The stage for the biggest clash of the Premier League season so far is set at the Etihad, as Manchester City take on a resilient Arsenal.
The headline clash of this season so far awaits at the Etihad, as Manchester City will aim to keep their slender two-point advantage over visitors Arsenal. Pep Guardiola will want to see an improved performance from his players after failing to break down a resilient and rather adventurous Inter Milan side at the Etihad midweek in the UEFA Champions League.
So far, there is no faulting Manchester City’s form and results in the Premier League, as they are the only team to boast a 100% record after four games. However, there has been a trend in their games, as Guardiola will want to address the issue of conceding early in three of the four games.
On the goalscoring front, Erling Haaland has led the team in a big way. But he did draw a blank in the Inter Milan encounter. Knowing how resilient Arsenal’s defence has been so far, the Norwegian and Guardiola will have to find a way to break the Gunners down. In terms of the title race, a win would allow City to open a five-point gap to Arsenal, something Guardiola would surely want.
Arsenal, on the other hand, have been accused of playing ‘boring’ football throughout the last two games against Tottenham and Atalanta. The latter was their UEFA Champions League opener, as the trip to Bergamo was widely described as a ‘chess match’, with neither team wanting to attack the other.
Mikel Arteta will have David Raya to thank for his excellent double save from a Mateo Retegui penalty early in the second half. Arsenal were otherwise toothless in the attacking third despite having a bright start to the game. The North Londoners are expected to have a pragmatic approach when they come to the Etihad, something they did last season during their visit there.
Arsenal are in good defensive shape, having conceded only one goal in their four opening games, winning three of those. That goal came against Brighton when they were down to ten men, and Arteta will want to keep Manchester City quiet first and foremost before thinking about a win at this away ground. The Gunners picked up four points against Guardiola’s side last season, and Arteta will hope for the same at the very least this time out.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester City
The midweek Champions League game saw Kevin De Bruyne not emerge for the second half as he seemingly pulled something in his groin while challenging for the ball against Inter Milan goalkeeper Yann Sommer. There are chances the Belgian misses out on this Arsenal clash, as well as more in the coming period.
Pep Guardiola played more than half of last season without his talismanic attacking midfielder and might be prepared to do so again. There are plenty of solutions for the Catalan tactician to rely upon, as Mateo Kovacic or Ilkay Gundogan are the likely choices to replace the Belgian in the lineup.
Oscar Bobb and Nathan Ake are definitely out of this contest and more, as Savinho and Jeremy Doku could be up for the challenge on either wing. Phil Foden could make his first start of the season, having returned to action against Inter Milan in midweek.
At the same time, Bernardo Silva will also look to play a vital role in proceedings in midfield alongside Rodri and one of Kovacic or Gundogan. Manchester City talisman Haaland will hope to break down the Arsenal defence this time out, having failed to do so in either of his last three competitive games from the previous season.
Probable Lineup (3-2-4-1): Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Savinho, Foden, Silva, Doku; Haaland
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta will again tinker with his selections ahead of this daunting trip to the Etihad to take on Manchester City as a few changes could be in order. The injury to Martin Odegaard is proving to cause a lot of creative issues in the attack, something the manager must find a solution to ahead of the next few games and, indeed, on Sunday.
The return of Declan Rice from suspension will be a significant boost, as Arteta could look to field a midfield double pivot once again, as he did against Tottenham. This means that Kai Havertz could be pushed back to the central striker role, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli providing support off the flanks.
The back-four and the goalkeeper are expected to be the same, although there is the likelihood of Leandro Trossard returning to the lineup in a role where he is somewhat free to come into midfield or slot alongside Havertz up front for Arsenal against Manchester City.
Meanwhile, Arteta will also choose between Thomas Partey or Jorginho, as the latter was on the bench in midfield. Still, he might continue with the Ghanaian international for the overall qualities he offers.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Raya; Ben White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Saka, Partey, Rice, Martinelli; Havertz, Trossard
Key Stats
- Manchester City have won their last 13 matches in the Premier League.
- Manchester City have scored at least two goals in their last 13 matches in the Premier League.
- Manchester City have failed to score against Arsenal in their last three meetings.
- Arsenal have conceded only one goal in their five matches this season in all competitions.
- Arsenal have not fallen behind in their last 11 away games in the Premier League.
Player to Watch
Declan Rice
Once again, this could be a performance from Arsenal that will bleed pragmatism and bring about a cagey atmosphere. The presence of Rice in this lineup will provide more grit and steel to this setup, as Mikel Arteta will look to match his counterpart at the Etihad with another stingy approach.
Arsenal got away with the Tottenham game in the sense that they did not have the most robust midfield, which also lacked energy. Rice partnering Thomas Partey here will add to the Gunners’ resilience in the middle of the park, as the England international could well be Arteta’s primary in the chess match that is to come.
Prediction
Manchester City 0-1 Arsenal
Manchester City are playing on home soil, and a lot has been said about their performances from midweek when they drew a blank against Inter Milan. Guardiola will know the challenge of facing the Premier League’s meanest defence, and that could prove a nightmare for the Catalan during the ninety minutes of action.
Arsenal, on the other hand, have shown the knack of preserving energy during their midweek encounter with Atalanta, with the Manchester City game clearly playing on their minds. Arteta will continue to rely on his side’s astute defending and once again could nick a goal from somewhere to get a valuable win in the context of the title race.
