Arsenal will look to register their first point of the new Premier League season when they travel to the Etihad Stadium to face champions Manchester City on Saturday.
Back-to-back 2-0 defeats to Brentford and Chelsea mean Arsenal have endured their worst start to a top-flight season in 118 years.
But Mikel Arteta’s side bounced back with a 6-0 trouncing of West Bromwich Albion in the EFL Cup to take a much-needed shot of confidence into their clash with City.
The last time these two sides met, Raheem Sterling fired Manchester City to a narrow 1-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium in February.
Team News
Mikel Arteta could welcome back several first-team players who missed the games against Brentford and Chelsea.
Alexandre Lacazette has recovered from COVID-19 and is available once again. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang appears to be back up to speed and should start. Kieran Tierney and Gabriel Martinelli limped off with injuries against Chelsea, but both should be fit in time for the trip to City.
Ben White is a major doubt, having recently contracted COVID-19. Thomas Partey and Eddie Nketiah will not return until after the international break. Bukayo Saka suffered a knock against West Brom, but he could be back in time for the clash against Manchester City.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Manchester City (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper
Aaron Ramsdale impressed on his Arsenal debut, making a few smart saves against West Brom. Despite that, he should make way for Bernd Leno in the Arsenal lineup, who remains Arsenal’s first-choice keeper.
Defenders
Kieran Tierney is expected to return to the Arsenal lineup, having missed the trip to West Brom due to injury. He will replace Nuno Tavares at left-back.
With Arsenal’s first-choice centre-back pairing of Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes potentially unavailable, Arteta will probably have to deploy Pablo Mari and Rob Holding at the heart of the defence once again. Holding and Mari were torn run ragged by Chelsea in their previous game, but Arsenal’s lack of options means they will likely get the nod against City.
Calum Chambers had a decent outing against West Brom and should retain his spot at right-back ahead of Cedric Soares.
Midfielders
Mohamed Elneny put in yet another poor display in the League Cup and will be replaced at the centre of the park by the promising Albert Sambi Lokonga. The Belgian has been one of Arsenal’s best players this season and has a bright future ahead of him.
Predicted Arsenal Lineup vs Manchester City
Granit Xhaka, who recently signed a new contract, will partner Lokonga in central midfield in the Arsenal lineup.
Martin Odegaard produced a sensational display on his second Arsenal debut against West Brom, providing a brilliant assist for Bukayo Saka’s goal in the second half. The Norwegian could retain the No. 10 spot ahead of Emile Smith Rowe.
Attackers
Bukayo Saka, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyand and Nicolas Pepe ran West Brom ragged on Wednesday and Arteta is unlikely to tinker with that combination.
Saka, who looked rusty against Chelsea, appears to have found his best form once again. Aubameyang, making his first start of the season against, looked sharp and bagged a hat-trick, which would boost his confidence ahead of the trip to the Etihad.
Pepe linked well with Saka and Aubameyang all night and registered a goal and an assist. Should Saka fail to make it in time, Smith Rowe could start on the left.
If Arsenal are to get anything out of their clash against City, they will need their front three firing on all cylinders.
