THERE has been much talk this season about how far Manchester City are ahead of the rest.
Not just in terms of points but the football they play.
The plaudits have been justified because some of their passing and movement going forward is as good as we have seen in the Premier League era. They have sorted out their deficiencies at the back to turn into title favourites. Yet some of the attacking football Manchester United produced at Arsenal on Saturday was as good as anything City have put on this season.
This statement triggered the expected outrage on Twitter from those not of a red persuasion in Manchester. But I was not saying they are as good as City, because based on the consistent levels of performances this season so far, they have not been. What I am saying is that on an occasion like Saturday’s, away from home against an in-form Arsenal, at times they certainly were. So any thoughts City have of a runaway title success, leading to years of domination, must be tempered.
United will be pursuing them and if they win the derby on Sunday it will really be game on. They have the best goalkeeper in the world, an improving defence, and going forward against Arsenal their one touch play was as good as anything City have produced. I tipped them for the league this season and, while that may look a forlorn hope, I am not giving up yet. This is a clinical side and the statistics from Saturday’s match prove that, even if they were weighted in Arsenal’s favour. The Gunners had 75 per cent possession, 33 attempts on goal to eight, 15 on target to four and 12 corners to one.
Yet of those four shots, United scored three with Jesse Lingard getting two — that tells its own story. I was lambasted on Twitter by Arsenal fans who claimed it was all down to David De Gea that United won. And? He’s there to stop shots and did so brilliantly. The goalkeeper is as important as the main striker, so when he pulls off something remarkable it needs to be bracketed in the same way as a great goal.
Once again, United’s efforts made no inroads into City as they maintained their eight-point lead. Yet there have been signs recently — away at Huddersfield and at home to Southampton in midweek — that teams are finding ways to stop them, despite Pep Guardiola’s complaints at such tactics. What on earth was that all about with Nathan Redmond in midweek?
West Ham also made Sunday's contest a lot tighter than people expected, with another late City goal settling it. Of course, the one team who can really knock them off course is United. They will know what to expect from Guardiola’s side. His style will never change and why should it? The way they pass through teams is fantastic. But Mourinho is a man who tends to adapt to different challenges. His side blew Arsenal away in the opening minutes but equally they can play a patient game.
He will have a plan for Sunday, although unfortunately will have to do it without Paul Pogba after his red card on Saturday.
From The Sun
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