While there are some who have criticised Manchester City this season their unique blend of pace, power and technical proficiency has already overwhelmed the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United.
With the Blues squaring off against league leaders Arsenal this weekend, a defeat for the Gunners could signal the beginning of the end for London club and see City start to fulfil their obvious potential.
City have been imperious at home this season and will test Arsenal’s title credentials to the limit when the two teams clash at the Etihad Stadium, in what is undoubtedly the biggest game of this Barclays Premier League season so far.
Most people point to league-leaders Arsenal as the team of the season up to now and when their creative trio of Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla are on song, it cannot be denied that they are a joy to watch.
But it has been City’s rampaging home form that has produced the best football in the Premier League this season.
To see teams both out-muscled and out-thought is a rarity in football but it is something Manuel Pellegrini’s team have been doing on a regular basis this season.
Just ask United and Spurs, who were pummelled 4-1 and 6-0 respectively at the Etihad earlier this season.
The Blues play with a devastating combination of brutality and brilliance on the ball, something excavated by three key players in particular.
Vincent Kompany has been back to his domineering best this season and his swiftness of thought after winning the ball is what sets him apart from most defenders in world football.
The way Yaya Toure powers through the opposition from midfield is reminiscent of watching seven foot four inch basketball superstar Shaquille O’Neal dominate in the NBA.
While ‘the beast’ Alvaro Negredo mixes old-fashioned blunt force trauma with invention to rival his Spanish compatriots David Silva and Jesus Navas, as his majestic turn and finish in last month’s thrashing of Tottenham demonstrated.
It would be no great surprise if such devastating combinations prove too much for Arsenal.
Although Arsenal’s league position may suggest they are coming of age this season, the old accusation that they are flat-track bullies remains.
The Gunners have defeated Spurs and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium this season, but these are teams they have always fared well against in recent history. Arsene Wenger’s side have lost just once at home to Liverpool since 2001 and have suffered only one defeat to Spurs at home since 1993.
There are still doubts as to whether this Arsenal team can perform on the biggest occasions as they have lost four of their last five encounters against top clubs in Europe or domestically at the hands of Napoli, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United and Chelsea (in the Capital One Cup).
This is certainly not an accusation that can be levelled at City with Tuesday’s remarkable comeback against Bayern Munich – arguably the best team in the world right now – yet another reminder of the Blues’ penchant for the big occasion.
If Toure and Fernandinho can subdue Arsenal’s midfield magicians Ozil, Cazorla and Kompany can shackle Olivier Giroud then City could run riot again.
The flanks could prove a particularly fruitful route of attack for the Citizens as there are huge question marks over whether Arsenal full-backs Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson (who will play if Bacary Sagna is not fit) are competent enough defensively to cope with the guile of either Silva, Navas or Samir Nasri.
With United seemingly out of the title race, Chelsea remaining unconvincing despite being third and Liverpool’s hopes dependent on Luis Suarez staying out of trouble; a continuation of City’s dominant home form could trigger the charge to the summit of league Pellegrini craves.
The game could not only be the start of City’s ascent to greatness this season but could signal the beginning of Arsenal’s annual implosion.
Image courtesy of Yahoo UK via YouTube, with thanks
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