The Blues v/s The Reds: Player Battles

18 Yard Box's Rishabh Ghai analyses the various battles on the pitch in this titanic clash between Chelsea and Liverpool.

Its almost been two years since Liverpool's former talisman Fernando Torres left for their bitter rivals Chelsea. Although it happened a long time ago, the scars of his departure have not yet healed. Both Torres and Liverpool have been on the same path. A path of decline where both are not performing like their old selves.

The clash between the Spaniard and his former employers is always one to watch out for. But there are still some interesting battles on the pitch which can turn the tie on its head. The last League meeting between the two sides had ended in Liverpool having the last laugh by routing Chelsea 4-1.

18 Yard Box has a look at the various battles on pitch.

John Terry V/S Luis Suarez

Liverpool's man in form will go against the Chelsea legend John Terry. Arguably one of the best defenders in the Chelsea lineup, Terry returns to Premier League action after his 4 match ban. However, his task will not be easy. Marking Suarez is the most difficult thing for a defender to do in the Premier League and terry will be doing just that. The ability of the Uruguayan to drop deep to take the ball from the midfield and run directly at the defenders is a headache for even the best of centre backs. Not only this but should Terry give away any free kick on the edge of the area, Suarez will be ready to pounce on it. NImble footed, the only disadvantage that Suarez has is that due to his so called 'diving' antiques in the previous games. A real foul on him goes against him as a dive. Terry will be aware of this and will look to exploit this side of the game too. 'JT' returns to action from a 4 game ban for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand. He would love to put the past behind him and get the monkey off his back by putting in a good show on Sunday night. He will have a tough task in his hand. However his tackling abilities along with his aerial abilities should be enough to keep Suarez at bay. He just needs to be careful of Suarez's turns which he makes near the by lines. If Terry can keep the Liverpool marksman under check then Chelsea have will have won half the battle. A tough one to call, but Terry's experience could just prove useful for Chelsea.

Eden Hazard V/S Glen Johnson/ Andre Wisdom

Glen Johsnon returns to action after an injury lay off. During his time on the treatment table the defensive duties on the right were given to the new young star of Liverpool Andre Wisdom. Although he did well to impress, playing the experience of Johnson might be a lucrative offer for Brendan Rodgers. The pacey full back has done well ever since he left Chelsea to join Liverpool and has been a mainstay on the right irrespective of Kelly being another option. However, it remains to be see if he starts because if he does then he will have a quite a task on his hands. Keeping Hazard quiet will require some doing but being a fast runner himself, the pace should not be a problem for the English right back. The only problem will be the cute cut-ins which Hazard makes. Johnson will have to be on his toes to win this battle. The young Belgian whizkid can be said to have a matured head on young shoulders. Ever since his arrival at the Premier League he has been simply sensational for the Blues. The Kop defenders, especially Glen Johnson, will have to be weary of his pace and skills. The direct play which he uses get at the defenders reminds us of a certain Crisitano Ronaldo for his time at United. Having got the skills, Eden Hazard surely has in him to beat Glenn Johnson.  It remains to be see how much fuel will Johnson have in his tank and should he start how well he gets his game back. Considering the option of Wisdom starting looms larger, this area of the pitch might well belong to the Belgian.

Fernando Torres V/S Daniel Agger

Securing the services of Daniel Agger by offering him a lucrative contract is one thing Liverpool have done right. The left footed centre back has gone on to become one of the top defenders in the Premier League and has been having a good season alongside Martin Skrtel. His job of the day would be to keep his former team-mate Fernando Torres  under check. The hard tackling defender, Agger should not have much problems dealing with the Chelsea front man but might come under trouble should any of the wide players of Chelsea (Mata or Hazard) cut inside to cause problems. Being good in the air, Agger can deal with the long balls all day long. An excellent reader of the game, he chooses his opportunities burst forward from his defensive position and send a long range shot at goal.  Having a season of contrasting fortunes, Fernando Torres, having found his name on the socresheet for Chelsea earlier on, has returned back to the miserbale form he carried on last season. Better than his previous ones at Chelsea, he has not been able to replicate his old form which carried on with pride wearing the Liverpool colours. Going against Agger will be a tough job as he would love to prove a point to his old team. His nimble footed movements alongwith his understanding with the fellow Spaniard Mata could be the key for him to unlock Liverpool's defense. His heading and shooting abilities had been witnessed during his time at Liverpool. This could be just that game which could turn the tables for him as a goal against his former club would do wonders to his confidence. However, at this point, based on form, there is only one winner. We can surely expect Torres to have a tough night at the Bridge against Liverpool.

Written By,

Rishabh Ghai 

Rishabh is a writer for Goal.com India, International (all English editions) and an Editor and writer for 18 Yard Box 

Follow Rishabh Ghai on Twitter

Weekly Feature: Premier League's Underperforming XI

18 Yard Box brings to you the weekly dose of Premier League's Underperforming XI.

The Premier League’s most dreaded list is out again as 18 Yard Box looks for this week’s most disappointing players. This week was full of scintillating action, superb goals, penalty misses and even red cards but one team stood out in contributing four of their players in this list. Here has a look at the names which forms the Worst Premier League XI of the week

Underperformimg XI 

Julio Caesar (Queens Park Rangers)- GK

The Brazilian international goal keeper had a poor game against Reading. He didn’t do enough to stop the goal from Reading and his goal kicks were wary as most found their way into the crowd rather than his team mates. Clearly a poor show after his heroics last week against Arsenal.

Andre Wisdom (Liverpool)- RB

The young English defender has been one of Rodgers’ regular starters at right back and though his performance was better than last week it was still lacking in some aspects. He was responsible for not marking Cabaye at the far post from Ben Arfa’s cross. He also squandered chances on the attack as he failed to deliver a single decent cross from the flanks.

Fabriccio Collocini (Newcastle United)- CB

The Newcastle centre back who is generally rock solid at centre half was clearly troubled by the sheer pace and guile of Luis Suarez. He was fortunate not to give away a penalty after he tumbled the Uruguayan in the first half and was found lacking when Suarez equalized for Liverpool. His evening finally ended with a straight Red for a malicious foul on Suarez.

Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal)- CB

The Belgian centre back has been a sensation since his move to the Emirates but has dropped his form this season. The Arsenal captain showed no signs in leading from the front in the clash against Manchester United as his fatal control of the ball costed his side to fall behind in as early as three minutes. Allowing Evra to get in front of him for the second goal further diminished Arsenal's chances of a comeback. 

Andre Santos (Arsenal)- LB

There are poor defenders and then there is Andre Santos. The Brazilian left back has found it difficult to cope up with the speed of the premier league and his misery continued this week as Antonio Valencia took him to the cleaners. He couldn’t create much down the flank while attacking and his crossing was poor to say the least. Only the return of Kieran Gibbs can spare him more blushes.

Oriol Romeu (Chelsea)- RDM

The Barcelona academy graduate was handed a rare start this season against Swansea and he couldn’t make good use of this opportunity as he was poor in the middle of the park. He was unable to link with Hazard and co. and had a few slip ups which eventually saw him being substituted by his coach. It is unlikely he will feature in more games this season if he doesn't perform in sync with the potential he has.

Nuri Sahin (Liverpool)- LDM

Arguably one of the most gifted and yet the most frustrating midfielders in the premier league. The Turk had his usual flashes of brilliance followed up with clumsy challenges, mishit passes and the eventual substitution. Clearly he has been underperforming practically every week.

Lukas Podolski (Arsenal) - LW

The Arsenal hitman has come under great scrutiny after delivering a patch of cocky performances. Having no pace and trickery to get behind the defenses, Podolski was again a flop in the game against United. After the departure of Robin Van Persie to United Podolski has done very less to fill in that gap and his poor form comes as a surprise for everyone considering his overawing record for the German national side.

Sebastian Larsson (Sunderland)- CAM

A brilliant playmaker and dead ball specialist, Seb Larsson has found it difficult to play in centre of the park for the black cats under Martin O’Neil. The Sunderland midfield itself has been disappointing all season and Larsson has been particularly poor. He just couldn’t create chances for his striker and didn’t get too many free kicks to make his mark on the game. His defensive performance wasn’t too great either.

Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal)- RW

His team mate Jack Wilshere may have been the talking point of the evening but it was clearly Ramsey who had a poor match against United. Playing out of position on the right wing against Patrice Evra was always a challenge for a player who lacks pace, guile and dribbling ability and Ramsey disappointed one and all.

Fernando Torres (Chelsea) - CF

The Spaniard has been a shadow of his former self since his move to Chelsea but after a brief revival of form he has returned with a lackluster performance against a weaker team like Swansea. He couldn’t find chances up front and was kept on a leash by the Swansea defenders. The rare scoring opportunities were also wasted as his team ended the game with a draw.

Written By,
Pranav Shenoy

Pranav is a Writer and Editor for 18 Yard Box.

Weekly feature- 18YB's Rising Star of the week: Raheem Sterling

Ever since his arrival at the big stage, Raheem Sterling has taken the world by storm. He is our this week's Rising Star of the Week

At just 17 years of age, Raheem Sterling is already a star for Liverpool fans. With scintillating pace down the left of their midfield, he already is being looked upon as the next big thing which will take Liverpool back to the top of English football. 

18 Yard Box has a look at this promising youngster who can be a fascinating prospect for years to come, both for Liverpool and England or Jamaica whichever he choses.

Raheem Sterling- Liverpool's new prodigy

Rags to riches- A wonderful story

Coming from a small town in Jamaica which can be described one of the most deprived areas on the whole island, Sterling’s story from rags to riches is almost complete. He just needs to be on this track and Liverpool’s rise back to the top might just coincide with his rise to the top.

Having been brought up in the narrow lanes of London, with QPR developing this young prodigy since the age of 10, he has always been the centre of attention with Jamaica’s national newspaper hailing his quick progress. He was there by signed by former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez for a paltry sum of £600,000 raising to £5 Million depending on the number of first team appearance he makes.

Sterling playing against Arsenal while Downing and Cole warmed the bench

A great spot by Rodgers which was missed by KD

Although immediate results were not something which was expected, the acquisition is showing results for current gaffer Brendan Rodgers. The amount of faith he has shown in the young winger has been tremendous and the way he has reinstated his faith by classy performances is even more delightful for fans and his team mates alike.

At a position where last season’s costly purchase Stuart Downing not performing up to standards, why Sterling was not called up by Dalglish, only he can tell. His raw pace and flair is something which they hugely missed last term and only if was played regularly, what could have been!

Sterling making his appearance for England

Plenty of options on the international fronts for Sterling

With the level of his performances absolutely top class, and with so many years to go in his playing career, Liverpool and England can certainly return to the top of football tables unless he decides to choose his career options elsewhere (he can also choose to play for Jamaica as he was born there, although he has appeared for England U-17 an U-21 teams, while making an appearance on the bench for the senior England side).

Playing Style

Sterling has always been a direct player. With good pace on the ball and even better dribbling ability, he has showed he is fearless to run at the defender. His balance on the ball is good but improvement has to be made on his bulkiness, which will come over the years. With agile, intelligent movement and awareness of the ball, Sterling appears to be on the right path for glory.

Playing alongside him used to be an embarrassment for players who were much elder. His nutmegs and sudden change in pace used to be surprising for fellow players and fans alike. He used to be inconsolable when his team lost even when he played great. His mentality is his strongest attribute. 
A type of player "for whom you’ve just got to roll out the red carpet and give him a platform to perform" as his ex- coach at QPR describes him. 

In his 11 appearances this season, Sterling has already scored one goal with a couple of assists and has certainly proved to be a handful for defenses.

Hopefully for Liverpool, his scintillating form will continue through out the season which could help Liverpool to greater things.

A fearless poacher who does not give up and runs directly at the defenders as if to tell them, "guys you dont exist for me". This is Liverpool's new young prodigy- Raheem Sterling.

Click on the above video to witness the magic of Liverpool's new starlet.


Written By,
Aman Arora

Aman is a contributor for Sportskeeda, Goal.com India and also a Writer and Editor for 18 Yard Box. 

Follow Aman Arora on Twitter

A Red letter day: Player Battles at the Devil's lair

As United welcome Arsenal in what is anticipated as a mouth watering clash, the battles in the middle of the park are too hot to handle. 18 Yard Box picks out three important battles that can turn the tide of the match.

Usually this clash has a certain enigma attached to it. But over the course of a few years the clash has just been  a hurdle for United to cross in their quest for a silverware. To add to that, the mutual respect for the managers has increased and has taken what can be said as the X-factor out of the game.

The usually strained relations between the two clubs have been softened up by the recent departure of Robin Van Persie from London to Manchester. Or have they?

18 Yard Box analyses three key battles on the pitch which can decide the outcome of this match.

Antonio Valencia V/S Andre Santos

One of the key battles on the pitch will surely be this. If United do play wingers, the Arsenal left back will have a tough time controlling the likes of Antonio Valencia and Rafael on the right wing. The Gunners second choice left back has been forced into action due to an injury to Kieran Gibbs. Lapses in concentration is what he cannot afford  but it is what he usually does, Santos has not been in his best of forms. Known to take gambles on the pitch, he does not possess the pace to get back should he get beaten by his opposition. Great going forward, he surely has his task cut out for himself as he faces who can be mentioned as one of the best 'Natural' wingers the Premier League possess. Came in unknown, Anotonio Valencia was handed a tough job of filling Crisitiano Ronaldo's shoes. Although not known for scoring much, Valencia possessess terrific pace and crossing abilities which can exploit the best of defenses. Backed up by the in form Rafael, against Santos, Valencia should have a gala time. His pace alongiwith his eye for a perfect pass inside the box may lead to Arsenal's downfall. United would really be smart if they exploit Santos and here there is only one winner possible.

Wayne Rooney V/S Jack Wilshere

The return of Jack Wilshere after 17 months could give Arsenal the much needed impetus to win the game at Old Trafford. Against QPR he looked as if he never was an absentee from the field and had that 'burst' which saw him dominate the likes of Xavi and Iniesta. The only trouble he will have is to adjust to the new midfield duo of Arteta and Cazorla at Arsenal. Wilshere, being technically gifted, has the ability to go forward as well as come back to defend when his team is struck on the counter. He also adds the creative edge to an Arsenal team who lacked plenty going forward last time around at Old Trafford. A clean tackler, he will have to be on his toes when he faces his compatriot Wayne Rooney.  Rooney has been in terrific form and has surely been Manchester United's talisman since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. The arrival of Van Persie has caused the spotlight to be shared but United need him more than they need Van Persie. Being a centre forward, Rooney has done well in the CAM role assigned to him. Kagawa's injury has forced him to take that position and he has been his side's linchpin since then. Quick on his feet, it looks like Rooney has surely taken some passing lessons from Paul Scholes. His vision has improved and he will give a tough time to Wilshere. He and Van Persie could turn into a lethal combination and should Wilshere fail to mark his man, Rooney could spell danger in the Arsenal box. This clash of the number 10's is surely going to be an enticing one and Rooney might just win it, being the experienced amongst the two.

Thomas Vermaelen V/S Robin Van Persie

Its a story of foes turned friends turned foes. This clash bears testament to the fact that nothing is impossible in football. After two years of playing together, Robin van Persie and Thomas Vermaelen will be on the opposite sides yet again. One a world class defender and the other a world class centre forward, its a clash between the former and the present Arsenal skippers.  Vermaelen has not shown his true colours as of yet this season but going against his former team mate might spur him to rise to the ocassion. Missing the last visit to Old Trafford last year due to an injury, he would be out there to make amends as Arsenal go into this game with the best defensive record in the Premier League. Having an excellent reader of the game in the form of Per Mertesacker beside him, Arsenal have all it takes to stop the talismatic Dutchman. Van Persie's move to a new home has not caused a drop in hi performace. Leaving where he left off last year, he is the leading goal scorer for United at present. His ability to go deep to pick up the ball in the midfield could see him and Rooney exchange passes and cause havoc in the Arsenal defence. To add to this the deliveries to Van Persie from the wings will be much better than he used to get at Arsenal. Its a tough one to call but if Arsenal play smartly then they could keep him at bay.

You can also read the preview of Manchester United V/S Arsenal by clicking here.

Written By,

Rishabh Ghai

Rishabh is a writer for Goal.com India, International (all English editions) and an Editor and writer for 18 Yard Box .

Follow Rishabh Ghai on Twitter

Manchester United V/S Arsenal:Preview

A revenge maybe on the cards when Arsenal visit the Red Devil's lair after a year since the 8-2 humiliation. 18 Yard Box has a look at this titanic clash we have on our hands in an early Saturday kickoff.

One of the oldest & fiercest rivalries of English football, this is one fixture everyone looks forward to and a game which never ever disappoints the football fan. Last season produced a match which left everyone thinking whether is rivalry is over for the good. The 8-2 mauling of the Gunners was the least of their concern when Robin Van Persie jumped the ship to join the exact same team who humiliated them. It has not been a pretty season for Arsenal in terms of losing out on both on field and off field activities to United. The recent give and take of respect between Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex might have taken the sting out to the tie but this tie usually has everything for the neutrals as well as the club faithfuls.

18 Yard Box analyses the strengths and weaknesses of both sides ahead of the game in what promises to be a great match in prospect.

Manchester United

After a stuttering start to the campaign, which began with a loss at Goodison, Manchester United are back where they belong; top of the table, just a point behind Chelsea. With Rooney & Van Persie forming a formidable and lethal combination upfront, The Red Devils seem to be on their way to glory this season.

Strengths

Coming into this match having scored 7 goals in the last two games, attack seems to be United’s best defence. Also, the victory against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, although under controversial circumstances, has given Sir Alex and his team a much needed boost to their campaign. The absence of Kagawa might be a blessing for them as Rooney has been outstanding in that position just behind the striker.

Add to it, Van Persie’s pin-point delivery from set pieces and here you have side capable from scoring in anyway and from whichever position you like.

Deadly Duo!

Weaknesses

Conceding early goals has been a problem for them this season. Although the United spirit to come back hasn’t shown the severity of this problem, but such mistakes in big games might cost them vital points and probably the title itself. Also, United have quite a few players injured. The fans will be hoping that there are no more additions to that list. The defence which is boasting the likes of the experienced Rio Ferdinand and his young prodigy Johnny Evans has come under great scrutiny. The return of Smalling might help United shore up their defense as Arsenal's midfield will look to exploit it in every possible way.

They have to think hard to stop the leaks at the back.

Arsenal

Having had an astonishing yet not so outstanding start to their campaign, the Gunners seem to have lost their way. With two losses over the past three games, it certainly doesn’t look great for Wenger’s boys. However, they now visit Old Trafford after that historic comeback against Reading in the Domestic Cup. Yes, that game was just a cup match involving fringe players from Arsenal, but then, the mental boost and sheer resilience which they showed to come back from 4 goals down and win the game, should give them enough confidence going into this fixture.

Strengths

Arsenal look pretty decent in all three departments. With the absence of first-choice keeper Szczesny, Italian goalkeeper Vito Mannone has grabbed his chance by both hands by delivering impressive performances regularly. 

Perfect partners in the middle of the park

It’s the midfield duo of Arteta and Cazorla who have been pulling the strings for the Gunners. With return of Jack Wilshere, Arsenal will probably get the much-needed spark ahead of the big tie.

Weaknesses

One of the prime reasons for Arsenal’s inconsistency has been their inability to finish off opponents even after dominating the entire game. They lack that finishing move. The strike-force has been disappointing. If there was any occasion for Olivier Giroud to step up to the plate and deliver then there won’t be any better one than Saturday. With the tag of being “replacement” for Robin van Persie still hovering over his head, Giroud can silence his critics once and for all by winning the game for his team. Another area of concern is the left back position. The absence of Gibbs has hurt them dearly as Santos seems nothing but average, probably below average.

It's time he rises to the occasion and delivers!

Importance of a Win

It’s no-brainer that both sides will go all out for those 3 points. A win for United will further cement their position at the top, while a win for the Gunners will see them leap-frog some places in the table and put them back in title contention. Also, Arsenal fans would be awaiting this game for more than one reason. They will be looking forward not only to avenge that woeful 8-2 demolition of last season but also to prove a point that they are still more than capable a side to defeat the best teams in the world without Robin Van Persie.

The Final Verdict

Expectations are high from both sets of fans and the 80,000 plus crowd at Old Trafford will further add to the anxiety. An open ended game which will see Arsenal holding the ball for ample of time and United thriving on counter attacks, could boil down to a moment of madness like a red card or a miraculous performance by one of the many stars out there. The temperatures will rise in the red side of Manchester and if the Old Trafford does become a cauldron of sound then Arsenal might be over awed. A 2-1 win for the home side seems likely but a shock defeat could also be on the cards.

Written By,

Pranav Byatnal.

Pranav is an editor & writer at 18 Yard Box.

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Top 5 comebacks in the history of football- In Pictures

Amongst many, 18 Yard Box chooses 5 top comebacks +1 in the history of club football

The recent happenings of the Capital One Cup has made everyone believe that nothing is impossible in football. A team could be 4-0 down yet could stage a staggering comeback.

In light of such events 18 Yard Box relives some of the famous comebacks in the history of club football through pictures. 

1. AC Milan 3-3 Liverpool (Champions League Final, 2005)

Amazing Liverpool stage a stunning fightback

2. Newcastle United 4-4 Arsenal (Premier League, 2011)

Tiote's thunderous long ranger rallied Newcastle from 4-0 down

3. Vlf Bochum 5-6 Bayern Munich (Bundesliga, 1976)

Gerd Muller's night to remember

4. Manchester City 3-2 QPR (Premier League, 2012)

Aguero's title clincher will always be remembered by the City faithfuls

5. Tottenham Hotspur 3-4 Manchester City (FA Cup 4th Round replay, 2004)

10 man City upstaged Tottenham in the second half

and due to public demand, the last but certainly not the least

6. Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich (Champions League Final, 1999)

Two goals in the dying 3 minutes ruined Bayern's day

Written By,

Rishabh Ghai

Rishabh is a writer for Goal.com India, International (all English editions) and an Editor and writer for 18 Yard Box .

Follow Rishabh Ghai on Twitter

Will Guardiola fit at Arsenal?

18 Yard Box looks at whether the prospect of Guardiola joining Arsenal is a possibility or just a rumour.

Having been on a sabbatical since the conclusion of the 2011-2012 editions of the Spanish and European season, Josep Guardiola’s future has been one of the most discussed in the managerial merry-go-round surrounding some of the biggest clubs in the world.  

"Wait I am coming!" But where?

With speculation rife that Roman Abramovich was readying the groundwork including transfer policy, tactics and new recruits to get Guardiola to manage the Blues; it looked as if he would be tempted by the Russian billionaire. But that was not to be as he was intent on having the sabbatical he so dearly craved. With further reports of him replacing Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford doing the rounds, this is one appointment everyone will be eager of next summer. Surprisingly, the team who has a playing style most familiar to the Catalan giants, Arsenal have never been mentioned in his probable destinations. This is one combination which would be another match made in heaven, at least most would think so. One of them is certainly former Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez

Marquez told Cadena SER: "I didn`t yet have the chance to meet Pep in New York. We`ve been in touch before, to help him move here.” He will soon return to the game. I think he`ll go to England. He`d be perfect for Arsenal."

As soon as one hears what Marquez had to say about his former boss’ potential new team, one question that crosses our minds is whether the Arsenal board is ready to let Wenger depart. A manager, who built the Gunners with all his heart, set the sound financial model of the club for years to come, that along with maintaining the yearly Top 4 finish and a subsequent Champions League participation is a tough man’s job.

Transfers

One could blame Wenger for his transfers, which, even after having the funds available, have not made investments in top talents thus not showing the minimum amount of losses FFP permits you to (a certain Roman Abramovich uses the technique). This would have allowed him to at least fight for players such as Eden Hazard, Oscar and would have convinced the likes of Fabregas, Nasri, Persie and Song to stay. But that feeling is one lost by his fans having seen him buy sheer class players in the form of Lukas Podolski, Santi Cazorla and in past seasons Thomas Vermaelen, Per Mertesacker, Gervinho and of course Mikel Arteta.

As far as the transfers are concerned Guardiola has been inconsistent in the market, spending on players with a number of them failing to impress and settle. Dmytro Chygrynskiy, Adriano, Maxwell, Hleb were all his signings and most of them never reached their full potential, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sold despite having a great first season which was mostly due to his problems with Messi, while Affelay was injured for the best part of his Barca career. David Villa and Seydou Keita were the signings which played huge parts in the successes brought about by their glorious manager. This compared to Wenger who has over the years bought players young and moulded them into some of the best in the world.

Would Kroenke give enough transfer funds to Pep

Midifield glory

A more apt comparison would be the style of play. With technically gifted playmakers in the form of Xavi and Iniesta alongwith Messi, Guardiola inherited sheer quality and he made the most of it by building the team around them. His tactics were master class and suited the philosophy the players were brought up with. One thing he will be missing for sure is the quality of the famed academy La Masia. Promoting players of top quality like Sergio Busquets, Pedro, Thiago Alcantra, Tello will certainly be a thing of the past considering Arsenal’s academy is nowhere near to producing top talent like Barca’s.

Barca's holy trinity

Although With Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla and Diaby at Arsenal, he has quality available and  with one or two smart buys, this side could be capable of replicating the breath taking football Barcelona plays with Pep’s tactics. The only thing assured is the assurity of trophies, which of course is only in the mind.

Style of play different on English soil

Not only this, but the “false 9” which, Guardiola has used in the past two seasons be a difficult nut to crack in England. A more fluid 4-2-3-1 which Wenger uses well, with speedy wingers is something that Guardiola is not experienced at and could take time to adjust to. But implementing his style and tactics is something Guardiola is good at, having gained the respect of players and coaches alike.   

Wenger's style play completely different than Pep

Comment: Guardiola certainly looks likely to arrive on British shores come next summer, and should he arrive at the Emirates, he might be the stimulus that brings quality to the side with the Board having declared that funds are available. Seven years without a trophy, it is the question of Wenger’s belief to prove that kids alone can get him victories and may be that is why getting Guardiola is one gamble worth taking for the Gunners.

Written By,
Aman Arora

Aman is a contributor for Sportskeeda, writer for Goal.com India and also a writer and editor for 18 Yard Box. 

Follow Aman Arora on Twitter