Arsenal can leap right back into the Top Four race with a win over Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday (Watch live at 11:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN and online via NBCSports.com).
That’s a pretty tall ask, but both sides are injured and have been prone to allowing goals to the tune of a combined 23-match streak without a clean sheet.
City opens the day with 32 points, 17 less than leaders Liverpool, while Arsenal’s 22 have them seven behind fourth place Chelsea.
Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang join Mesut Ozil and Gabriel Martinelli in the Starting XI for Arsenal, who keeps Alexandre Lacazette on the bench.
Pepe was phenomenal in Monday’s defeat of West Ham, Arsenal ending a long losing streak in the league.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola hands a rare Premier League start to Phil Foden, with Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez beginning the match on the bench.
The Gunners played Thursday in Belgium, a day after City won at Dinamo Zagreb.
LINEUPS
Arsenal
🚨 Two changes from Monday night 🚨
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 15, 2019
➡️ @seadk6 & @MatteoGuendouzi
⬅️ @kierantierney1 & Granit Xhaka#ARSMCI
Man City
Your City team for today! 🙌
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 15, 2019
Ederson, Walker, Fernandinho (C), Otamendi, Mendy, Gundogan, Rodrigo, Foden, De Bruyne, Sterling, Jesus
Subs | Bravo, Zinchenko, Angelino, Bernardo, Mahrez, Cancelo, E Garcia
⚽️ @HaysWorldwide
🔵 #ARSMCI #ManCity pic.twitter.com/EjFY9cjJFY