Arsenal gave Manchester City a glimpse of tougher season
By Daily Tab24
Category: Football
Updated: Aug 7, 2023
Time: 7:04
This season will be tougher than last season; not necessarily because of the changes that would extend stoppage time, but the preparedness of Premier League teams. It will not be a walkover; contenders cannot afford to switch off for a minute and Arsenal Football Club rightly passed the message during their cotton raiser with Manchester City Football Club.
The peg back came in 101st minute of the game, strange eight minutes added time, plus two more minutes wasted on emergency involving head collision between Walker and Party who was expected to leave Arsenal, but managed to keep a starting birth in the game yesterday.
The coast was clear for the record of nine consecutive loss against Manchester City, but Trossard managed to pull them back on level, courtesy of a deflected goal, off Akanji, the go-to man of Pep Guardiola.
The sting back came at the death; a time nobody in blue wanted it. you cannot win more than we won” Pep bragged “ it’s impossible. But the challenge is how hungry we are and if we still have the desire to defend what we won” he added. He knew his players must not rest on their laurels.
The game started well for his team who took possession; a way of playing, his team is accustomed to. but Arsenal fought back and took charge of the proceedings before half time. First half was a game of two elephants, but Arsenal looked more like the youngster pushing hard to topple the mainstay. Their pressing was remarkable but finishing was reminiscent of average team against a top team.
“There are a lot of teams that are going to fight for everything and the challenge is massive for us” Pep said and he was absolutely right. Liverpool have reinforced the very midfield department that had been Jurgen Klopp’s engine room. Their neighbor have also done considerably in the transfer market with less exists. Tottenham should not be written off; what Pep said might be a mind game, but reality points to him establishing a simple fact. Chelsea will revamp.
Pep was quick to downplay the importance of the game, to possibly play a psychological defense for his team, but the couple of seasons he lost FA Community Shield is different from this season. It’s his first line of defense to protect his team, but falling to the pressure of retaining one goal lead is a bad omen for an experienced team as his.
“We lost three in a row! But we won the Premier League” he reminded the press, to avoid using the defeat to play a negative game or impact his squad. But irrespective of what the message is; Pep knows his team needs a refreshing, mentally and physically, if they must go again. The team reached the peak of their success last season and to replicate it would be a harder job than attempting it once.
In defense of his team, he cited the number of games they played last season and short period of rest they had. He also praised the performance of his team, which was good but behind the cameras, he certainly have a big job to do.
Burnley is a good start for a team still finding their rhythm, but Pep should absorb the message – Arsenal test is a glimpse of a tougher season that starts shortly. There won’t be respect or usual business. Barriers will be broken, the champion will be pushed to the wall and he should better be prepared for what is coming. More stoppage time means more burden and the intensity and belief in contending teams will shine and sought to outshine that of the champion.
