Don’t be fooled: Arsenal are still in disarray and their next opponent will prove it – opinion
Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Denis Suarez plays during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on February 3, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Freddie Ljungberg steered Arsenal to their first victory since he took temporary charge at the Emirates Stadium, by the same scoreline and against the same opposition as when his predecessor Unai Emery recorded his first win in charge.
While the interim boss admitted he is working on a “game by game” basis and there is every chance he may not be in charge by the weekend, whoever is will face an almighty challenge.
Manchester City will be hosts with a point to prove, and, unfortunately for the Gunners, that is when Pep Guardiola’s side are particularly lethal. The Sky Blues have lost four games in the Premier League this season, and each time they’ve responded emphatically, firstly after they were embarrassed at Carrow Road 3-2 by a newly promoted Norwich City, the following fixture Manchester City humbled Watford 8-0.
Shortly after when Guardiola’s side were defeated 2-0 by Wolves, they returned the favour to a high-flying Crystal Palace who had not been beaten at home in the league since City’s last visit. Finally, when the Citizens were beaten 3-1 by Liverpool, they made amends by showing Frank Lampard’s Chelsea that they still had a long way to develop to compete with the best.
Against Arsenal on Sunday, the same feat could well be repeated after Manchester United produced a stellar performance to utterly dominate Guardiola’s side, coming out 2-1 winners. Vengeance will be on the Spaniard’s mind, and if the Gunners perform anything like they did against West Ham, they will be in trouble.
On Monday evening Freddie Ljungberg’s side came out 3-1 winners, but the manner of that victory was less than convincing. All three of their goals were scored in a nine-minute period, but the rest of the display was flat and lifeless, something the weekend’s opponents would act mercilessly against to ensure they didn’t suffer the same fate as West Ham.