1. Team Defensive Play
Arsenal has been scored on only once in the last four games. This may seem like a big achievement (and in the wins and loss column, where it matters most, it is), but this is a classic case where statistics can be very misleading. Arsenal over the last four seasons have earned a reputation for gifting the opponents goals at key junctures of games. This tendency is alive and well within this team, and while they have been spared by the terrible finishing of the first four teams they have played, the one goal gifted to Southhamton by Szczesny was just too easy to miss. In fact, if you count the Montpellier champions league penalty in mid-week, there have been two gifted goals given up by Arsenal in five games, both given from routine situations. In reality the number could have been worse. The top teams in the world, of which City are now a notable member, will punish you for these kinds of mistakes. Now there have been multiple positives in the defensive play of Arsenal. Their covering in general (especially on the far side away from the ball) has been excellent, and their handling of crosses and deadball situations have been top notch. The way they handled Stokes' throw-ins was exemplary, and the overall team shape has been compact and effective. But to win on Sunday, the team in general, and the defenders in particular, have to keep cool heads in situations when they are playing out of the back after they have won the ball, when they are clearing loose balls in the box, and when they are covering the goalkeeper when he comes out for the ball. Erratic and overly desperate handling of these situations have cost Arsenal dearly in the not too distant past. To be fair, these are areas where Arsenal are currently doing better than the last four years, but they are still far from where they need to be if they want to be considered title contenders. To be a title contender you have to be stingy in defense when playing against your opponents, especially the ones that are at the top of the league table.