London (AFP) – Hoping to break its knot against Manchester City, the English Premier League title holder, and climb to the top of the standings, Arsenal will engage in a fiery confrontation on its London soil with coach Pep Guardiola’s squad on Sunday in the eighth stage.
Published on: 06/10/2023 – 09:41
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Tottenham is counting on a draw in the summit match, preceded by a victory over its humble host, Luton Town, on Saturday, to temporarily take the lead.
While United searches for a brake on its rapid fall into the pit of bad results, with an easy match at home against Brentford, Liverpool, fourth and angry at the unfair refereeing decisions, defeats Brighton, sixth, in a strong match.
Arteta hopes for Saka’s recovery
After being close to clinching a first league title in two decades, Manchester City destroyed Arsenal’s dreams in the final straight last season.
The Citizens’ return included two wins for City over Arsenal (3-1 and 4-1), as part of a clean series of seven matches against Arsenal in the league that began since the end of 2020.
During his coaching period at Arsenal, Spaniard Mikel Arteta trailed behind his former “teacher” and compatriot Guardiola with an embarrassing goal score of 3-19, despite winning the honorary Community Shield match at the beginning of the season on penalties.
What made the match even more heated was that City suffered its first loss this season, after six consecutive victories, against Wolverhampton (1-2).
But the Gunners may play the match without their first star, Bukayo Saka. The winger, who started the last 87 league matches, limped during the surprise loss to French club Lens in midweek in the Champions League.
On the other hand, City, the European, League and Cup champion last season, will miss its Spanish defensive midfielder, Rodri, to complete his three-match suspension.
Crisis after crisis
While Manchester United was waiting for this period of the season to reap one win after another, it faced one crisis after another after its results deteriorated.
He hopes not to lose a third time in a row, after the painful first against its guest Crystal Palace, then Galatasaray in Turkey in the Champions League.
Dutch coach Eric Ten Hag’s players are seven points away from the final fourth place qualifying for the Champions League, after losing four times in their first seven matches, for the first time in the history of their participation in the Premier League.
Brentford has only beaten United once since 1938, but it came last season with a crushing score of 4-0.
After an encouraging season, Ten Hag did not expect this deterioration in results, in light of successive injuries, errors by his new Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana, and the fasting of striker Marcus Rashford, who scored thirty goals last season.
Brighton to tame Liverpool’s anger
Liverpool travels to the south coast of England to meet Brighton, and is angry about the video assistant referee’s error that cost it a goal against Tottenham and thus its first loss this season, 1-2.
Liverpool’s German coach, Jurgen Klopp, called for a replay of the match, realizing that the chances of this happening are slim.
On the other hand, Brighton achieved great results by defeating the likes of Manchester United and Newcastle 3-1, but suffered a tumultuous fall to Aston Villa 1-6 in the last round.
His exceptional coach, Roberto De Zerbe, admitted that his team is playing a “different sport” this season, in light of the injuries plaguing his team and the busy schedule resulting from its first European season.
“I’m not talking about the result, but about the different attitude and passion that we will show until the end of the season,” the Italian said.
© 2023 AFP
2023-10-06 07:41:07
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