Man City vs Arsenal predicted XIs: Confirmed team news and probable lineups | OneFootball

The most significant match of the Premier League season so far takes place at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon when champions Manchester City host title rivals Arsenal.

City have won all four matches to start the season but the Gunners are hot on their heels with three wins from four and the pair will lock horns at 4.30pm UK time.

Man City (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Gundogan, Rodri, Silva; Foden, Haaland, Grealish

Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Rice, Partey, Jorginho; Saka, Havertz, Trossard

Man City vs Arsenal team news

Guardiola was dealt a huge blow on Wednesday evening when Kevin De Bruyne came off at half-time in the Champions League clash against Inter with a groin injury.

While the injury is not thought to be serious, the Belgian playmaker is expected to miss out, so Guardiola could bring Ilkay Gundogan into a midfield three alongside Rodri and Bernardo Silva.

Phil Foden returned to action from the bench in midweek and is pushing for a start but City remain without defender Nathan Ake, who is expected to be sidelined until after the October international break.

Arsenal’s absentee list dominated the build-up to last week’s north London derby but Mikel Arteta will be pleased to see Declan Rice return to Premier League action after a one-match ban.

However, the Gunners are still without captain Martin Odegaard, who has an ankle ligament injury which Arteta described as “quite significant” prior to the Atalanta game.

Kai Havertz has dropped into the midfield three in his absence but Arteta could take a more defensive approach at the Etihad with Jorginho another option in the middle of the park.

Kieran Tierney, Mikel Merino, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu are also out.

Title hopefuls bidding to lay down an early marker

Man City pipped Arsenal to the Premier League title by two points last season and, after four matches of the new campaign, the Citizens’ lead at the top of the table is identical.

Pep Guardiola’s men have made a perfect start to their title defence, beating Chelsea, Ipswich, West Ham and Brentford and Erling Haaland has been in red-hot form, scoring an incredible nine goals to take charge of the Golden Boot race.

However, the Citizens were held to a 0-0 draw by Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday and, in Arsenal, they face a team who were able to shut them out in both league meetings last term.

The Gunners, renowned for their defensive resolve under Arteta, won 1-0 at the Emirates in October 2023 and then kept their rivals quiet in this fixture, restricting City to just one shot on target in a goalless stalemate in March.

While that performance illustrated the Gunners’ steady improvement, they have traditionally struggled at the Etihad, losing seven Premier League matches in a row in this part of Manchester before last season’s draw.

Arsenal, who have beaten Aston Villa and Tottenham on the road this season, also have to contend with a short turnaround after playing out a 0-0 draw of their own against Atalanta in Bergamo in the Champions League on Thursday.