English Premier League Prediction - Manchester City VS Arsenal
English Premier League - Manchester City VS Arsenal
Match Time: 22-09-2024 23:30 Sunday(GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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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.
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.
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Rodri; Savinho, Silva, Foden; Haaland
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Havertz, Partey, Rice; Saka, Jesus, Trossard
Manchester City vs Arsenal Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
*The two teams have a long-standing rivalry and have crossed paths 211 times in all competitions. The visitors have the upper hand in these meetings with 99 wins. City have 65 wins and 47 games have ended in draws.
*The Gunners were unbeaten in their two league meetings against City last season, recording a 1-0 home win while the reverse fixture ended in a goalless draw.
*Manchester City are on a 13-game winning streak in the Premier League and last dropped points at home in March against Arsenal.
*The Gunners are unbeaten in Premier League away games in 2024, recording 10 wins in 11 games. They have also kept nine clean sheets in these games.
*The reigning champions are unbeaten in their last nine home games in the Premier League against the visitors.
Prediction: Manchester City 0-0 Arsenal
Based off both teams' toothless midweek performances, the absences of De Bruyne and Odegaard and the uneventful pair of meetings between them last season, some fans could be forgiven for resigning themselves to a dull watch in Sunday's main event. Unfortunately, we can envisage that exact scenario playing out once again at the Etihad. Haaland may be on fire domestically, but Arsenal's back five is arguably one of the best on the planet right now, so another 0-0 seems inevitable.
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