Manchester City and Arsenal go head-to-head in a massive clash between Premier League title contenders on Sunday.
PREVIEW, HOW TO WATCH LIVE: MANCHESTER CITY v ARSENAL
Pep Guardiola has plenty of injury concerns to deal with as John Stones and Kyle Walker are out, but Manuel Akanji is fit and both Ederson and Kevin de Bruyne look pretty sure to make it.
Mikel Arteta has a couple of injury doubts but Arsenal are in much better shape, fitness wise, heading into this mammoth clash.
Below is a look at the Manchester City vs Arsenal predicted lineups, with analysis on how both teams could start and where the key head-to-head battles will take place.
Manchester City predicted lineup (3-2-4-1)
——- Ederson ——-
—— Dias —— Gvardiol —- Ake —-
—— Akanji —- Rodri ——
—- Foden —- Bernardo —- De Bruyne —- Doku —-
——- Haaland ——-
City have some massive injury concerns and the duo of Kyle Walker and John Stones being out is a huge blow for the way they like to control the game and give themselves extra defensive cover. Ederson is set to be fit which is a big boost. Pep could shift to a back four but Dias, Gvardiol and Ake could start at center back if City keep the 3-2-4-1 formation with Akanji replacing Stones in the hybrid right back/central midfield/central defense role. Akanji being fit is crucial as he’s probably the only player in City’s squad who can step in and play Stones’ role in a similar way. Pep went with a back four against Arsenal earlier this season but it didn’t work well in the defeat, so he will be hesitant to ditch the 3-2-4-1. Rodri being in midfield for this game is massive as he missed the defeat at Arsenal earlier in the season and his battle with Rice will be epic. Foden and Bernardo Silva are sure to start in attack, while Kevin de Bruyne is set to be fit which is obviously a massive plus. Doku should get the nod ahead of Julian Alvarez on the left again to have a go at Ben White. Erling Haaland will start up top after a slight injury concern and City will look to find him early and often centrally and get Foden and De Bruyne just off him to cause Arsenal problems and force their center backs to step high.
Arsenal predicted lineup (4-3-3)
——- Raya ——-
—- White —- Saliba —- Gabriel —- Kiwior —-
—- Odegaard —— Jorginho —— Rice ——
—— Saka —— Havertz —— Martinelli ——
Arsenal have a very settled defensive unit with Kiwior really taking his chance at left back. Jorginho should start in midfield given his experience and how he’s been able to help Arsenal control games from his deep-lying playmaker role. Thomas Partey is an option but Mikel Arteta will likely go with Jorginho given the form he’s been in and how much his Arsenal teammates look to him in these big games. The duo of Odegaard and Rice alongside Jorginho make the team tick and the latter has a huge task to stop Rodri from dominating midfield. Saka and Martinelli are both injury doubts but should start. If they don’t, expect Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard to get the nod. Arteta’s starting lineup is pretty easy to pick right now given how well this team is playing as a unit and how solid they’ve been all season long. Havertz will start up top and his movement will be crucial to opening up space for Arsenal’s other forwards to exploit, as the German has been very impactful in recent weeks.
