One Man Army: why Manchester City and Arsenal cannot afford to allow their South American soldiers to fall

Sergio Agüero and Alexis Sánchez seem to be doing the brunt of the work, but both City and Arsenal need their strikers free from injury if they are to keep climbing the table.

Agüero and Sánchez set to start tomorrow Photograph: Graphic: Sky Sports

Another game, another goal. This has been the recurring theme for Agüero and Sánchez for weeks now, as both forwards have picked up the slack left by the incompetence or injury of their teammates. The expectations of Man City and Arsenal at the beginning of the season have been upheld only through the ruthless brilliance of the two danger men from South America, and both teams need them fit and firing now more than ever. The fact that Arsenal and Man City’s squads are plagued with injury, combined with Chelsea’s unstoppable form and the demanding Christmas schedule, means that neither side can afford an injury to their top goal scorer if they are to realistically challenge for the title. 

Even at this point, only a third of the way through the season, if it were not for the 19 goals of Agüero, City would be all but out of their Champions League group and worryingly far from Chelsea in the table. Take away Sánchez’s total of 13 goals and Arsenal would be tussling with the likes of Aston Villa and Everton for a place in the top half of the table. Not only this, but Wenger would be facing a bona fide coup rather than a relatively mild banner of discontent seen in the stands. 

The reason why both teams have consistently struggled this year is the same reason why both teams cannot afford Agüero or Sánchez to suffer a dip in form or, worse still, an injury. The lack of form or fitness of many key players has resulted in both the South Americans often carrying their teams to victory. Although Everton and Stoke City will be keeping an eye on the two deadly forwards tomorrow, when City welcome the Toffees and Arsenal visit the Britannia Stadium, best believe Pellegrini and Wenger will be too, albeit for different reasons.

Agüero and Sánchez have been impressively consistent this season. Photograph: Squawka

Agüero’s hat-trick against Bayern Munich ten days ago seems to have reinvigorated City. Having scored 10 goals in their last 3 matches, half of which have come from the little Argentinian, Man City appear more confident on the pitch. Their most recent performance in the Premier League, against Sunderland midweek, was their most convincing of the season. Unsurprisingly, Agüero hammered in two in that match, which now makes it 14 goals in 14 Premier League games this season for him. However, both he and Man City must err on side of caution due to the number of injuries in the side and the heavy winter schedule underway. With Yaya Touré unfit for tomorrow’s clash with Everton, and David Silva, Stevan Jovetic and Vincent Kompany still out through injury, City once again will be looking to their deadly front man for inspiration. Pellegrini must be careful of overusing Agüero though. The striker will face an Everton side determined to bounce back from their disappointing defeat against Hull City and, by this time tomorrow, he will have already played 20 matches in all competitions this season. If City are to stay within reach of Chelsea, Agüero needs to stay fit and on form. Samir Nasri’s impressive performances of late should help lighten the attacking load, whilst City’s medical staff and physios will be doing their upmost to keep Agüero off the injury table. City will also need their makeshift centre back pairing to perform too, as Dedryck Boyata and Martín Demichelis at times struggled against Hull’s attack. With the prospect of battling against in-form Romelu Lukaku, it will be interesting to see whether Pellegrini opts for Eliaquim Mangala, Boyata or even Bacary Sagna to partner Demichelis at centre-half.

Agüero will look to make it 15 goals in 13 PL games tomorrow Photograph: Infographic: WhoScored

Provided Agüero does not sustain an injury against Everton, he will most certainly start in City’s must-win game against Roma on Wednesday too. Even though Kompany may be in the squad and Touré will have gained some fitness in time for their trip to Rome, City face another challenging game that requires Agüero to lead the charge yet again. If City intend to hold on to second spot in the table and be in the pot for the last 16 of the Champions League, he must continue to find the net.

Arsenal’s story reads akin to that of City’s this season, as they have been reliant on their own prolific pint-sized forward. With Chelsea seemingly out of reach now, Arsenal remain optimistic of finishing in their usual top four spot this year thanks to the heroics of Alexis Sánchez. Like City, Arsenal’s most recent win in Europe against Borussia Dortmund at home looks to have reinstalled some much-needed belief in the Gunners’ dressing room. Since then, Arsenal have recorded 3 clean sheets in as many matches (helped by the reintroduction of Laurent Koscielny at centre back) and Sánchez has added another goal to his already impressive tally of 13 for the season.

Arsenal, similar to Man City once more, have suffered many injuries, and have been saved time and again by their Chilean workhorse. Not only have they encountered problems in defence (at times fielding Nacho Monreal and Calum Chambers at centre-back) but also in the attacking third. Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Mesut Özil, Olivier Giroud, and Theo Walcott have all been out injured at some point this year. Though the absence of all these players may seem to allow Sánchez to shine, the lack of playmaking talent such as Özil only goes to emphasise his truly incredible and vital form this season. If his work rate or goals were not impressive enough, the fact that Sánchez has been directly involved in 50% of all of Arsenal’s goals this season should underline his importance to the London side.

Sánchez has been Arsenal's star man this year with 9 PL goals Photograph: Infographic: WhoScored

His attacking prowess will be firmly tested tomorrow against a physically imposing Stoke City though. As Wenger still expects a finish of at least 4^th at the end of the season, and having witnessed the injuries that come from a clash against Stoke, Wenger will hope his main man will help his side to victory whilst steering clear of any potentially risky challenges. What’s more, this game comes only a few days after Wenger declared his caution over Sanchez’s fitness, saying that “he is in the red zone” and with supreme athletes like Sánchez “you never know how far you can push it”. Sanchez has already played 27 games this season and, considering Arsenal’s injury record, Wenger must keep him wrapped in cotton wool if Arsenal are to achieve this season’s aims.

Even though City and Arsenal are glad to see Agüero and Sánchez doing so well, they need them to stay fit and would like some more contribution from rest of the team. The underwhelming season so far from key players last year like Touré and Ramsey have undoubtedly contributed to the reliance on Agüero and Sánchez’s superhuman efforts. It is hard to imagine, though, that the front-runners for player of the year are not enjoying their run of form. Although City and Arsenal would prefer to not so heavily rely on both players, Agüero and Sánchez would not have it any other way.

How the bittersweet international break could sway the clash between two fading heavyweights

Arsenal and United face each other for the first time this season on Saturday, but how has the international break helped and hindered both teams? 

The first meeting between Arsenal and Man United in the 2004-2005 season is arguably the most renowned and memorable match in Premier League history, as the ‘Battle of the Buffet’ saw two English football giants going punch for punch, with United controversially running out 2-0 winners and ending the Gunners' 49 game unbeaten streak. Their feisty and heated encounters were the pinnacle of British sporting entertainment, personified in the dugout by the imperious Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, and on the pitch by the midfield generals of Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira. Fast forward 10 years though, and we are presented with the first contest this season between these erstwhile behemoths; a contest that now smells more of desperation and fear than expectation and confidence. Both sides go into Saturday's match in poor form, as they have secured only two victories each in their last 4 league matches. It seems like the international break arrived at the perfect time for Arsenal and United, allowing them to lick their wounds and regroup for a fortnight. With the internationals now over, which of the two has recovered better for Saturday’s encounter?

English representatives from both Man United and Arsenal gave a good account of themselves in England’s 3-1 wins over both Slovenia and Scotland. Wayne Rooney found the net 3 times and seemed much more comfortable up front than he has been in recent times, indicating that he is finally getting used to holding the captaincy of both club and country. Louis van Gaal will be needing his captain at the top of his game to overturn their rivals in the hunt for a place in the top four. Luke Shaw and Chris Smalling also featured, but Shaw is a doubt for the weekend having sustained a knock against Scotland.

Rooney, Wilshere, and Welbeck have all returned to duty in fine form. Photograph: Sky Sports

The signs are even more encouraging for Arsenal. Danny Welbeck, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere were hugely influential in both matches, with Welbeck nabbing two goals and Chamberlain scoring and providing some much needed power to England’s attack. Significantly, Wilshere produced two man-of-the-match performances from the deep midfield position. After two encouraging displays from Arsenal's English contingent, Wenger will, most probably, choose to start all of these players on Saturday. It will be interesting to see though, as Daniel Storey speculates, whether Wilshere can be as effective for Arsenal in the deep lying role as he is for England. There seems to be increased pressure on Wenger to play Wilshere in the same holding midfield role preferred by Hodgson. With Arsenal continuing to look lightweight in midfield and leak goals against the more beatable teams, Wilshere has been touted recently by pundits as being a viable option in defensive midfield. Though Arteta will return to the squad for Saturday, Wenger may be tempted to let Wilshere sit alongside Flamini, protecting the back four, and allowing Ramsey, Chamberlain, and Sanchez more freedom. Though certainly aware of his side's defensive frailties, Wenger will no doubt be looking to capitalise on van Gaal's makeshift defense too, and Wilshere playing as a deep-lying playmaker may give the Gunners an advantage in this respect.

Outside of England duty though, United may feel like the international break for their foreign stars has been a hindrance to their preparation for the battle against their old rival. In spite of van Persie’s goal and assist in the Netherlands’ 6-0 drubbing of Latvia, United have been left with more problems than solutions as Shaw, Di María and De Gea are all awaiting late fitness tests for Saturday after suffering knocks in the last week. Furthermore, and perhaps most worryingly, is the absence of Daley Blind through injury, which van Gaal confirmed “will be a long story…but not six months or something like that”. Blind has begun his life at Old Trafford well, keeping things simple when in possession and, more importantly, protecting United’s fragile back four when not. Though it was Di María’s transfer from Madrid to Manchester that grabbed the headlines in August, the capture of Blind has worked well so far for van Gaal's side. Blind has gone about his business effectively, and United’s defense has most certainly benefited from Blind’s defensive contribution, with van Gaal’s side winning half the games Blind has started, and none that he hasn’t. Van Gaal did provide a silver lining for United fans though, as the vacant defensive midfield role left by Blind should be assumed by Michael Carrick, whom he declares "is ready to play".Though Carrick has not played too often this season, he should provide some much needed defensive support to Fellaini in the middle.

Daley Blind has contributed well to United's defensive stability. Infographic: WhoScored Photograph: Infographic: WhoScored

Unfortunately for United, Wenger will seek further encouragement from his south American superstar Alexis Sánchez who, after scoring for his national side yet again, has 8 goals in his last 6 matches for club and country, and 14 already for the season. The indefatigable Sánchez seems to show no signs of losing his goal scoring form, and Wenger will be looking to his star player to take advantage of Blind's absence.

The only worrying development from the international break for Arsène Wenger is the continued poor form of Arsenal's star player of last season. Once again Aaron Ramsey failed to make an impression this week, this time for Wales, as they drew against Belgium in qualifying for the 2016 Euros. Having recently admitted to a lack of fitness, and having suffered a minor injury earlier on in the season, Ramsey hasn't produced the same confident performances as last season, even after a promising start to the campaign that comprised two goals in the first two games. It is possible to attribute this poor form to Ramsey's position on the pitch and this point is discussed in Wenger's recent interview on beIN Sport. Arsenal fans last season saw Ramsey score 16 goals, the majority of them often the result of late surging runs from deep. This season, however, Ramsey has been too eager to get further up the pitch, often ending up next to or past the striker, in an attempt to create goals and get on the end of moves. Incidentally, Arsenal fans saw earlier in the season how a change of position can affect the form of a player. After making the switch from his preferred number ten role to the left wing, Mesut Özil received much criticism for his dip in form. Though confidence and fitness undoubtedly have something to do with Ramsey's underwhelming season thus far, maybe so does playing slightly out of position, where it is easier for him to neglect his defensive duties.

Wenger has noticed Ramsey's increased tendency to push forward. Photograph: beIN Sports

It has already been a physically difficult season for Arsenal and United, and it will be revealing to see how both sides deal with the unfit Ramsey and the absent Blind in a bid to get back up the table. It seems that the international break has swayed the bout in Arsenal's favour, as they appear better equipped to deal with their problems thanks to their on-song Englishmen. As Chelsea and Man City kick off two hours before them on Saturday, at home to West Brom and Swansea respectively, it is likely that more pressure will be heaped upon what is an already vital match in the battle for a top four spot. The local bragging rights held by Arsenal and United for so long may have passed over to the blue side of their respective cities, but they will both give their all this weekend to come out victorious and kick start their campaign to once again become the footballing giants they were a decade ago.