Manchester City are going to face Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium. The match is going to be really important both the sides for different reasons. Manchester City will try to win this match to put some pressure on the League leaders Liverpool. Manchester City were beaten by Newcastle United at St James Park in the previous match of the Premier League with a margin of 2-1. The League leaders Liverpool were also held by Leicester City at the Anfield. The match between these two sides ended with a 1-1 draw.
Manchester City are five points behind the League leaders Liverpool at this moment. A win on Sunday will close the gap to 2 as Liverpool will play against West Ham United on Monday night. On the other hand, the match is going to be really important for the Gunners to stay in the top four race. Their arch rivals Chelsea won against Huddersfield Town with a margin of 5-0 to reclaim the fourth position in the League Table. A draw can also it for the Gunners as Chelsea will face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in the next weekend.
Team News :
Manchester City :
Ederson is not fully fit to start this match against the Gunners as the Brazilian Goalkeeper faced an injury in the previous match while saving the penalty against Newcastle United. However, the club management will desperately try to field Ederson in this big match as the only optooo remaining in their hand will be the 20 year old Muric. There is a still a doubt of fitness of Benjamin Mendy. The French left back did not make it to the squad of Manchester City in the match against Newcastle United. Though, there is no confirmed news yet about his fitness issue.
Vincent Kompany and Claudio Bravo are two long term absentees for Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s boys will play against Everton in the midweek. So, the manager should be very much concerned about his team selection and the injuries of his team as he will have to use the bench strength in this time period.
Arsenal :
The new manager of Arsenal, Unai Emery was not happy with the performance of his boys in the match against Manchester United in the FA Cup match. However, they made a comeback in the match against Cardiff City in the mid-week.
The combination of Lacazette and Aubameyang can be lethal against any opponent at any time. The main man in the central defense, Laurent Koscielny is back in the training after recovering from the injury in the jaw. He should make it to the first team of the Gunners in this match. The approach of the Gunners will be counter attacking as one point from this match might be crucial for them at the end of the season.
Prediicted Starting Eleven :
Manchester City : (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper : Ederson
Defenders : Walker, Stones, Laporte, Mendy.
Midfielders : De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Silva.
Attackers : Sterling, Aguero, Sane.
Arsenal : (3-5-2)
Goalkeeper : Leno
Defenders : Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal
Midfielders : Maitland-Niles, Torreira, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Kolasinac.
Attackers : Lacazette, Aubameyang.
My Predicted Scoreline :
Manchester City 2-0 Arsenal.
