Arsenal-Manchester City is a Premier League Week 12 replay and is played on Wednesday at 8:30pm: TV, line-ups, predictions.
Who would have thought it? In the week of the Champions League’s return in style with the knockout phase, the Premier League “sneaks in” with the most eagerly awaited direct clash in months, between the two teams that are currently contending for the title: Arsenal and Manchester City.
Technically this is a replay of matchday 12, which at the time was postponed for public order reasons due to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth. That explains why we have not yet seen the match, at least as far as the league is concerned. Yes, because in the cup – in this case the FA Cup – instead Gunners and Citizens have just faced each other. A fortnight ago Pep Guardiola’s team, forced to chase in the Premier League, got the better of his former pupil Mikel Arteta’s team 1-0 thanks to a goal by defender Aké. A defeat that perhaps crumbled some certainties at Arsenal, interrupting a very long unbeaten run. It is no coincidence, in fact, that in the following matches the Londoners won only one point between Everton and Brentford. The psychological backlash, in short, was there. And that reassuring gap of a month ago now no longer exists. City are -3 down and by winning the direct clash they can return to the top (co-hosted) for the first time since last autumn.
Arsenal and that worrying taboo
It should be remembered, however, that Arsenal always have one match less than Haaland and his team-mates, who returned to winning ways on Sunday – beating Aston Villa 3-1 – immediately turning the page after the defeat to Tottenham.
Arteta and Guardiola
Normal, then, that the stakes are high at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal are having an extraordinary season, far exceeding expectations, but now it is time to prove they are up to the task of dethroning the reigning champions. The most important litmus test for the pupil (Arteta) who has never managed to beat the master (Guardiola). Manchester City, in fact, has won ten matches in a row against Arsenal in the Premier League. On the other hand, what comforts the Basque coach is the home performance: at the Emirates his team has never lost in 10 matches, a record he shares with Newcastle. Doubts about the presence of the great ex-Gabriel Jesus in the Gunners’ attack: the Brazilian is recovering from a knee injury and in case he does not make it former Brighton man Trossard is ready. But Guardiola is also anxious about the condition of Haaland, who came off midway through the first half in Sunday’s match.
The Prediction
A battle. Even of nerves, as it was recently in the FA Cup. The feeling is that it will be the details that will make the difference in a high-tension match, which can direct the race towards the title. And totally change the inertia. Arsenal are at the most difficult moment of their season, but they should be able to avoid defeat, despite the fact that City are slight favourites with the bookmakers. A draw cannot be ruled out in a game of less than four goals overall.
Arsenal-Manchester City matchday squad
- ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Gabriel Jesus.
- MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Ederson; Lewis, Ruben Dias, Laporte, Aké; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Mahrez, Haaland, Grealish.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
