DANNY MURPHY: Declan Rice must push up and put frighteners on Rodri’s back-up… and Arsenal can make Man City pay with the star suspended

• Rodri will miss Manchester City’s crunch trip to Arsenal through suspension 
• Declan Rice should seize the opportunity to punish Rodri’s replacement
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’

Rodri’s absence gives Arsenal a unique chance to shake up Manchester City — and I hope Mikel Arteta chooses the aggressive option to take advantage.

We know City are ordinarily the best in the world at building from the back and playing through the lines but Rodri’s suspension makes them more fragile.

Pep Guardiola has a fantastic squad and is a genius at finding solutions but there isn’t anyone as good as Rodri in that position shielding the defence and controlling the game.

Mateo Kovacic isn’t as physically strong while Kalvin Phillips lacks the same technical excellence.

In a one-off game like this which could be so important for the title race, Arsenal have to exploit it, particularly as they are at home.

Rodri’s suspension for Man City’s trip to Arsenal makes Pep Guardiola’s side more vulnerable

Mikel Arteta should push Declan Rice upfield to put the frighteners on Rodri’s replacement

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The top managers, of which Arteta is one, usually stick to their defined style rather than worrying about the opposition but this is more like a cup-tie where result supersedes performance.

Arteta should throw a curve ball by pushing Declan Rice further up the field where he can use his athleticism and tenacity to put the frighteners on whoever is given City’s holding role. By being as aggressive, front-foot and energetic as possible, Arsenal can give City problems. Of course, the champions have excellent players and may well get through a high press — but it’s worth a shot.

By having Thomas Partey anchoring the midfield, it would allow Rice to be more advanced to disrupt City’s passing.

There are injury concerns over Bukayo Saka. If he doesn’t make it, I’d put Gabriel Jesus on the right and Eddie Nketiah down the middle. City would be rushed into making passes.

When Fabio Vieira replaced Saka against Lens, it didn’t work and he wouldn’t be what I was looking for in a match as intense as this one. He is gifted but still relatively lightweight.

There is a reason no team have won four league titles in a row in 150 years of English football — it’s b****y hard to achieve! City have three and face a fight to make it four, with Arsenal and Liverpool both excellent rivals. Ultimately it might come down to Guardiola’s players keeping the hunger and desire over several months that earned them the Treble.

To have their best chance of victory, Arteta has to make Man City pay for Rodri’s absence

As an ex-player, I remember the temptation to have a little dip after you’ve been successful. The manager is extremely driven, of course, but the City players will have to really dig in again. I think they can, and probably will, but Arsenal today have to make life as difficult for them as possible.

I was surprised City let Riyad Mahrez go in the summer when they already knew Ilkay Gundogan was leaving — they were two important sources of goals.

Even so, others are stepping into their shoes. Julian Alvarez has started the season on fire — what a bonus for Pep — and Jeremy Doku looks as if he’s got an eye for goal. Phil Foden will play more this season and will reach double figures at least. And I’ve not mentioned Erling Haaland yet!

It’s an intriguing match-up at the Emirates. To have their best chance, Arteta has to make City pay for Rodri’s absence.

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, launching with a preview show today and every week this season.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

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