2024-25 Premier League: Week Five – Manchester City vs Arsenal

Manchester City meet Arsenal in a blockbuster Premier League showdown at Etihad Stadium.

Victory will see Man City return to the summit, whilst Arsenal can go top with a win.

 

Team News

Kevin De Bruyne is a doubt for Man City after he suffered a hamstring injury in their goalless draw against Inter Milan in midweek Champions League action.

Nathan Ake (thigh) and Oscar Bobb (leg) remain absent.

Arsenal have no fresh injury concerns to report after their  midweek goalless draw at Atalanta in the Champions League.

Mikel Merino (shoulder), Martin Odegaard (ankle), Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) and Kieran Tierney (hamstring) remain sidelined.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Man City host Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on Sunday 22 September at 4:30pm BST, live on Sky Sports in the UK.

Stat Attack

• Man City have lost one of their last 16 league meetings against Arsenal (W13, D2, L1).
• Arsenal are winless in their last nine league trips to Man City (D2, L7).
• Mikel Arteta’s Gunners are looking to keep three clean sheets against Man City for the first time since April 2010 – January 2011.
• 14 of Erling Haaland’s 20 shots for Man City in the top-flight this season were converted onto goal.
• Bukayo Saka has been involved in five of Arsenal’s six league goals (one goal + four assists).

 

Prediction

With a first goalless draw of the season having come in midweek against Inter Milan amidst some wasteful finishing, Man City certainly will be fired up to try and quickly get back on the scoresheet.

Arsenal likewise stuttered to a goalless draw in midweek to Italian opposition after they were held away at Atalanta in a cagey contest, but their defence is a huge positive in contrast to City’s coming into this meeting.

Both teams though know that this is an early psychological moment in the season between the two title challengers, so I do expect another tough yet cagey battle but if Arsenal can target City’s shaky defence then they could edge this game.

Prediction: Manchester City 1-1 Arsenal

Result: Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal