Man City vs Arsenal: Statistical Preview, Form Guide, Injury News & Head-To-Head

A top four clash kicks off the Premier League weekend as Manchester City welcome Arsenal to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.

Manchester City are coming back from an impressive come-from-behind 3-2 victory at defending Champions League holders Bayern Munich on Tuesday night. Coach Manuel Pellegrini rested a number of first team players in that game to keep them fresh ahead of this big weekend tie.

Arsenal return from a disappointing 2-0 loss in Napoli on Wednesday. The Gunners still progress into the round of 16 but sipped into the second spot which will see them draw either Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain in Monday’s Champions League draw.

Form

Manchester City DWWWL

Manchester City have good reason to be disappointed in dropping 2 points from a winning position at Southampton last weekend as their poor away form continues. Pellegrini’s side are a different story at home – 7 wins from 7, scoring 29 goals and conceded only 2.

Vincent Kompany, Yaya Touré, Samir Nasri and Sergio Agüero were all rested to the midweek trip to Germany, keeping some of their starters fresh for this weekend’s tie versus the league leaders. Only Luis Suárez (15) has more goals than City’s Argentine star (12).

Matija Nastasić and Stevan Jovetić remain sidelined and Gaël Clichy is a doubt, giving Manuel Pellegrini the same bunch of players to pick from that he’s had over the past few winning weeks.

Arsenal DWWWL

Arsenal’s 3-game winning streak in the Premier League came to an end last weekend as Gerard Deulofeu rescued a point late on for visitors Everton at the Emirates Stadium.

The majority of the eleven who started in Arsenal’s disappointing loss in Napoli on Wednesday will be expected to start the trip to Manchester City this weekend. Olivier Giroud has scored in only one of his last nine matches in all competitions – that was a brace against Southampton. The club’s top scorer Aaron Ramsey has scored in only one of his last seven games in all competitions – that was a brace at Cardiff City. Arsenal’s defence has stepped up in recent weeks, keeping five clean sheets in their last seven Premier League matches.

Bacary Sagna has been a recent loss for Arsène Wenger, whilst Lukas Podolski, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Abou Diaby all remain sidelined.

Head-to-head

Manchester City were 2-0 winners at the Emirates Stadium back in January with help of Laurent Koscielny being sent off inside 10 minutes. James Milner and Edin Džeko scored the goals that day.

With 11 men, Arsenal were able to score a late equaliser at the Etihad in a 1-1 draw back in September 2012. Roberto Mancini was Manchester City’s manager for both of these games.

Premier League stats

Injuries

Manchester City
Stevan Jovetić (injury)
Matija Nastasić (injury)

Arsenal
Abou Diaby (injury)
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (injury)
Lukas Podolski (injury)
Bacary Sagna (doubt)
Yaya Sanogo (injury)

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