Hughes warns City players

City boss insists players must play their own game against Gunners

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 21st November 2008

Hughes warns City players

Hughes: Faces a big week for City

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Manchester City manager Mark Hughes will look for his side to impose themselves against Arsenal when the two sides meet at Eastlands on Saturday.

Hughes defeated Arsenal twice as Blackburn manager as his players gave the Gunners no time on the ball, but many have questioned whether his current side have the personnel to apply such a physical game.

Arsene Wenger's side have been criticised in the past for having no answer when teams try and bully them and it appears this tactic is still effective after Stoke's recent 2-1 victory at the Britannia.

City will be looking to get their first win in four Premier League games and Hughes knows what needs to be done if his side are to collect all three points.

He said: "Once Arsenal get into a rhythm of play and tempo of passing then it's very difficult to shake them out of that and have an impact and grasp the initiative away from them.

"You have to try and break up their tempo and their ability to dictate the possession of the game.

"If you can do that it's to your own benefit because they've got outstanding individual talent as well as a great work ethic and an ability to circulate the ball from one side of the pitch to the other.

"They can change the focus of their attack and that's why they're so dangerous. What you have to do is make sure you can break things up and cause problems for them going the other way."

Like City, Arsenal have not been enjoying the best of spells of late and the defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday was their fourth in the league this season.

Threat

Despite this Hughes believes that the Gunners are more of a threat away from home and insists his side must not read too much into Arsenal's inconsistent form.

He added: "When teams go to the Emirates Stadium they know they are going to be under pressure and they get everybody behind the ball and hope for a break.

"They have been caught out in recent weeks as a consequence of that.

"Away from home they can draw the home side on to them and then break with pace and power which they have in abundance.

"Probably at this moment in time they are more dangerous away from home."

Hughes' side face a big test in the coming week. Following the Arsenal fixture the Blues travel to Germany to take on Stuttgart in the Uefa Cup and then return to face the small matter of the Manchester derby.

He said: "We've got a big test this week but we understand that. We are at home in the Premier League and this year we've done okay at home. I think we can cause problems to any team."

Hughes admits he will not have to work hard to motivate his players for the upcoming games.

He added: "As a professional footballer and manager you want to pit yourselves against the best and that's what we will be doing in the coming week.

"In between two great games in the Premier League we have a good game away in Europe in front of a full house, in a fantastic stadium. It's an exciting week for everybody."