Pep Guardiola has named the same XI against Arsenal that started the games against Manchester United and Napoli. The boss is clearly happy with what he has seen in those two games so keeps faith with ...
Pep Guardiola has named the same XI against Arsenal that started the games against Manchester United and Napoli.
The boss is clearly happy with what he has seen in those two games so keeps faith with his players for today's trip to the Emirates.
It's the first time in more than four years that Pep has named an unchanged starting XI for three games in a row when, in August 2021, the same side started against Norwich, Arsenal and Leicester.
The only other occasion was in 2017, when Pep started the same XI against Chelsea, Stoke and Napoli.
Team News
CITY: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Rodrigo, Bernardo (C), Reijnders, Foden, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Trafford, Stones, Ake, Nico, Savinho, Nunes, Bobb, Mukasa, Lewis
ARSENAL XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Merino, Madueke, Trossard, Gyökeres
Subs: Kepa, Mosquera, White, Saka, Eze, Martinelli, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly
Tactics/possible formation
With an unchanged team it's easier to predict how we line-up against Arsenal.
Gianluigi Donnarumma - who was outstanding for PSG against Arsenal at the Emirates last season - will have Abdukodir Khusanov and Nico O'Reilly as his full-backs, with Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol (making his 100th appearance for City) in central defence.
Rodri will have Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden alongside him in midfield, with Bernardo and Jeremey Doku on the wings and Erling Haaland as our striker.
WATCH: Watch: City's last 10 goals away to Arsenal
Blues' tough assignment
Make no mistake, last season's 5-1 defeat at the Emirates was a chastening afternoon for City.
It's probably fair to say that Arsenal have held the Blues as a the team they most wanted to emulate - and surpass - in their quest to end a long wait for Premier League glory.
That has led to an intensity in the meetings over the past four seasons or so, where the games have usually been tight and cagey.
The Gunners caught City at a fragile time and though we'd gone to North London unbeaten in six, we were still far from the side that had dominated domestic football over the previous seven years.
Going behind inside two minutes didn't help but the Blues steadied the ship and levelled on 55 minutes through Erling Haaland - but thereafter, we fell apart.
Arsenal scored four goals in the time that remained and Miles Lewis-Skelly's lotus celebration felt like a very public mocking that Mikel Arteta was reported to be not particularly pleased with.
All in all, it was a day to forget.
Today, City face a Gunners side that have strengthened significantly in the summer as they bid to finally go one better than their three successive runners-up finishes.
This will be a tough 90 minutes for the Blues, but not one we can't take something from.
There could be up to 12 different players in this game from the 18 in our matchday squad from last season - a huge shift in personnel - as Pep Guardiola's new-look side evolve and gel together.
So today will be an early barometer of where this new City side currently are.
Undoubtedly, it will also be one of our toughest away tests of the campaign, but will no doubt be fascinating nonetheless.
Stats, facts & Milestones
Arsenal have won two of their last four league meetings with City (D2), as many as their previous 22 beforehand (D5 L15). The Gunners could win back-to-back league games against the Blues for the first time since December 2015.
City have lost both of their last two Premier League visits to Arsenal, as many as their previous 14 beforehand (W7 D5 L2). It’s their longest losing run away to the Gunners since April 2009 (4 in a row).
Arsenal have won their last three Premier League home games by an aggregate score of 9-0. They last won four in a row without conceding in December 2021, while they last won their first three at home in a season without conceding in 1960-61.
City have lost five of their last seven Premier League games immediately following a European game in midweek (W2), including a 5-1 loss at Arsenal in February. Their previous five such defeats came over a period of 46 games in five years (W27 D14).
Only Bournemouth (9) have had more direct attacks than Arsenal in the Premier League this season (8, an average of 2 per game). Last season, the Gunners ranked 11th for direct attacks (1.7 per game).
With City winless in four Premier League games against Arsenal, Pep Guardiola could go five games without a top-flight league win against an opponent for the very first time. Mikel Arteta could also become the first manager ever to go five league games unbeaten against Guardiola.
Erling Haaland has scored four goals in six Premier League appearances against Arsenal, while he has 19 goals in 20 league games in London. Among players to play 1,000+ minutes in away Premier League games in the capital, Haaland has the best minutes per goal ratio (one every 93 mins).
Viktor Gyökeres has scored in both of his two Premier League home games for Arsenal (3 goals in total).
The only player to score in each of his first three for the club in the competition was Alexandre Lacazette in 2017.
Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres has applied more pressures in the final third than any other player in the Premier League this season (166). Meanwhile, Man City’s #9 Erling Haaland has applied more pressures in the opponent’s penalty area than anyone else (65).
Gianluigi Donnarumma made two saves and kept a clean sheet on his Premier League debut in City’s 3-0 win against Man Utd last weekend. The only keepers to record a clean sheet in their first two starts for the Blues are Kasper Schmeichel (August 2007) and Stefan Ortega (May 2023).
Category: General Sports
