Pep Guardiola exclusive: Inverted full-backs explained | Why he trusts Rico Lewis FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from the Premier League match between Manchester City and Aston Villa. Indeed, the graphic below reveals how opponents have attacked City this term and shows no sign of clear weakness, with attacks coming down both flanks equally - while passes leading to goals have been fired from wide and central, deeper areas in equal measure, too. The radar graphic below compares styles and efficiency across a raft of attacking metrics and reveals close parity almost across the board - with the exception that City attempt far more crosses and Arsenal run with the ball far more frequently.

Secondly, because I like to play with wingers high and wide. Thirdly, because I am a big fan of the short passes so if you have more players from behind that you can bring into the middle I think you play better. "These are the reasons why, " he tells Sky Sports. The brilliant Bernardo was City's player of the year in 2019, stepping into the position vacated by the injured Kevin De Bruyne. His rare adaptability means that he may now find himself asked to assume Joao Cancelo's responsibilities instead. It is made possible because he is smart enough to know when to 'cheat', allowing Guardiola to borrow a player from that back line to provide the extra man in midfield. He can leave the wingers wide, keep Erling Haaland high, knowing Bernardo is there to knit the play. At Spurs, it was Lewis who moved inside, that so-called inverted full-back in their 3-2-5 formation when in possession.

When is Arsenal vs Manchester City? Prime Video(Opens in a new tab) is hosting the top-of-the-table fixture between Arsenal and Manchester City on Feb. 15:Arsenal vs Manchester City — 7:30 p. m. GMTThe game will be shown live on Prime Video, with the stream available to watch from 6:30 p. m GMT. Simon Thomas is hosting live from the Emirates Stadium with Alan Shearer, Eni Aluko, Gael Clichy, and Roberto Martinez providing plenty of insight.

He also knows that if Lewis has the ball nicked off him for the only goal in a 1-0 defeat then he will be accused of 'overthinking' it once more. But whether the decision to deploy players in that hybrid role, shuffling between left-back and the centre of midfield, is deemed the right one or not, Guardiola is clearly doing it for a reason. In conversation with him at the club's training ground, he offers three. Image: Bernardo Silva's touch map in Manchester City's 3-1 win against Aston Villa "Firstly, because of the quality of the players.

Arsenal vs Man City: Prem title decider is guaranteed

Arsenal vs Man City: Should Mikel Arteta start Leandro Trossard over Gabriel Martinelli? Arsenal have topped the Premier League table since November with a skeleton squad, but should Mikel Arteta make changes to his regular XI when his side face Manchester City on Wednesday? Pep Guardiola's outfit have held runner-spot for two months but could leapfrog the Gunners with a win at the Emirates on goal difference - although Arsenal would still have a game in hand. Arteta confessed his squad was "very, very short" back in November and has proceeded to stick with a regular XI this season with minimal changes to cater for injuries - in the absence of key players Thomas Partey, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gives injury updates on Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Jesus and says contract talks with Bukayo Saka and William Saliba are ongoing.

How to watch Arsenal vs Manchester City for freeDeal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Learn more about how we select deals. WATCH PRIME VIDEO FOR FREE: Prime Video is hosting the top-of-the-table clash between Arsenal and Manchester City on Feb. 15. You can watch for free with a 30-day trial(Opens in a new tab) of Amazon Prime. Something big is coming to Prime Video. It's actually bigger than big. It's the absolutely massive clash between Arsenal and Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.

A clear battle ground will be in the middle of the park, where the visitors edge their hosts for regaining possession. Rodri and Partey are set to play key roles in the outcome of winning the midfield battle, while Jorginho also offers considerable midfield mettle for the Gunners. Guardiola exclusive: Inverted full-backs explained | Why he trusts LewisAt Tottenham, it was Rico Lewis. Against Aston Villa, Bernardo Silva took on the role. The pre-match graphics had them at left-back but on the pitch they spent much of the game alongside Rodri in midfield. Why is it that Pep Guardiola does this? The Manchester City coach knows that his tactics will be praised, pored over and mimicked when successful.

Arsenal v Man City Premier League kick-off time, channel

Guardiola's assessment was that his simple passing would bring control with the ball and his recovery pace would maintain that control without it. On that occasion, in a vitally important game in the Premier League title race, events did not play out that way. But do not expect the coach to stop believing that this is a young player with all the traits - mental, physical, tactical and technical - to perform the role. Lewis has been dubbed 'the Lancashire Lahm' because it was the Bayern captain Philipp Lahm who was asked to play this way by Guardiola almost a decade ago.

9km/h - which is faster than City right-back Kyle Walker and bettered only by Erling Haaland's 36. 2km/h. Key battlegrounds Gary Neville claims that Pep Guardiola is still unsure of what his best starting XI is and suggests that Arsenal can 'damage' Manchester City on Wednesday night if Mikel Arteta's side play to their ability. In terms of players going toe to toe, such as Martinelli vs Walker, Guardiola threw a customary curveball in City's 3-1 win over Aston Villa last week by lining his side up without recognised full-backs in a 3-2-4-1 - as he did against Spurs - and Arteta is unlikely to anticipate how Guardiola will set up his side on Wednesday.

The technically sound full-back moved inside to build the play for his team. Though Guardiola points to the quality of the players being a key element in persuading him to attempt this tactical ploy, it seems reasonable to assume that Dani Alves would have been capable at Barcelona. It took time for Guardiola to arrive at his answer.

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