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Preview: Arsenal vs Man City, team news, line-ups, tickets & prediction

By on October 5, 2023

Bukayo-Saka-arsenal

Arsenal will be looking to make a statement in the title race with victory over defending Premier League champions Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Mikel Arteta and his squad will still be hurting from last seasons disappointment that saw us throw away the best opportunity to win the title in almost 20 years. Man City proved too strong in the end as injuries and a loss of form at the key stage of the campaign cost Arsenal dear and we had to settle for finishing second. The Gunners will be looking to go one better this season and win our first league title since 2004, but City are once again the team to beat.

Arsenal have made an unbeaten start to the 2023/24 campaign with five wins and two draws. Perhaps the biggest concern is that we’ve dropped our four points at home. The 2-2 draw at the Emirates against Fulham was hugely frustrating as Arsenal should easily have won that game, but a late Palhinha strike salvaged a point for the 10-men Cottagers. Arsenal also threw away the lead twice to draw 2-2 with Tottenham in the North London Derby last month. Basic individual errors cost us in both those games, so Arteta will be determined to cut out the silly mistakes when Man City come to the capital on Sunday.

The Gunners were hugely impressive last time out in the Premier League as we thrashed Bournemouth 4-0 at the Vitality Stadium. Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Ben White all got on the scoresheet to send Arsenal joint second in the table. We’re now just one point behind Man City following their shock defeat away to Wolves, so we could leapfrog Pep Guardiola’s men with victory this weekend.

However, while things are going reasonably well in the league, Arsenal come into the City game off the back of a nightmare display in the Champions League. Having beaten PSV Eindhoven 4-0 in our Group B opening, Arsenal were looking to take control of the group with a win in Lens on Tuesday. We took the lead through Gabriel Jesus but Lens made a stunning comeback to win 2-1 to consign Arsenal to their first defeat in all competitions this season.

It was a poor second half display in France, and Arteta will be demanding a much improved performance against City. If we play like we did against Lens, the Cityzens will blow us away at the Emirates on Sunday.

City picked up where they left off last season after winning their opening six Premier League games. However, they have shown their vulnerability in recent weeks as they were dumped out of the EFL Cup by Newcastle United in the third round before losing 2-1 to Wolves in the league last Saturday. They are still top of the table despite that defeat, but City’s lead has been cut to just one point so Guardiola will be looking to maintain that position with a positive result in North London.

The treble winners bounced back from the loss to Wolves with an impressive 3-1 win away to RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku were all on the scoresheet as City took control of Group G having made it back-to-back wins.

Tickets

Arsenal vs Manchester City will take place on Sunday, 8 October 2023, at 4.30pm at the Emirates Stadium. The game is sure to be sold-out and official tickets from the club channels were snapped up weeks ago.  However, match-going fans can still buy Arsenal vs Man City tickets at reputable reselling sites like Seatsnet.com.

For those not lucky enough to get hold of a ticket to attend the game at the Emirates, you can still watch all the action from the comfort of your own home as the game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Subscribers can watch the game on TV, or stream via the app on a smartphone or tablet device.

Team news

Arsenal have been dealt a major blow after Saka limped off with a hamstring issue during the defeat to Lens. It’s the third consecutive game the winger has been forced off with an injury issue, and many have questioned why Arteta risked the youngster from the start in France. Saka will be assessed by Arsenal’s medical staff over the coming days but he’s a major doubt to face Man City and it would be a huge blow if he’s ruled out.

Gabriel Martinelli is also a big doubt for Sunday’s match as he’s still not back in full training from a hamstring injury that’s hampered him for the past few weeks. The Brazilian will be checked at London Colney before a decision is made over his availability.

Jurrien Timber is certain to miss out as he’s unlikely to play again this season after undergoing surgery on an ACL injury. However, Thomas Partey is back in contention after recovering from a groin problem.

As for Man City, they’ll be without influential playmaker Kevin de Bruyne as he’s been ruled out for several months with a serious thigh injury. Rodri is also set to miss the trip to Arsenal due to suspension after being sent off against Wolves.

Likely Line-ups

If Saka isn’t fit to start, Eddie Nketiah is likely to come into the Arsenal side while Trossard should keep his place with Martinelli unlikely to be fit. Ben White should be recalled at right-back with Takehiro Tomiyasu making way.

Mateo Kovacic and John Stones are likely to start in midfield in the absence of Rodri. Alvarez could support Erling Haaland in attack with Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish also getting starts for City.

Possible Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Ødegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Trossard.

Possible Man City XI: Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Walker, Kovacic, Stones, Silva, Grealish; Alvarez, Haaland.

Predicted score

City have had the better of Arsenal in recent years with Guardiola yet to taste defeat to the Gunners in the Premier League. Arsenal’s only three victories in the last 21 meetings have come in the FA Cup and Community Shield, so Arteta will want to improve on that record this weekend.

Victory for the Gunners would be a real statement in the title race and prove they are once again ready to go head-to-head with City for the trophy. However, Man City are still a formidable side and will be confident of getting a positive result even without De Bruyne and Rodri. Arsenal 2-2 Man City