Man City vs Arsenal preview: Prediction, team news & lineups

Well, here it is, folks. The one we’ve all been dreading/waiting for. Man City vs Arsenal. Potential title decider. 

Arsenal’s recent woes mean the Premier League title is in City’s hands heading into Wednesday’s bout at the Etihad, and it feels like the Gunners have got to win in Manchester to have any chance of lifting their first league title in 20 years.

Arsenal’s current advantage is five points after they rescued a point against the lowly Southampton on Friday night, but the back-to-back champions have played two games fewer and they barely had to break a sweat in their FA Cup semi-final on Saturday.

While Mikel Arteta’s side have hit a bump in the road, Pep Guardiola’s Citizens are purring. Their last defeat came at Tottenham on 5 February.

City’s imperious run has once again rendered them favourites for the title, but Arsenal will reignite their challenge and some if they secure their first win at the Etihad in eight years on Wednesday night.

Man City vs Arsenal preview: Prediction, team news & lineups

Here’s our preview of the potential title decider at the Etihad.

How to watch Man City vs Arsenal on TV

When is kick-off? Wednesday 26 April

What time is kick-off? 20:00 (BST)

Where is it played? Etihad Stadium

TV channel/live stream? BT Sport 1 (UK), Peacock (US), fuboTV (Canada)

Referee? Michael Oliver

Man City team news

Man City have just one injury concern heading into Wednesday’s game, but it is a big one.

Nathan Ake, who has twice performed well against Bukayo Saka in 2023, is a major doubt with a hamstring injury. If the Dutch international is deemed unfit to start, Aymeric Laporte will likely deputise in City’s defence alongside Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, and the all-encompassing John Stones.

Riyad Mahrez should retain his spot down the right flank after he bagged a hat-trick against Sheffield United at the weekend.

Arsenal team news

William Saliba is set to miss out once again with a lower back injury, and some have suggested Arteta might change tack in terms of personnel in defence. However, it’d be a surprise to see Kieran Tierney introduced to facilitate Ben White’s deployment at centre-back for such a mammoth encounter.

Thus, Rob Holding is likely to continue at the heart of defence.

Granit Xhaka should come back in for Fabio Vieira after he missed the draw with Southampton through illness. Otherwise, we shouldn’t be seeing any changes to the starting XI.

Man City vs Arsenal predicted lineups

Man City: Ederson; Akanji, Stones, Dias, Laporte; Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Haaland, Grealish.

Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.

Man City’s recent form

Man City 3-0 Sheffield United (22/04) – FA Cup

Bayern Munich 1-1 Man City (19/04) – Champions League

Man City 3-1 Leicester (15/04) – Premier League

Man City 3-0 Bayern Munich (12/04) – Champions League

Southampton 1-4 Man City (08/04) – Premier League

Arsenal’s recent form

Arsenal 3-3 Southampton (21/04) – Premier League

West Ham 2-2 Arsenal (16/04) – Premier League

Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal (09/04) – Premier League

Arsenal 4-1 Leeds Utd (01/04) – Premier League

Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace (19/03) – Premier League

Prediction

Arsenal perhaps don’t have as much to lose as they once did heading into this fixture, and that could work in their favour. While their build-up has been hampered by Saliba’s injury, there’s no doubt that the Gunners have the capacity to punish Guardiola’s side.

The Citizens will give them chances in transition, and Ake’s absence could be huge. Laporte certainly isn’t as adept at defending one-vs-one or open spaces compared to the Dutch international, and Saka could be in for a big game as a result.

However, City’s experience counts for plenty in contests like this and their current form suggests it’ll take a monumental effort from the visitors to walk away with all three points. I think the Gunners could hurt the hosts on Wednesday, but it’ll be Guardiola’s men that ultimately claim victory.

I don’t see how a side that has just conceded six goals against West Ham and Southampton could possibly slow down this sky blue juggernaut.

Prediction: Man City 4-2 Arsenal