Arsenal can blow title race wide open with win over Man City

We have a mouthwatering game to look forward this weekend as Arsenal take on Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The match will see last seasons top two go head-to-head in North London and Arsenal will be looking to make a statement to show they are once again ready to be City’s main challengers for the title.

The Gunners spent almost 250 days at the top of the Premier League table last season and looked on course to win their first title since 2004. However, a collapse in April brought on by injuries to some key players saw City eat away at Arsenal’s lead. The Cityzens eventually won the league by five points en route to winning the treble having also won the Champions League and FA Cup.

Mikel Arteta can still be proud of his players as nobody had Arsenal down as title contenders before the 2022/23 season started. However, expectation levels have now risen and the Gunners are now expected to challenge for major honours this campaign, especially after spending huge money during the summer transfer window. The next step for Arteta’s young squad is to beat Man City and establish themselves as a top tier European club again, so Arsenal will be desperate to make that statement at the Emirates on Sunday.

The North Londoners have made a steady start to the new league season as they are unbeaten so far having won five and drawn the other two of their seven matches. Frustrating 2-2 draws at home to Fulham and Tottenham have seen them drop four points and individual errors in those games cost them. Arsenal cannot afford to gift Man City cheap goals on Sunday if they want to beat the reigning champions.

Last time out in the Premier League, Arsenal thrashed Bournemouth 4-0 at the Vitality Stadium. On the same day, Man City slipped to a shock 2-1 defeat at Wolves which has left Arsenal sitting joint second in the table with Tottenham – just one point behind leaders City. A win on Sunday would see Arsenal leapfrog City in the table and deal a huge physiological blow to Pep Guardiola’s men.

However, Arteta will need to pick his players up after their surprise 2-1 defeat to Lens in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Gabriel Jesus put Arsenal ahead midway through the first half but a dire second half performance allowed Lens to turn things around and consign the Gunners to their first defeat in all competitions this season. It was arguably Arsenal’s worst display of the campaign and they’ll have to play a lot better if they want to get a positive result against City.

The Cityzens head to London off the back of an impressive 3-1 win at RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku got the goals to secure the win and maintain City’s perfect record in Group G.

However, domestically City have hit a bit of a sticky patch – by their high standards. After winning their opening six league games, the Sky Blues crashed out of the League Cup at the hands of Newcastle before suffering their first league defeat away to Wolves last weekend. Guardiola will be demanding a response from his players as he looks to continue his excellent record against friend Mikel Arteta.

How to watch

Arsenal take on Manchester City on Sunday 8th October 2023, with the game kicking off at 4.30pm at the Emirates Stadium. As you’d expect, tickets via the club websites have already sold out and they were snapped up by fans within minutes of going on sale – which is no surprise given the importance of the game. However, supporters can still buy Arsenal vs Man City tickets at Seatsnet.com but you better hurry as they will be selling fast.

For non match going fans, Sky Sports subscribers can still watch all the action live as it happens on Sunday as the match have been selected for live broadcast.

Team news

Arsenal are assessing Bukayo Saka after he limped out of Tuesday night’s defeat to Lens with a hamstring injury. The winger has now been forced off in each of his last three matches with various injury issues, so Arteta will be cautious not to rush him back in fear of causing further lasting damage.

However, Saka is hugely important to Arsenal and this is one of the biggest games of the season, so no doubt the Spanish coach will give the 22-year-old every opportunity to prove his fitness.

Gabriel Martinelli is also a major doubt to face City as the Brazilian is still working his way back from a hamstring injury that he picked up against Everton last month. Again, Arteta will give Martinelli every chance to prove his fitness but it’s unlikely he’ll be ready to start on Sunday.

Jurrien Timber is facing a battle to play again this season after suffering an ACL injury on the opening weekend against Nottingham Forest. But there is better news on Thomas Partey as he’s available again after making a swift recovery from a groin injury.

Manchester City will be without Kevin De Bruyne as the Belgian superstar is facing 2-3 months on the sidelines with a thigh injury. Rodri will also miss the trip to North London due to suspension after being sent off against Wolves last weekend.

Possible Line-ups

Eddie Nketiah is on stand-by for a recall in attack if Saka isn’t deemed fit enough to start for Arsenal. Leandro Trossard should keep his place on the left wing with Martinelli not expected to start.

Arteta could freshen things up following Tuesday’s disappointment against Lens with Ben White coming back in at right-back for Takehiro Tomiyasu. Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe are also pushing for recalls if Arteta decides to drop Kai Havertz in midfield.

Mateo Kovacic should start alongside John Stones in the middle of the park with Rodri out. Bernardo Silva could also start with Alvarez supporting Erling Haaland in attack for the Cityzens.

Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Ødegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Trossard.

Man City XI: Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Walker, Kovacic, Stones, Silva, Grealish; Alvarez, Haaland.

Predicted score

Man City have an excellent record against Arsenal in recent years with Guardiola yet to lose a Premier League game against the North Londoners since arriving seven years ago. Arteta will be desperate to end that run on Sunday but City have looked formidable again this season – apart from last weekend’s blip at Wolves.

Saka and Martinelli’s potential absence would really hurt Arsenal, and even if they do start they aren’t going to be 100% fit. Arsenal competed well against City in the Community Shield and this should be another competitive game. Home advantage could see the Gunners earn a valuable point. Arsenal 1-1 Man City