Arsenal vs Manchester City: Line-ups
Arsenal
Manchester City
Cityzens out for revenge
#1
Arteta’s third-placed charges are one of only two teams in the Premier League yet to lose a top-flight game this term – the other being their arch-nemesis Tottenham Hotspur – and last weekend’s 4-0 dismantling of Bournemouth has the Gunners sitting pretty in third place in the fledgling rankings.
#2
Since the start of the 2022-23 season, Arsenal have only been put to the sword twice in Premier League home matches and have scored at least twice in all of their Emirates affairs so far this season, but for all of their steadfast defending on enemy territory, Arteta’s men are still waiting for their first Premier League home clean sheet of the new term.
#3
Similarly to their North London counterparts, Man City were also pegged back after taking the lead away from home in the Champions League this week, as Leipzig hotshot Lois Openda found the back of the net via the post to cancel out Phil Foden’s slick opener.
#4
Third time was the charm for Man City on Wednesday, as Pep Guardiola’s side travelled to Germany at risk of suffering three successive away defeats after falling short against Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the EFL Cup and Premier League respectively, with the latter defeat cutting their lead at the summit to just the one point.
#5
Receiving a golden ticket into the Community Shield thanks to Man City’s FA Cup and Premier League triumphs, Arsenal ended their hoodoo against Guardiola’s team by prevailing on penalties at Wembley two months ago, but the Gunners have been defeated in each of their last 12 top-flight games against Man City – their longest-ever losing streak against a single opponent in league history.
DPP Verdict
Coming up against a City side would ostensibly give Arsenal a wonderful opportunity to break their Premier League curse against the champions. Arteta’s men looked bereft of ideas in the final third, and repeated failures to keep the back door closed at home should see Guardiola avenge August’s Community Shield beating and get one over his former protege once again.
