Man City have learnt from Liverpool’s mistakes – Arsenal and the rest should be
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ROBBIE FOWLER COLUMN: Arsenal have done brilliantly to engineer a genuine title race, but with Manchester City only getting better, they look primed to dominate for years to come
I’ve got bad news for those clubs who are already dreaming of catching Manchester City next season…they’re not getting any weaker any time soon.
I’m a huge fan of what Arsenal have done this season, I’ve genuinely enjoyed watching them, and genuinely admired the balance which Mikel Arteta has brought to a side that has balance, and a little bit of everything as a team.
Newcastle too, have been good watch, and I like the way Eddie Howe has started from the back to give them a massively solid base to launch a physical and pacey attack…and no doubt, they’ll be stronger next season.
Liverpool can’t be as bad either, I have absolutely no doubt Jurgen Klopp will recruit well in the summer and give them the missing ingredient in their midfield. Manchester United could take a couple of years, but they’ll grow.
Sounds good on paper doesn’t it? At least four teams improving, and putting pressure on the Champions-elect to try and ensure the Premier League doesn’t become a one horse town like the French Ligue 1.
Yet if you look at the age profile of City’s team, then they have almost by stealth, got themselves a squad that still has years left in it.
Outside their back up keeper – my former team-mate Scott Carson, who’s making me feel bloody ancient given I packed in about 15 years ago! – they only have four players over the age of 30 in their entire squad…and one of those is Kevin de Bruyne, who’s among the best in the world.
They have six players aged 23 or under who’ve made at least 20 appearances this season. Add Dias and Rodri to that, and they’ve got almost an entire outfield team with many years left in them.
Yet that’s not the reason I’d suggest the rest should be fearful. You don’t get a squad profile like that by accident. It’s by design. And I’ve been told they are hyper-aware of maintaining a young that young profile.
In fact, I’ve heard they have looked at Liverpool’s experience this season, and are determined not to repeat the same mistake of letting players get old together.
That is why I expect them to go out and sign players to line up mid-term replacements for the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan this summer. The time to strengthen is when you’re at your strongest, because that’s when you have your biggest appeal.
Look at Liverpool. They may have thought they were safe in assuming Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain – who are in that middle age bracket – would play a strong role in their squad, but have been awol.
It means they had…
Read More: Man City have learnt from Liverpool’s mistakes – Arsenal and the rest should be 2023-05-07 01:00:00