Arsenal vs Manchester City: 3 key battles for Emirates clash

2. Thomas Partey vs Kalvin Phillips/Mateo Kovacic

Shifting midfield dynamics on both sides will have a big impact on proceedings.

A red card against Nottingham Forest last month means Rodri will miss out for Man City once again, and the recent displays of his replacements suggest Arsenal could take advantage of the suspension on Sunday.

It was sloppiness from Mateo Kovacic that led to the Wolves opener last time out and Kalvin Phillips did not convince during their Carabao Cup loss to Newcastle before he was ruthlessly benched at Molineux.

Meanwhile, the Champions must also contend with John Stones’ continued absence, and being unable to rely on that formidable Stones/Rodri partnership will certainly test their resilience in transition.

This problem is especially acute given the Gunners’ proficiency at securing turnovers and the welcome return of Thomas Partey to first-team action.

Sidelined since the Fulham draw in August, Partey is now available to partner Rice in midfield and their combined technical expertise can allow us to gain a foothold in the match, with the £105m man’s defensive work likely to free up our no. 5 to orchestrate attacks from his deeper station.

Man City’s shocking record without Rodri offers Arsenal tangible hope of victory (five defeats in 67 league matches with him; five in 15 without). It is a major weakness we simply must exploit.

Continued on the next slide…