Mikel Arteta has been warned against setting up Arsenal as a counter-attacking side against Man City (Getty)
Gael Clichy believes Arsenal would make a ‘terrible mistake’ by playing on the counter-attack against Manchester City in their Premier League clash this Sunday.
Mikel Arteta’s side travel to the Etihad Stadium one point ahead of their title rivals and on a run of eight consecutive wins in the Premier League.
City, however, have a formidable record at home winning 16 of their 20 matches in all competitions and are yet to be beaten at the Etihad Stadium this season.
But Clichy has urged Arsenal to start on the front foot in Sunday’s game against Pep Guardiola’s side.
‘Arsenal need to have the courage to go to their place and say, ‘we are going to be in your face’. Not many teams have managed this, the only two are Liverpool and Arsenal,’ Clichy told Super 6.
‘I think it would be a terrible mistake for Mikel to try and play on the counter and leave the ball to Manchester City.
Arsenal are a point clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League (AFP via Getty)
‘You can let them have some of the ball because they’re at home, but you must play your own game.
‘Arsenal cannot lose on Sunday. A draw will still keep them ahead of City in the table, but I am not sure a point is enough against a team like City.
‘You want Arsenal to go and try and get the three points, because even with a five-point lead right now in the season, this isn’t a guarantee of anything.
‘I think if there is one club that can match what City have been doing over the last decade, it’s Arsenal.
‘The way they have built the team, the process they have started a few years ago with Mikel Arteta coming in; I think it’s beautiful to see.
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‘You want them to be successful because it’s a team that deserves to be at the top. They need to win the title to validate the work they have been doing, we all know that, but it’s nice to see a fresh, young team with hunger competing against a team that have been here for years.
‘The weakness in the Man City team is when they are in possession, they often lose the second ball and can be hurt on transition.
‘Players like Saka and Martinelli can hurt City on the transition. Keeping the ball and using the space in behind could be the key. If there is one team that is capable of going there and getting the points, it is Arsenal.’
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