It’s a massive midweek in the Premier League, even if Amazon are over-egging it a bit. Also this week: Man Utd go to Barca, and Conte takes Spurs – missing a midfield – to Milan…
Game to watch – Arsenal v Manchester City
‘The game to end all rivalries’ is how Amazon are selling it. Which is demonstrably bullsh*t and a needlessly odd claim. The significance of first versus second in the Premier League title race doesn’t require the manufacture of a grudge that doesn’t exist.
Arsenal and City have been the country’s two best teams this season, the table tells us that much. But both are feeling pretty hard done by right now. The leaders by a VAR f*** up that cost them what could be two huge points come the end of the season, while City are licking their wounds and steeling themselves for a fight against the authorities over their bookkeeping practices.
The consequence of Lee Mason’s mini meltdown in a Stockley Park broom cupboard on Saturday is the opportunity for City, stodgy since the World Cup, to haul themselves level with Arsenal at the top of the table and unseat them at the summit for the first time this season.
Arsenal have looked off-colour themselves in recent weeks, with a defeat at City in the FA Cup one of three games without a win for the Gunners. Will Mikel Arteta react? Not likely. Arsenal have stuck rigidly with their plan this season and Arteta will see little reason to change tact now, even if their first major wobble of the campaign has come at the most inconvenient moment.
Christ knows what Pep Guardiola might have in store for us on Wednesday night. The City boss may have to formulate a plan to cope with the absence of Erling Haaland, which at least gives the rest of us the chance to assess the recent scalding takes that City are better without their ridiculous striker.
Regardless, two teams as fine as these, both seething with injustice, ought to be compulsory viewing.
Team to watch – Manchester United
Barcelona versus Manchester United at the Nou Camp… the Super League deviants’ wet dream. But Thursday sees the two fallen giants scrap over a place in the Europa League knockout stages.
Both sides have had a rough few years but they clash this week while getting back on their feet domestically, with Barca top of La Liga and United on the fringes of a title race that looked even more unlikely than Arsenal’s back at the start of the season.
Erik ten Hag has barely put a foot wrong while straightening…
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