia after suffering a foot injury but it is available for selection.
The Gunners enjoyed their joint-longest winning top-flight run under Mikel Arteta before the international break following six straight victories and can also boast a dominant record over visitors Leeds, but the Whites have been reinvigorated under new manager Javi Gracia.
Arsenal fans will not need any reminding that that while they are unbeaten in their last 13 meetings with Leeds in all competitions, it was a 3-2 home loss in May 2003 that ended the Gunners’ title defence that season and crowned Manchester United champions instead. They will not want that scenario played out again.
In Germany, champions Bayern Munich host Borussia Dortmund in a potential title decider after the latter went one point clear before the break and Bayern reacted by firing coach Julian Nagelsmann.
Bayern appointed Thomas Tuchel in his place and he starts against his old club, where he coached from 2015-17. Tuchel has a reputation for occasional abrasiveness and demands total backing from his employers - a requirement which strained relations at both Chelsea and Paris St Germain, his two previous jobs.
But he does know what is required of him: “The squad is one of the most talented and best in Europe,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to working with this squad. You’re a contender for every trophy with these players. The club’s DNA involves a commitment. Bayern is about winning, also about the way of winning.”