Arsenal vs Manchester City predicted XI: The FA Cup is serious

Arsenal will look to double-up on their giant-slaying by taking the semi-final over Manchester City. Here’s how they should line up.

After dropping the North London Derby in a flat, uninspired effort, no one would have predicted Arsenal‘s win over Liverpool. A scrappy effort that saw them outshot 24-3 by their guests, the Gunners were able to make the most of their chances and defend like their lives depended on it.

Which amounted to three points that may well prove inconsequential, but that’s still such a wonderful thing to see after such a paltry effort.

Next up is Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final. The match that we rotated the team against Liverpool for and still won. But this time, there is something to fight for other than denying Liverpool a 100-point season. Though that was nice too.

For Manchester City, the heavy-hitters are going to be back out. Although after the contrast between Liverpool and Spurs, I’m not sure who the heavy hitters are…

Anyway, there aren’t any surprises in store as far as injuries and exclusions. Everyone that was hurt is still hurt and everyone that was suspended is still suspended. The only newbie to the prematch report is Cedric Soares, who can’t feature after featuring for Southampton in the FA Cup earlier in the campaign.

Cedric aside, you can expect Arteta to stick with the 3-4-3 formation. If he was willing to keep it after the embarrassment against Tottenham, he is willing to keep it for the foreseeable future. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, if for no other reason than because the wingbacks are such a fantastic resource for this club.

Those two alone make this so incredibly worth it and, let’s be honest, the defense hasn’t been awful. Flimsy? Sure. But they stood firm against Liverpool. Which is why we’re likely to see changes on that backline. More on that in a bit. Let’s dig into the starting XI, beginning at the back.

Keeper

No changes. Emiliano Martinez is a thrill in and of himself, so I can’t wait to see how he can bail us out in this one. Bring it on.

Centerbacks coming up next.