Predicted Starting Line-Up: Arsenal vs Manchester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City travel to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon to take on Arsenal after securing two wins in a row across competitions of late.

Thursday night saw Kevin De Bruyne return to the Etihad Stadium for the first time since his free transfer exit to Napoli at the end of last season, and witnessed his pupil – Phil Foden – fill his role and inspire Manchester City to a victory from a No.10 role.

Pep Guardiola’s side defeated the reigning Italian champions 2-0 in the opening UEFA Champions League league phase game of the season, while the most recent Premier League outing painted Manchester blue with an impressive 3-0 win over Ruben Amorim’s United.

Last season at the Emirates, Arsenal took advantage of poor form Pep Guardiola’s men in a staggering 5-1 win, with most goals coming late in the action, while the reverse fixture saw John Stones salvage a point after hitting the back of the net in the closing exchanges.

Speaking to the media on Friday afternoon, Pep Guardiola raised doubts over Rodri’s availability and did not want to question the calendar, among other talking points, despite Arsenal having two days of extra rest as compared to the Blues following European action.

As Arsenal against Manchester City prepares for its latest chapter in an ever-developing rivalry, this is how we predict Pep Guardiola will line-up his side on Sunday afternoon in North London.

Predicted XI

“Gianluigi Donnarumma is a giant”, Tijjani Reijnders said during a recent interview, and two matches into his Etihad career and it feels like the Italian has been at City for two years. His confidence makes the team more stable, and he starts for us once again this weekend.

Experiencing a relatively new position, Abdukodir Khusanov has been impressive as a right-back in his last two outings in the role, with his strength, speed and dedication to the cause all perhaps fundamental to a must-win, big game.

Some might say Rúben Dias is being slept on by some supporters. The fact remains that the Portuguese international is a leader on the pitch and also an elite level defender, and we believe he should be in line to stand at the heart of the Sky Blue defence once again.

Josko Gvardiol is a complete footballer. However, his best position is indeed where he was signed to be at; centre-back. After coming back from injury earlier this season, he has upgraded the defensive system.

Academy graduate Nico O’Reilly has stepped in as a left-back following Rayan Ait-Nouri’s ankle injury, displaying the same role as he did on numerous occasions last season. Against the Gunners, he could have another chance of establishing himself.

Here is the dilemma: Rodri or Nico as the No.6? The Ballon D’or winner makes the team play smoother, although Nico is improving. In case he is fit to start, Rodri is ahead in competition, which means he is in our predicted squad, even if he can only manage 60 minutes.

With his movement, Tijjani Reijnders generates space for his Manchester City teammates and offers a new tactical weapon for the Cityzens. The Dutchman should start once again in a fluid central role.

Phil Foden is back. That’s the feeling among most Manchester City fans off the back of his two impressive outings against Manchester United and Napoli. The No.47’s recent form makes him the easiest of choices in a team prediction.

On the right of a traditional Manchester City front-three, Oscar Bobb can offer a threat in one-versus-ones. His dedication to track back and help the defensive system can be a difference maker on Sunday.

Erling Haaland has five goals to his name in four Premier League matches, making it his worst start to an English league season. This is how stats can perhaps lie; Haaland has evolved as a footballer and is in ridiculously good form, with eight balls into the net in the last three games for club and country. Is it even a prediction to put him there, or just a guarantee?

It seems like Jeremy Doku is unstoppable at this moment for Manchester City, finding form at the perfect time in a difficult run of matches. The Belgian can be the key to break a solid Arsenal defence from the left-wing position.

With this tactical set-up, the Blues would attack using a 3-2-5 system, while defending in a largely classic 4-4-2 formation.

Starting XI: Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Rodri, Reijnders, Foden; Bobb, Doku, Haaland.

Substitutes: Trafford, Ortega, Lewis, Nunes, Stones, Ake, Nico, Savinho, Bernardo.