Mikel Arteta will miss Arsenal's match against Manchester City on New Year's Day after returning a positive Covid test and his staff have been told how to execute the Spaniard's special plan.
The Gunners have enjoyed some excellent form heading into the clash, winning each of their previous five clashes in competitions.
In doing so, Arsenal have found no issue in opening the flood gates having scored 19 in their latest win streak; almost as Arteta has asked his neighbours to feed his cats while he is away - everything is familiar, all the hard work is done but can they do it when the big dogs are in town...
Manchester City
Tom Canton spoke to Harry Symeou spoke live on The Arsenal Way Pressbox show to delve into the Gunners' chances against Manchester City in their boss' absence.
Symeou kickstarted proceedings by admitting he was never confident of snatching three points from Pep Guardiola despite wether the Gunners were going to be armed with their boss and Tomiyasu or not.
"I was very confident that we could give a good account of ourselves," he said. "I wasn't ever confident with Mikel Arteta or not, with Tomiyasu or not, that we're going to beat Manchester City.
"I don't think you can be. I still think that there's a massive gulf in class between the two sides therefore we're the underdog. You can't sit here saying that we're definitely going to get a result but I was quietly positive about the fact that we are, as Mikel Arteta would describe it, in a good moment.
"We are getting better and better, week on week. We seem to have found our form in front of goal which is obviously helpful and I was confident that we could pose Manchester City a threat.
Symeou then concluded by revealing how he sees Arsenal's chances of securing three points.
"Do I still think we can do that? Yeah," he said. "I still think that Arsenal could give Manchester City a tough game and could potentially come away with a result.
"I'd say I'm 75 per cent confident now so it's taken 25 per cent off of my optimism if you want to put it that way."
Follow our The Arsenal Way trends writer Jake Stokes on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
