Two of the best teams in the world meet this weekend when Arsenal host Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium, and there are huge questions looming over their teams.
Both teams played in the Champions League this week, and they each have significant injury concerns — at least publicly.
MORE — Arsenal vs Man City preview, stream link, prediction
Pep Guardiola is unsure whether Rodri can start three games in a week at this status in his return from an ACL injury.
On the other side, Martin Odegaard remains a question mark with a shoulder injury and Mikel Arteta says William Saliba is pushing to return to the team but no certainty to be involved in the game.
With both teams going into their third game in a week, a week that followed the travel and challenge of international break, there’s a lot to consider prior to kickoff.
Arsenal predicted lineup, injury doubts
Raya
Timber — Saliba — Magalhaes — Calafiori
Merino — Zubimendi — Rice
Madueke — Gyokeres — Eze
William Saliba made the bench in Arsenal’s win at Athletic Bilbao, but Arteta can afford to be patient with him on account of Cristhian Mosquera’s strong start to life in London. Arteta said Mikel Merino and Viktor Gyokeres are not concerns despite midweek damage, and perhaps Merino’s acumen will stop Arteta from risking Martin Odegaard (The Spanish boss isn’t exactly an attack-first guy in big games). Eze could also start in the Odegaard role, which could put midweek Gabriel Martinelli back in the Starting XI. Again, though, this assumes that Arteta would want to be aggressive.
OUT: Bukayo Saka (hamstring - MORE), Kai Havertz (knee - MORE), Gabriel Jesus (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Ben White (unspecified), Martin Odegaard (shoulder - MORE), William Saliba (ankle - MORE)
Manchester City predicted lineup, injury doubts
Donnarumma
Lewis — Dias — Gvardiol — Ake
Silva — Gonzalez
Bobb — Reijnders — Doku
Haaland
The Rodri question is central to the equation because City have precious few options to sit in front of the back line with Mateo Kovacic out of the lineup and John Stones not fully fit (at best). We’re going to guess that Guardiola wouldn’t even bring it up were it not in preparation. Nico Gonzalez could partner with Bernardo Silva there (Stones would be a great partner if fit). Abdukodir Khusanov and Nico O’Reilly went 90 minutes versus Napoli while Josko Gvardiol was removed after 80 minutes as he had missed time earlier this season. Jeremy Doku was removed after 69 minutes and Tijjani Reijnders, while Phil Foden went 90, so perhaps Savinho and Oscar Bobb could come into the game for Foden.
OUT: Rayan Ait Nouri (undisclosed injury), Mateo Kovacic (calf), Omar Marmoush (knee), Rayan Cherki (thigh), Kalvin Phillips (achilles) | QUESTIONABLE: John Stones (undisclosed)
