THE SHARPE END: Arsenal can beat City if Rice can be the midfield man

10/07/2023 Soccer

THE SHARPE END: Arsenal can put an end to the dirty dozen against Man City if Declan Rice can be the main midfield man while Rodri serves a suspension for Pep Guardiola’s side

  • Rodri serves the final game of his three-game suspension against Arsenal 
  • The game is a chance for Declan Rice to show he’s the main midfield man 
  • Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off! ‘ 

If you want to be considered title contenders, you really should be able to beat your main rivals at least once in 15 attempts. And not lose to them 12 times in a row.

Alas, this is where Arsenal find themselves going into their game against Man City. The Gunners have not beaten City in the Premier League since 2015 and have lost the last dozen.

Yet they will rarely have a better chance of ending that streak than on Sunday with City missing the key cog in their machine.

Rodri serves the final game of his three-game suspension, during which time City have lost the two games he’s missed.

What a chance for Declan Rice to show he’s the main midfield man.

What a chance for Declan Rice to show he’s the main midfield man against Man City

Since the start of the 2020-21 season, Rodri has touched the ball more than anyone else 

Of all midfielders this season to touch the ball at least 400 times, only Rodri has given the ball away with a lower percentage of them than Rice

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There’s a reason why Rodri’s so important for Man City. 

Since the start of the 2020-21 season, Rodri has touched the ball more than anyone else, played more passes than anyone else and — even though Man City have more of the ball than anyone else — won possession more than anyone else.

In short, he wins City the ball and then makes sure they keep it.

So, too, does Rice. Of all midfielders this season to touch the ball at least 400 times, only Rodri has given the ball away with a lower percentage of them than Rice.

Only six, including Rodri, have made more progressive carries than Rice while only four have played more forward passes while under pressure.

While City have lost five of 15 Premier League matches without Rodro, they have lost just five of their last 67 league games when he’s played. 

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, launching with a preview show today and every week this season.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

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