Table-toppers Arsenal and their bitter rivals Manchester City will square off in a thrilling match on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester. It could end up being the Premier League’s title-decider with three teams in the running for the title after a decade.
Right now, City are playing brilliantly, having won four of their last five games and drawn one. They will be coming off a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United going into their match against Arsenal. The defending champions won handily thanks to two goals from Bernardo Silva. They are 3rd in the League table at the moment, with 63 points from 28 matches.
With 64 points, however, the Gunners are currently at the top of the table. They have participated in 28 league games thus far, winning 20 of them. Arsenal had won four of their previous five meetings with resounding victories. Arsenal are on a brilliant run at the moment, winning their last 8 matches in all competitions in a row.
Injury Concerns
Manchester City will miss the services of right-back Kyle Walker and centre-back John Stones for the clash, Man City coach Pep Guardiola confirmed before the match. Moreover, regular goalkeeper Ederson is also a doubt going into the match.
For Arsenal, right-winger Bukayo Saka and defender Gabriel Magalhaes are in a race against time to get fit before the match. Both Saka and Gabriel missed their country’s international friendlies during the break. Apart from that, Gabriel Martinelli remains a doubt while Jurrien Timber is a long-term absentee.
The Guardiola vs Arteta battle
Pep Guardiola has seen it all, won it all. Regarded as the one of the best coaches (if not the best) of all time, he has left an inedible mark wherever he has coached. He won the treble with this City team last season, and is still in contention to repeat the feat this season too.
Mikel Arteta is no pushover either. Arteta started his managerial career under Guardiola as the assistant coach of Man City before taking over Arsenal’s reign. He has overseen Arsenal’s drastic change in these past four years, and has made the Gunners a force to reckon with once more. Moreover, Arsenal have beaten City twice this season, in the Community Shield as well as the first leg of the Premier League at the Emirates stadium. Will it be a third time or will City bulldoze Arsenal with their winning mentality? A few hours’ wait, and the answer will be clear.
Editors pick
