Arsenal kick-off 2022 with the first Premier League match of the new year and it does not get much harder than a Man City visit.
Both sides are flying at this moment in time but the big problem for Arsenal is that they always seem to come up wanting when playing against big teams, they seem to do well against the smaller sides just fine but against the big boys, a different story.
Obviously, the Gunners do have home advantage but Mikel Arteta will not be in the dugout for this match, in fact, he will not even be in the stadium and that is a disadvantage for sure.
I doubt very much that this game will follow the pattern of previous Arsenal v Man City matches when it tended to be a one-sided affair in favour of Pep Guardiola’s men.
I fully expect Arsenal to give City a run for their money but considering the form that City are in I cannot see anything other than a win for the visitors.
The question is whether the Citizens can cover the spread of -1, which is rather high for an away side against a top side, which Arsenal is, but if there is one club that can overcome such a spread it is City and that is what I expect them to do today.
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