Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has admitted he was ‘amazed’ that Pep Guardiola played Manuel Akanji as a left-sided defender against Arsenal last week.
City are now top of the Premier League, after two fantastic results last week.
In midweek, the Citizens beat Arsenal 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium to get to just two points behind the Gunners.
And then on Saturday, Guardiola’s side kept the momentum going, beating Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage.
With that result, City finally went above Arsenal in the table. But the Gunners can go top again with a win over Chelsea tonight.
The game against Arsenal saw City put in one of their best performances of the season.
Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne ran the show, and the Arsenal players just couldn’t get near City on the night.
Someone else who put in a really good display was Akanji, who played as a left-sided defender.
He deputised for the injured Nathan Ake, which was something of a surprise. Most people presumed Aymeric Laporte would come into the side as a natural left-footer.
Guardiola said after the game that Akanji’s display against Bayern Munich convinced him to play him there against Arsenal from the start.
Speaking on his latest podcast, Neville praised the curveball from Guardiola.
He said: “I was amazed the other night that Akanji played at left-back. But then he had the most incredible, fantastic match against (Bukayo) Saka. He kept Saka as quiet as anybody I’ve seen.”
Manuel Akanji is one of the Premier League signings of the season, as Gary Neville lauds Pep Guardiola decision
Akanji was absolutely colossal against Arsenal. He did not let Saka have any influence whatsoever, and even strode out of defence with the ball on a few occasions.
It was hands-down one of his best showings in a City shirt.
And he then followed that up with another solid showing against Fulham at the weekend.
It is amazing to think City landed him for only £15 million. The man has been playing like a £50 million player.
Without question he’s one of the best buys by any Premier League club in 2022/23.
