The top two from last season renew their rivalry at the Emirates on Sunday and champions Manchester City are favourites to maintain their Premier League dominance over the 2022-23 runners-up Arsenal.
City claimed a third straight Premier League title at the Gunners’ expense last season, finishing five points clear of their nearest pursuers, and are odds-on to retain their crown.
Pep Guardiola’s side have won their last 12 league meetings with Arsenal, but the all-conquering Citizens suffered their first defeat of the campaign at Wolves last weekend.
With key players either suspended or injured, it may be difficult for City to extend their superiority over an Arsenal side who are unbeaten after seven league games.
- Arsenal draw no bet
- Bukayo Saka to score at any time
- Mateo Kovacic to be shown a card
Arsenal Can Snap Loosing Sequence
Arsenal have failed to beat Manchester City in the Premier League since 2015 but this may be the time Mikel Arteta gets a rare win over his former master Guardiola.
Despite last weekend’s 2-1 loss at Wolves, Manchester City sit on top of the Premier League with six wins from seven games.
However, they have conceded in four of their last five league assignments and are much weaker for this trip to north London than could have been the case.
Midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne remains sidelined, defensive protector Rodri is suspended while Guardiola has confirmed that John Stones is not yet ready to play.
With star striker Erling Haaland having failed to score in three of his last four starts, this could be the perfect time for Arsenal to be taking on the champions.
City were beaten on league trips to Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham last season, stretched by pace on the counter-attack, and if Arsenal pick the right moments to break they may be able to emulate the feat.
Saka Could Make Presence Known
Arteta will be desperate to have Bukayo Saka fit to play and the news from his Friday press conference suggests he is confident the England international is in contention to start.
Saka is Arsenal’s leading contributor with five goals and five assists from ten appearances in all competitions this season and, with the international break to follow, it would be a huge surprise is he was not risked in a fixture of this magnitude.
The Gunners have failed to score in only one of the last five meetings with City, and Saka, who is likely to get the nod as first-choice penalty taker, has netted in two of those games.
Kovacic May Fall Foul Of Referee
In the absence of the suspended Rodri, it seems likely that Mateo Kovacic will be deployed in Manchester City’s midfield and with that a yellow card may follow.
The Croatian was an unused substitute in the 3-1 win at Leipzig in the Champions League in midweek,probably to be kept fit for this showdown.
Kovavic was cautioned in City’s last Premier League clash at Wolves and he collected five yellow cards in his final ten appearances for Chelsea last season, including in a 3-1 loss at the Emirates.
