Man City vs Arsenal: Preview, predictions and lineup

The biggest game of the Premier League season will arrive on Sunday afternoon as reigning champions Manchester City host last season’s Arsenal.

Pep Guardiola’s side are the only side in the division with a perfect record after four consecutive victories, but they will be given their sternest test when Mikel Arteta’s men arrive at the Etihad. Arsenal hosted meetings between the two sides last term, winning at the Emirates Stadium and in the Community Shield and drawing on the road.

Man City were frustrated in midweek when they hosted Inter in the Champions League – a replay of the 2022/23 final – and needed to get a point on home soil. Arsenal also took part in an unbeaten run against Italian opposition, with David Raya the hero after saving a penalty against Atalanta.

The Gunners played well against their north London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur last weekend as Gabriel scored the winner in a 1-0 win. A similar result on Sunday would be welcomed with open arms, and would see Arsenal leapfrog Man City in the table.

Here it is 90 min a guide to verbal conflict in Manchester.

Man City vs Arsenal H2H Record (Last Five Matches)

Current form (all competitions)

Although Guardiola refused to say that Kevin De Bruyne is out of action, it is almost certain that the Belgian will miss Sunday’s encounter after injuring his groin against Inter. He joins Nathan Ake and Oscar Bobb in the treatment room.

Rodri’s timely return bolsters Man City’s options and Phil Foden reappears on the bench against Inter who has been sidelined since Euro 2024. Kyle Walker could step in to provide defensive stability and Mateo Kovacic could return to the starting line-up.

Erling Haaland will be aiming to add to his nine Premier League goals against a strong defense in 2023/24, while Jack Grealish will hope to start on the left side ahead of Jeremy Doku.

Man City predicted to face Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Guardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Foden, Silva, Grealish; Haaland.

Martin Odegaard is Arsenal’s biggest miss and Arteta has confirmed the captain’s injury is “very important” as he stares down weeks on the sidelines. He was replaced by Kai Havertz in midfield on Thursday but Arteta could bring Jorginho back into the starting line-up this weekend.

Jurrien Timber is likely to start at left-back alongside the injured Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko, but could face competition from the returning Riccardo Calafiori.

If Havertz starts at forward on Sunday, Leandro Trossard could return to left wing. The Belgian is battling Gabriel Martinelli and Raheem Sterling for the top spot.

Arsenal predicted to face Man City (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Party, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Trossard.

On paper, two of England’s top teams going head-to-head should provide an exciting game of the highest quality. However, anyone who watched last season’s meetings knows that this will likely be a battle of tactics won by spreadsheets rather than by surprise.

Man City have been in incredible form this season but Inter frustrated them in midweek, putting in a strong and organized defensive display to keep out Haaland and co. That will be Arsenal’s job this weekend, with five clean sheets in the first six games – and two against City last term – showing their ability to shut out top-class opposition.

This will no doubt be a tight affair but the clash coming early in the season could make it more open than in the past. There may be goals, even if we cannot separate the top two from last season.

Prediction: Man City 1-1 Arsenal

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