Arsenal are gearing up for arguably their most important fixture of the Premier League season.
On Sunday, the Gunners head to Manchester City in a game between the two likeliest teams to win the title this term.
While September is obviously too early for any game to be deemed a title decider, Arsenal will not want to concede more ground to the Citizens this early on in the season.
The Gunners have already dropped two points in the league, while Man City have won all four of their games so far.
Arsenal’s recent record against the Citizens is solid enough, with two wins and a draw in all competitions, and they have only conceded once in those three games.
Needless to say, the Gunners’ defence will be key against City, and Tony Cascarino has now spoken about an Arsenal player who he has likened to a “rash”.
Tony Cascarino likens Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes to a ‘rash’
Cascarino wrote an article in The Times in which he named his combined Man City / Arsenal XI, and explained his choices.
He went for Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba as his centre-back pairing, and described the former as a “rash” for how he gets “all over you”.
“This area was really difficult,” wrote Cascarino. “Manuel Akanji and Rúben Dias are excellent but I picked Gabriel because he’s like a rash.
“He reminds me of Martin Keown for being in your face and making it difficult as a centre forward. He’s all over you.”
Cascarino isn’t the only pundit to liken Gabriel to Keown of late; Rio Ferdinand made this comparison just after Arsenal’s draw with Atalanta.
Cascarino’s combined Man City / Arsenal XI
Ederson, Rico Lewis, William Saliba, Gabriel, Josko Gvardiol, Declan Rice, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Bukayo Saka, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden
When do Arsenal face Man City?
Arsenal take on Man City at the Etihad Stadium in a Premier League match on Sunday 22 September, 4:30pm kick-off.
