Arsenal vs Man City preview: How to watch, predicted lineups, score prediction & injury updates

Arsenal Predicted Lineup

Arsenal: Leno; Bellerin, Holding, Mari, Cedric; Ceballos, Xhaka, Odegaard; Pepe, Lacazette, Martinelli

Man City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Stones, Zinchenko; De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Gundogan; Torres, Aguero, Sterling

Arsenal vs Manchester City Score Prediction

This won’t be fun, will it? If you’re Arteta and looking for a glimmer of hope, it’s probably that Guardiola may rest a couple of his heavy-hitters ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League first leg tie with Borussia Mönchengladbach.

May Phil Foden get a breather? Perhaps, but probably not. City know then can blow any side out of the water by half-time, as they’ve done so many often with Arsenal, so for that reason he may seek to get the game wrapped up early then play keep ball to save legs.

Even if they do rest a few players, their second string is as good as any first-team in the country. Hardly a downgrade.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1362723404340674563

Nobody wants to be a Negative Nancy but sometimes you have to hold your hands up and be honest about the gulf in class. Arsenal have to make changes to their side, and while there are no fears of Pablo Mari coming in at centre-back or Gabriel Martinelli playing up front, it will require 9’s and 10’s from every Arsenal player and an uncharacteristic off day from most of the City side to secure a positive result.

The game is not done and dusted, though. The above variables can fall into place even if the likes of Saka and Smith Rowe are rested. As shown in big games this season, Arsenal can compete. More so than in many of the previous years.

What causes concern is Xhaka. One of Arsenal’s best players since Christmas, he’s played an awful lot of minutes this season and that may well have contributed to an off-day in midweek. Unfortunately, he has to play on Sunday as the backup options are so weak, and the dexterous grouping of Gundogan, Foden and Bernardo Silva, or whoever plays, may wrestle control of midfield against tired legs and dictate the game.

They’re a cut above are City. Guardiola has proven that it is possible to undergo two rebuilds in the same team, and his latest offering is as destructive as the last. You have to side with superiority for this one.

Score Prediction: Arsenal 0-2 Manchester City