Manchester City Return Will Be Strange But Special — Arteta

By Daily Sports on June 12, 2020

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says taking Arsenal to face his former employers Manchester City will be a “strange” occasion, but is hopeful of taking advantage of an empty Etihad stadium.

The Gunners’ first game back, which features in a double-header on Sky Sports on June 17, sees Arteta meet former boss Pep Guardiola for the first time since leaving City to take the reins at the Emirates.

Arteta spent four years on the coaching staff at City, after retiring there as a player in 2016.

Arteta told The Football Show: “It is going to be strange, I can’t deny that. I know everybody there and spent four magnificent years with those players and staff.

“I am really excited as well, I can’t wait to start competing again and doing what we love most which is to play football.

“It is going to be very special for me and I am looking forward to it.”

Arsenal’s next four matches in all competitions are away from home, but will be played without spectators due to a ban on mass gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic.

The absence of supporters appears to have lessened home advantage since the restart of action in the Bundesliga – only 21.7 per cent of matches have been won by home teams, down from 43.3 per cent before the shutdown of play in March – and Arteta is hoping that can help his side in the coming weeks.

“We have got a good measure with what is happening in the Bundesliga at the moment,” Arteta said. “I hope it is going to help.

“Football is about passion and energy and when you lose that, it is balanced much more.

“But, I know how strong they are and what they are able to do if they are all switched on so we have to be well prepared to go there and win the game.

“It better be right that playing away is an advantage because we are away four times in a row.”

Arsenal’s preparations for the league’s restart have been mixed. They thrashed Charlton 6-1 in a friendly but followed that up with a 3-2 loss to Brentford.

“We are trying different things and give minutes to all the players,” Arteta explained.

“We’re getting adapted to playing in an empty stadium as well and not getting that energy from the fans.” (Sky Sports)

•PHOTO: Mikel Arteta 

Source Daily Sports

Posted June 12, 2020


 

You may also like...
Al Ahly set up CAF Champions League final...

Switzerland beat Serbia 3-2 reach W’Cup last 16...

Family Mourn Sala after Body in Channel Wreckage...

Casillas Returns To Real Madrid In Foundation Role...

Chelsea Chief Granovskaia And Tuchel Working On 13-man...

NFF frees Giwa FC players

 

Latest News CAF awards: Ajibade, Nnadozie, Edo Queens bag nominations Lagos SWAN, PAACC Hold SWAN Day At Golfview Hotels, Ikeja Crisis looms as Eagles’ form raises AFCON, W’Cup concerns Ex-Nigerian Super Falcons player handcuffed, children assaulted as police storm Anambra Football Academy Sports NFF, teammates console Nwabali on father’s death Abia Govt hails Nigeria Olympic Committee over staging an admin course in Umuahia Libya deliver Eagles 2025 AFCON ticket Eagles battle Cheetahs for 2025 AFCON ticket Yellow Greens gear up for T20 W’Cup qualifiers Tyson tips Fury to beat Joshua Sadiq absent as 22 Eagles train in Abidjan Eagles’ striking trio hot for Cheetahs, Amavubi clashes

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,163 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,307 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,370 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,015 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,948 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,904 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,742 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,311 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,366 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,054 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,506 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,931 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media