Today's clash between Man City and Arsenal is definitely going to be a blockbuster. With so much at stake, more than enough has been written and said about this titanic clash.
While some people focused on the bond between Guardiola and Arteta, others reflected on how individual battles could determine the outcome of the encounter. The physical battle between Haaland and Gabriel will be important; the ones involving flying wingers and fullbacks is definitely crucial.
However, the one that has dominated people's minds the most is the direct battle between two of the best midfielders in the league, Rice and Rodri. This matchup is crucial because both teams depend on their midfield to squeeze the life out of the opposition.
And with Rodri's all round displays this season, he has become the chief driver of City's plots. In fact, stop Rodri and you'd probably have Guardiola and his boys begging for their lives.
And for Arsenal, Rice has been immense. Before his move to North London, I never really saw what the fuss was about him. Yes, he's good, but so was Kalvin Phillips until he swapped Leeds for Manchester and became a classic joker.
I've seen a lot of players choked when they make the switch to bigger clubs and stadiums. Thus, I no longer believe in the hype until highly rated players with small clubs do it consistently on the grandest stage of them all.
However, that's not to say a player that failed in a big team is not good enough. A lot of factors contribute to a player's failure that more than meets the eyes. Let's just keep it at that. So, for me, the jury was still out on Rice until he got to Arsenal and took to their pattern like he's been there all his life.
Honestly, I am impressed. He has infused physicality and bite into the Arsenal midfield that has suffered more ignominy than any top team in England for being a flaky team with a soft underbelly. In short, he's improved Arsenal.
So, while everyone was waxing lyrical about how tasty the Rodri-Rice matchup will be, a thought dropped into my mind: what if Guardiola had signed Rice last summer and taken him to Manchester? In an alternate world, how will a Rodri-Rice midfield combination pan out?
Based on what both players have shown so far and how important they are to their teams, if Rice joined City ahead of Arsenal last summer, we probably wouldn't be talking about a top of the table clash right now. That's how immense Rice has been for Arsenal.
But then, Arsenal competed admirably last season without Rice. Wouldn't it be silly to attribute their title charge to the impact of Rice?
The fact remains that Arsenal surprised us all last season. Despite all their wonderful, gutsy displays it was glaring they weren't equipped to win the league. And they did revert to the mean at some point, their losses to City in the league showing they are still not it.
This season, they have beaten City and are given a chance to get a result at the Etihad today because of the improvement and maturity they've shown. Rice has played a crucial part in ensuring that.
So, what would a Rodri-Rice midfield look like?
For one, it will be dominant. With Rodri's ball handling skills, his teams will always dominate possession. Rice has shown himself to be capable with the ball too. Also, both players are physical. So the idea of out-muscling them is dead on arrival.
Anyway, I don't have to give myself a headache while trying to explain what will not happen. A Rodri-Rice combo is a dream that will not come to reality, at least with both of them in their primes. Except maybe if Guardiola leaves City, convinces Arteta to leave Arsenal's job for City's. And then, Arteta drags Rice alongside him to City. Well, that's a scenario that will not happen. So, Arsenal fans can chill before cussing me out.
As for the match proper, as sad as this is to say, I think City have the edge in this one. I won't even bother to explain how or why. The fact that I dropped both Arsenal assets to the bench and started both City's assets, captaining one, in my FPL clearly shows how I think this game will go. For the sake of us all, I hope I'm proven wrong.
