Why Arsenal now have a midfield unit to rival Man City's

Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 30.

Team analysis - Arsenal

To win at Manchester City on Sunday, for the first time since 2015, Mikel Arteta knows his midfield trio must replicate the high standards they have set in recent weeks.

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Individually and as a collective, Jorginho, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard are in outstanding form for the Gunners.

Arsenal’s new-look midfield marry a tremendous work ethic with composure, drive and quality. They have been performing at a level that should make them competitive at Etihad Stadium.

Robust midfield

In possession, Arteta is still using his favoured 4-3-3 formation, but without the ball the shape has become more robust down the centre.

At the base of midfield, Rice naturally drops in from the left to form a double pivot alongside Jorginho.

As a pairing, they screened service into Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez superbly in October's 1-0 win against City, limiting the pair to 52 combined touches and just two shots.

With hardworking captain Odegaard consistently providing additional support, Arsenal habitually broke up play in the middle before it reached City's forwards.

The Gunners' challenge will be to stay just as disciplined now in the return match, especially when City stretch play and attack in the wide areas. Pulling Arsenal's three-man midfield apart is certain to form part of Pep Guardiola’s game plan.

Protective box of four

When City build from the back, striker Kai Havertz will be joined by Odegaard as Arsenal's first line of defence.

When there is no opportunity to press, they will sit in as twin "false nines". 

Arsenal will not stay passive throughout. When possible, they will harass Man City and attempt to win the ball in advanced areas.

At these moments Rice, and sometimes Jorginho too, will bravely commit to it.

This freeze frame from Arsenal’s 3-1 success against Liverpool highlights how that duo are prepared to jump forward to put the squeeze on.

Arteta has picked Jorginho, Rice and Odegaard together in midfield at home against Liverpool and Man City, suffocating their big rivals on both occasions.

Guardiola’s side produced only four shots, with one on target, and managed an xG (Expected Goals tally) of just 0.48. Liverpool could only fashion a single effort on target from 10 attempts, and had an xG of 0.37.

Across the four Premier League matches in 2024 where Jorginho, Rice and Odegaard have started together, Arsenal have faced an average of just 6.5 shots per match, with an xG Against per 90 of 0.44.

Away from home it will be tougher to contain City in the same way, but the Gunners should take confidence from those previous successes.

High intensity 

A key feature of Arsenal’s impressive victories against Liverpool and Man City was the intensity of their running power, and their physicality.

They outran both opponents by a big margin, and you suspect they will need to do the same at City to take all three points.

As shown below, Arteta’s players stepped up their work-rate in a more high-octane affair at home to Liverpool, compared to the cagier encounter with City.

Super-fit, and nicely refreshed from a welcome 22-day break between fixtures, Arsenal will likely bring a heavy physical output to this pivotal clash.

Arsenal's stats v City and Liverpool's

Leading by example

Odegaard is the trigger for much of Arsenal’s determined running.

The Norwegian covered a greater distance, and made more intensive runs, pressures and transition opportunities than any other player against Liverpool in February.

Arsenal’s entire midfield, including a rejuvenated Jorginho, are guaranteed to cover plenty of ground on Sunday.

Sensing an opportunity to seize initiative in the title race, they will test their City counterparts with an energised display designed to spark transitions.

Distance covered v Liverpool*

*Match rank in brackets

Exposing City's weak spot

Man City have leaked five goals this season from counter-attacks, and despite their ongoing success they have a history of being caught out on the break under Guardiola. 

From such situations, the pace and movement of Arsenal’s wide forwards will be a concern, especially with Odegaard being a master at the art of slipping a forward pass in behind the opposition defence.

Odegaard has attempted 300 passes aimed beyond the offside line, which is 132 more than the closest outfield player for Arsenal, Ben White, on 168.

Most passes aimed beyond offside line*

*Outfield players only

So far this year, Jorginho has also played a series of telling passes in behind for runners, so this is a ploy City will need to deal with.

Across the last nine seasons, Arsenal’s central midfield have often been overpowered and outclassed in this specific fixture, wilting under the pressure of City’s quality in that part of the pitch.

This time it feels different, and far more even. Arsenal's midfield trio are more than capable of making their mark.

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