David Seaman makes prediction ahead of Arsenal’s crunch match with Manchester City
Sunday's heavyweight clash is being billed as a potential title decider.
David Seaman has backed Arsenal to come away from the Etihad with a 1-1 draw and believes Manchester City’s ‘fear factor has gone’ after the Gunners’ victory earlier this season.
Reigning champions City entertain top-of-the-table Arsenal in what is being billed as a potential title decider on Sunday, with Mikel Arteta’s side sitting above second-placed Liverpool on goal difference with ten games remaining of the season.
Arsenal’s title credentials were in doubt as they suffered a severe dip in form over a tricky winter period, but the north London club have bounced back in style and could make it nine straight wins in the top flight this weekend.
At his pre-match press conference, Pep Guardiola confirmed that Kyle Walker and John Stones had both been ruled out of the heavyweight encounter, which comes as a major blow to last year’s treble winners.
The visitors, meanwhile, are hopeful that Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes could all be available, with Arteta saying there was a ‘chance’ all three could feature as he faced the media this afternoon.
Previewing the match on the Seaman Says podcast, the legendary ex-Arsenal goalkeeper revealed he was ‘confident’ his former side would take points off the champions after their dramatic 1-0 win in the reverse fixture back in October.
‘My confidence has come from the experience that we had last season and then the signings that we’ve made since then,’ Seaman said.
‘I just feel that this time has a lot more confidence now. Last season, the nerves kicked in and we were still a little bit anxious in the way we were playing, we got nervous, and the game up at the Etihad was a non-starter really. We got taught a lesson up there.
‘I just feel that this time we’re going to show more of what we are now with this experience we had last season. We’ll take that on board, use that and use it to go out and beat them or get a draw.
‘Just don’t let them beat us or get any extra points on us. I think that’s vitally important.
‘I don’t know why but I’ve just got this confidence that we’re going to get something up there.’
The former England international added: ‘We’ve had four points off Liverpool this season and we’ve had three off City so that’s where the confidence is coming from, the fact that we have actually beaten them this season.
‘That fear factor has gone. There’s a subconscious when you haven’t beaten someone, it plays on your mind.
‘That’s where my confidence is coming from, although I am going for a draw! Anything else is a real bonus, if I’m being honest.’
Seaman predicted Kai Havertz would be first on the scoresheet in a 1-1 draw, with the German finding the net five times in his last eight appearances for club and country.
‘I think Arsenal are going to score first. I’ll go 1-1 and Havertz to score first,’ he continued.
‘It’s a massive game. A big, big game. It’s a shame it’s not near the end of the season because it could be a title decider.’
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