Manchester City V Arsenal Preview: The Only Thing I care About Is If Arsenal Will Wear Yellow

One thing on The Team Colors:

I would like for us to don the yellow away colors for the nonsensical reason that the brilliant yellow just makes the array on show more dazzling. With all the fluid gel like inter positioning between players, it is simply a treat for the eye. Being 4388 miles (7062 km) away [Manchester, England to Nairobi, Kenya- a 11hr 5 min flight via Amsterdam]  and devoid of the pleasures of the latest in 3D Television technology,  this makes a difference.Besides, yellow being the traditional away kit color, reignites beautiful memories like the Champions League Santiago Bernabu Clash where Cesc composed football musical akin to a Mortzart production.

While the yellow shirt reflects the Gunners' past, the redcurrant pinstripes and cuff-style sleeves echo design features further back in the Club's heritage to its Woolwich Arsenal days.

The reverse of the club badge on shirts reveals the motto ‘Victoria Concordia Crescit', which translates as ‘Victory Through Harmony', while redcurrant shorts and yellow socks complete the look. 

Courtesy : usa.Arsenal.com 

Two Things On Andrei Arshavin Starting

• Just as it the case with many a genius, the little Russian draws polar reactions: A potent attacking force with the demeanor, stealth and absence of ado- except when he strikes- of a sniper in the battle field, or a uncooperative seemingly unwilling solider weakening the strength of the collective spirit that bands an army together-the "You die, I die mentality" ? In Arsenalii's team sheet, he gets the nod on the left attacking role not because of the statistics; but because in big games, match fitness comes calling first ahead of all else. I believe he is in a better frame than Theo Walcott at least mentally.
• Given the choice of Arshavin coming off the bench vis a-a vis Walcott, with Walcott on the bench, you have more options in the squad. This is because you can make have all the ingredients needed for a break through when disadvantaged/ in a deadlock:- The fresh pace of Theo coming in for defensively employed Diaby and the match aged mind of Arshavin should combine to some welcome end. Instead of Arshavin coming off the bench, it's better to have Rosicky fulfill the role of  the wild card as he did in the last trip to Eastlands. In this realm, I think Rosicky is a better candidate than Arshavin.

The Tale Of Three Hatricks

• After a reportedly huge spat with his new Manger over selection issues, Adebayor got his chance with the midweek UEFA Cup tie against Poznan, the Togolese fund his boots with a history breaking impressive hat trick. With his three fine goals, he threw his hat in the ring for selection from the choice of there hit men: Italian Mario Balotelli, Argentine Carlos Teves and himself.
• The action packed 4-2 loss at Eastlands early last year made it a hat trick of wins for Manchester City against Arsene Wenger's boys- turned-men (thanks to such and many more experiences) in the recent past. Rior to 2006, the record was 7-0 in favour of Arsenal at the Eastlands.
• With a win over Arsenal, City will make it three wins in a week : 3-2 win over Blackpool away and  Adebayor's maundering of Poznan in midweek making the other two. Arsenal is searching for an away win (1-8 is current dismal record) and also stand to stretch their winning streak to three in a week after beating Birmingham 2-1 at home last weekend and thrashing Shaktar 5-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday at The Emirates.

Four Opinions on the Manchester V City Clash: What They Said 

Arsene Wenger

" I expect them to play De Jong, Barry and Yaya Toure,” he said. “They are three midfielders who can both defend and attack. Even Yaya Toure is as well a creative player, he is not only defensive.”.......The big games are always decided by the first goal...In that match Manchester City scored the first goal and then they took advantage.......But in the big games you have to do first what you do normally. You always feel you are under special pressure to perform exceptionally but it is a matter of just focusing on doing well what you know you can do. We have to relax and play our game......For me, overall Manchester City are a side in the same level as Manchester United. "

Couertesy: Arsenal.com

Roberto Mancini

" We must recover after playing Poznan - Arsenal will be a very different game. They play very well, probably the best team playing in the Premier League, and they won their Champions League game in midweek 5-1......But we want to do good work on Sunday. It is a match between two top squads, and we must have a good balance against them.....We have a good team, but Arsenal have played together for several years, and we want to become better than them....In the end, we can be, but we must work hard because they have been together five or six years. We need them (those extra years) but we have a good chance - it depends on us....I am feeling good, the squad is feeling good, but it is only the start of the season. We must wait and continue to work. When you play every three days, it is a very long season. The game is important for us and for Arsenal "

Courtesy : Official Manchester City website

One Tale Of Two Spanish Boys 

"Cesc and I get on very well, we are good friends. We played together in the under- 17 for Spain and from then on we have become good friends...We talk and text each other. But I won't be sending him any texts before the game, because I don't want to tempt fate - and I hope that I will be passing on my sympathy to him afterwords" !

David Silva On Arsenal Captain Cesc Fabregas

Pundit

"City need to play with Carlos Tevez up front, three holding midfield players and two wingers. They beat Chelsea playing like that and it's the perfect formation for them to use against Arsenal.If they play 4-4-2 against Arsenal then they'll lose comfortably, but if they get the tactics right I think they'll win the game. If you are compact and strong then you can beat Arsenal.I think Arsenal are becoming a bit predictable and you know what's going to happen in this game. Arsenal will have all of the possession, like they did against Chelsea, and they won't look like scoring.I hope I'm wrong, but I think Arsenal have become a little bit too predictable and I think this will be a bit like the Chelsea game.Man City are not a team of kickers, but they're very well drilled and when they play with one up front they know their jobs. If they play 4-5-1 then Man City will win 1-0. If they play 4-4-2 then Arsenal will win by two clear goals."

Former Arsenal Midfielder Paul Merson

  

Five Players

The number of players who scored Arsenal's five goals in the Champions league 5-1 win over Braga.

1. Alex Song (19)  
2. Samir Nasri (42)   
3. Cesc Fábregas (pen 60)   
4. Jack Wilshere (66)   
5. Marouane Chamakh (69)

Six Points 

 The point gap that will stretch from three to six points in case Manchester City win as the bookies expect. With Manchester United seeking a win at Stoke, Arsenal may finish in sixth position in the premier league behind West Bromwich Albion and Tottenham Hotspurs at fourth occupying the last Champions league spot.

Seven Star Hitmen
Number of goals scored by Manchester City captain, Carlos Teves , in the premier league this season making him the joint top scorer in the premier league with Chelsea's Malouda.


History, numbers opinions...... often don't create reality in it's truest form in this unknown called life.Tapping on my keyboard some 7000 kms away , all I care for is that on this day,  Sunday 24th October 2010,  Arsenal players will wear (not put on)  that yellow jersey.

For it's only then that multitude of Arsenal fans in far away cities that have emerged in the desert in the Middle East, those pursuing the American dream, those exploring the promise of the Americas, reviving the fortunes of Africa, learning to roar in the Orients or ushering the cold winds of change in the Northern hemisphere; will reach for that badge and kiss it. Win or lose.

‘Victoria Concordia Crescit'... ‘Victory Through Harmony'