Arsenal may have failed in their bid to lure over the likes of Yannick Carrasco, Ivan Perisic, and Christopher Nkunku to the Emirates, while they remain worryingly short of cover in defence, but they did have success on Deadline Day after FINALLY securing the loan signing of Denis Suarez from Barcelona.
The 25-year-old adds an alternate and versatile attacking element to the Gunners, and is likely to be used on the wing to start with, although he can be employed in a more central position.
Arsenal fans will be hoping that they get a glimpse of Suarez’s star quality this weekend when they make the trip to the home of defending Champions Man City – a club Suarez was previously on the books at (2011-13) – who are wounded by their shock mid-week defeat to Newcastle.
Meanwhile, Arsenal overcame Cardiff to propel past Chelsea into 4th spot on goal difference, with the London rivals locked on 47 points after 24 matches, Man Utd are a further two points behind.
Arsenal, out of both domestic trophies, will be determined to finish in the top-four for the first time since 2015/16, but if they are to keep their place in the Champions League spots they must overcome a hoodoo that has plagued the club since January 2015.
The Gunners have alarmingly failed to beat one of the ‘traditional top-six’ clubs away in the league in four years.
Yes, FOUR years.
In fact, it was the Etihad in which they registered their last away win at a top-six side, beating City 2-0 on 18th January 2015, thanks to goals from Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud – their only victory away to the Citizens since 2010.
Meanwhile, Unai Emery’s men haven’t won a Premier League away game of any sort since November, failing to triumph in their each of their last five attempts, which includes a 5-1 thrashing at Liverpool.
On the plus side, Arsenal will draw confidence from the fact that City have already lost double the amount of league games (four) than last season (two), and should they slip up against the Gunners it will be their fifth loss in 10 league games, having lost only four of their prior 72 matches.
City have only kept two clean sheets in their last nine league games, and their former player Suarez will be looking to exploit any cracks in their defence should, as expected, Emery give his new recruit the chance to shine on Sunday.