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

Manchester City travel to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon to face top-flight rivals Arsenal, as the Sky Blues continue their quest for a top-four finish this season.

The relentless winter schedule continues for the reigning Premier League champions, with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal the latest side standing in front of Manchester City, who are looking to pick up some form this season in domestic competition in particular.

For all of Manchester City’s hardships this season with injuries and poor results, a win over Arsenal on Sunday afternoon would put the blues just three points behind the Gunners, which is remarkable considering Arsenal were supposedly favourites for the title this season.

When Arsenal visited the Etihad Stadium earlier in the season, Arteta showed the world where he stands on the title race with the Gunners refusing to play football and instead looked to defend a measly 1-2 lead throughout the entire second-half.

John Stones decided he was certainly not a fan of this outcome, and crushed the dreams of thousands of travelling Gunners as the two sides shared the spoils in a bizarre 2-2 draw in Manchester.

The full-time scenes were box office entertainment too, with Erling Haaland in particular at the forefront telling Mikel Arteta directly what he thought he needed to do, and even giving some to former Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus.

However, manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that there will be no ‘score to settle’ this weekend, with his Manchester City side preparing as usual with no ulterior motive in this one.

Pep Guardiola also confirmed that Manchester City arrive into the fixture with the same squad as the one that defeated Club Brugge 3-1 during the week, with Rodri, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake and Jeremy Doku still out injured.

New signings Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov will all be back available for Pep Guardiola in this one, after they were ruled ineligible for the UEFA Champions League squad in the victory over the Belgian outfit on Wednesday night.

With that being said, here is how we think Manchester City will line up for this one, as they take on Arsenal in a huge clash in the Premier League this Sunday!

Predicted XI

Ederson has seemingly reaffirmed his position as the number one for Manchester City in recent weeks having displaced Stefan Ortega Moreno once more, meaning the Brazilian will be starting between the sticks this weekend.

Given the defensive injuries in the Manchester City squad, and following on from several starts in the role over the last few matches, Matheus Nunes will be expected to persist on the right side of defence for the blues.

John Stones showed glimpses of his Treble-winning season self on Wednesday night, contributing with two assists to win the match. We all know the Englishman loves a game against Arsenal, so he will be starting this one likely alongside Manuel Akanji.

Josko Gvardiol has been the one constant in defence this season for Manchester City, and we don’t expect that to change this Sunday afternoon as Guardiola puts his faith into the Croatian once more.

Rodri is set to be named in Pep Guardiola’s UEFA Champions League squad for the knockout stages with the Spaniard still recovering from an ACL injury. Sadly, it will be a while before we see him in action, and so Mateo Kovacic will be slotting in at the base of midfield.

Kevin De Bruyne has scored more goals against Arsenal than any other club during his time with Manchester City and as such we expect him to start this one, partnering Phil Foden in the advanced roles within the midfield three.

Savinho was the difference maker on Wednesday night, scoring the third goal and generally speeding the game up for Manchester City upon his arrival in the second-half against Club Brugge. He is likely to start this one on the right of a front three.

“Stay Humble, eh?”

The infamous words muttered by Manchester City’s striker Erling Haaland to Mikel Arteta last time out between these two sides, with the Norwegian set to start once again and looking to putting Arsenal to the sword.

Given his rest in midweek, we think new signing Omar Marmoush will complete the Manchester City starting squad after his impressive debut against Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium last weekend.

Starting XI: Ederson; Nunes, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol; Kovacic, De Bruyne, Foden; Savinho, Haaland, Marmoush.

Substitutes: Ortega Moreno, Lewis, Khusanov, Reis, Gundogan, Bernardo, McAtee, Grealish, Bobb.