Arsenal-Manchester City is a match on the eighth day of the Premier League and is played on Sunday at 17:30: TV, formations, predictions.
A precedent, in season, is already there. Arsenal and Manchester City faced each other in the middle of the summer, in the match that, in fact, inaugurated the football year in England. The Community Shield, the English Super Cup, was won last August by the Gunners in a penalty shoot-out, taking a little revenge after losing the title in the 2022-23 Premier League in a photo finish.
The team of Mikel Arteta and that of Pep Guardiola – the former until a few years ago was a collaborator of the latter – were in fact the two great antagonists of last season, staging an exciting duel for the championship victory. Arsenal fell at the most beautiful moment, when they were already looking forward to success, being overtaken by the battleship coached by the Catalan coach who would shortly afterwards win practically everything. Today, after seven days, the Premier League does not seem to have a ‘master’. Manchester City has been stuttering in the last few games, perhaps suffering from some tiredness. Since last week, it is no longer the only team with a full score, after having fallen by surprise at the home of Wolverhampton (2-1): there had already been some warning, in fact, in the League Cup, with the defeat at Newcastle (1-0). The redemption came in the Champions League: this week the European champions went to win with authority at home of Leipzig (1-3) but not without some shivers: the decisive goals were scored by Alvarez and Doku in the last ten minutes.
The Gunners haven’t beaten City since 2020
In the Champions League, Arsenal’s long winning streak came to an end as they were surprisingly reeled in and defeated at home by Lens (2-1).
Walker and Doku
An unexpected setback, considering that the Gunners had yet to lose this season and were fresh from a fine win at Bournemouth (0-4). Arteta’s men, if they win, would overtake the Cityzens, who have just one point more, and join their cousins Tottenham, who yesterday won by a narrow margin against Luton Town and flew momentarily to the top. City, however, have become something of a taboo for the Londoners in recent years: Arsenal’s last win came in 2020, in the FA Cup. Arteta hopes to recover Saka, who limped off against Lens, and Fabio Vieira will play in his place. On the other hand, Guardiola will be without Rodri, who is still disqualified, but will be able to bring Bernardo Silva onto the bench.
The Prediction
The absences of staples such as De Bruyne, Rodri and Bernardo Silva have caused Manchester City to lose some of their sparkle. Guardiola’s side responded in the Champions League, however, and should be able to avoid defeat at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal, who have just come back from an unexpected slip-up in Europe. The prediction is more open than ever, but both sides are likely to score at least one goal each.
Arsenal-Manchester City
likely line-ups
- ARSENAL (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Partey; Fabio Vieira, Nketiah, Gabriel Jesus.
- MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Walker, Ruben Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Lewis, Kovacic; Foden, Julian Alvarez, Doku; Haaland.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
