Manchester City look to revive a flagging title defence as they visit Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal could go sixth with a win and other results swinging their way, whereas Man City will be looking to reduce their seven point gap to Leicester down to four points.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesNicolas Pepe could return for Arsenal after missing Thursday’s draw in Standard Liege with a knee concern.
Hector Bellerin (hamstring) could also feature but Dani Ceballos won’t be available for another week, as he battles his own hamstring injury along with Granit Xhaka who has concussion.
Rob Holding (knee) and Kieran Tierney (shoulder) are both ruled out.
Man City could be without David Silva due to a knock which has prevented him training on Thursday and Friday.
Ederson (illness) is expected to start in goal whilst Sergio Aguero (muscle), John Stones (hamstring), Aymeric Laporte and Leroy Sane (both knee) remain sidelined.
Form
Arsenal are unbeaten in three of four games across all competitions under Freddie Ljungberg, but are yet to keep a clean sheet in the league in their last eight outings since beating Bournemouth 1-0 in early October.
Man City are unbeaten in five of their last six matches in all competitions despite failing to keep a clean sheet in any of their last nine outings.
Stat Attack
- Arsenal have lost each of their last five meetings with Manchester City, of which one came in the 2018 League Cup Final at Wembley.
- Bernardo Silva has scored in each of City’s last two trips to the Emirates Stadium.
- Arsenal have taken just a single point against Pep Guardiola, courtesy of a 2-2 draw here in April 2017.
- Ederson has already made one error when conceding a goal this season, having made no such mistakes last season.
- Both clubs have scored twice from the penalty spot this season.
Prediction
For all of their defensive fragility and lethargic periodic play, Arsenal are still capable of troubling teams when given the opportunity to dictate play which I doubt will be the case here.
Man City however are feeling the effects of their injury crisis and are yet somehow dragging out wins, although Manchester United last weekend showed what can happen if teams take the game to them.
I therefore don’t feel that this will be a classic but City should just about have the enough for a win here.
Prediction: Arsenal 1-2 Manchester City
Result: Arsenal 0-3 Manchester City