Arsenal are set to face Manchester City at the Etihad, with Mikel Arteta set to make selection tweaks from midweek.
Arsenal are set for their most challenging game of this early season run as Mikel Arteta takes his troops for a daunting trip to face Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday. There are some selection decisions to be made ahead of naming his strongest lineup for the clash, as the Gunners boss will bring in some familiar faces back into the fold.
In his pre-match press conference, Arteta provided an update about the fitness of his squad and what they would need ahead of this massive clash at the Etihad. The Spaniard also provided an update on Martin Odegaard’s status, with the captain set to miss this trip and many more ahead of the next period.
On the injury front, Arteta said, “Not really [any fresh injuries]. Straight after the Atalanta match, we need to recover, sleep, and eat well, and everyone is looking forward to the match. We know what it means, we know what we’re fighting for, and it’s a great opportunity for the team to show what we’re capable of.”
As for Odegaard, Arteta did not provide a timeline or the extent of the injury before the Tottenham game last weekend. He continued that trend, sitting on the fence with his captain while not revealing anything of substance, meaning the news regarding the Norwegian is still unclear.
Arteta said, “We need to see the development in the next week or so, how the ankle reacts first of all and then the staff will give me an update on the timeframe and how long he’ll be out for.”
As for team selection, Arteta is expected to make some critical changes from the last two games. The Gunners boss is likely to continue with the same back four, with Jurrien Timber starting at left-back and Riccardo Calafiori remaining on the bench.
There are plenty of tactical decisions that Arteta will make, including setting his team up in a compact 4-4-2 and placing emphasis on defensive work. On paper, it could be a similar setup to the Tottenham clash, with Leandro Trossard in a relative free role that lets him manouvre different positions and roam around.
Declan Rice will return after serving his one match Premier League suspension in a big boost for Arteta. Thomas Partey could be his partner in the middle of the park, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on the flanks.
Kai Havertz will lead the line rather than start as a midfielder, although he will drop deep during the game. Havertz and Trossard will be the front two for Arsenal, as this game has all the hallmarks of a smash-and-grab approach from the Gunners.
Predicted Lineup (4-4-2): Raya; Ben White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Saka, Partey, Rice, Martinelli; Havertz, Trossard
