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This weekend's Premier League action features a clash of giants as last season’s top two sides, Manchester City and Arsenal, face off in a highly anticipated encounter at the Etihad Stadium.
Both teams return to domestic competition after goalless draws in the Champions League against Italian teams, with City being held by Inter Milan and Arsenal relying on heroics from David Raya to secure a point against Atalanta.
Match Preview
Just over a year ago, Rodri's decisive goal saw Manchester City claim their first-ever Champions League title against Inter Milan, but the Spanish midfielder, along with Erling Haaland, struggled to find a way through the Italian side’s defense in their midweek rematch.
Manchester City’s 2024-25 Champions League journey began with a goalless draw against their 2023 final opponents, as they failed to capitalize on their chances, with Ilkay Gundogan notably missing a prime headed opportunity.
That stalemate marked the end of City's perfect start to the season, although they remain flawless in the Premier League, thanks to a Haaland-led comeback against Brentford last weekend. The Norwegian forward, who turned down compassionate leave following the loss of a close family friend, responded to Yoane Wissa's early strike with his ninth goal of the season, setting a new record for the most goals after four Premier League games.
City's current league winning streak stands at 13 matches, and they have a chance to set another record by becoming the first team to win their first five matches of the season in five separate campaigns. However, the last team to take points off them was none other than Arsenal.
Just one day after City’s draw, Arsenal also left their Champions League match against Italian opposition goalless, largely thanks to Raya’s goalkeeping brilliance. The Spanish keeper saved Mateo Retegui’s penalty and his follow-up header, securing a valuable point in a challenging trip to Bergamo.
Raya’s stunning saves earned praise from both Mikel Arteta and pundits like Robbie Savage, with many calling them some of the finest ever seen. While Arsenal’s result against an in-form Atalanta side shouldn’t be underestimated, the Gunners lacked a cutting edge in attack, especially without their injured captain, Martin Odegaard.
Similarly, during their recent North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal found it hard to break through until Gabriel Magalhaes' header from a set-piece earned them a crucial victory. This win maintained their second-place position in the league until other weekend results saw them slip to fifth.
On the road, Arsenal have shown resilience, and they are on the verge of setting a Premier League record by avoiding going behind in 12 consecutive away matches. Their last 11 away games have all been free from trailing at any point.
In their recent meetings with Manchester City, Arsenal managed a goalless draw at the Etihad during Easter, while a deflected Gabriel Martinelli strike earned them a 1-0 win at the Emirates last season. However, the Gunners haven’t claimed a victory at the Etihad since January 2015, during Arsene Wenger's tenure.
Team News
Both managers are facing the prospect of missing their key playmakers for this crucial fixture. For Manchester City, Kevin De Bruyne is dealing with a groin injury sustained in the Champions League and is unlikely to feature, although Pep Guardiola has not completely ruled him out.
Guardiola is cautious about risking De Bruyne’s fitness, especially with a fully-fit Phil Foden ready to step in. Foden, along with Kyle Walker, is expected to return to the starting lineup, with Walker likely tasked with handling Arsenal's left-wing threat.
Arsenal will also be without their captain, Martin Odegaard, who has been ruled out for an extended period due to an ankle injury, as confirmed by Arteta. Odegaard joins a growing injury list that includes Mikel Merino, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Kieran Tierney.
Despite their injuries, Riccardo Calafiori and Bukayo Saka both recovered in time to feature against Atalanta, while Declan Rice is back in action following his suspension. Up front, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli struggled to make an impact in midweek, which could give Raheem Sterling hope of making his first start for Arsenal against his former club. However, Leandro Trossard remains ahead of Sterling in the pecking order for now.