Arsenal vs Manchester City: Team news, match facts and prediction

 Arsenal and Manchester City face off once again this time fighting for a place in the FA Cup final.

City are still chasing a domestic cup double with the League Cup already in the bag – while a Champions League triumph is also in their sights when the competition resumes in August.

The Gunners are chasing their 14th FA Cup success which would also guarantee them a spot in next season’s Europa League – with qualification via the league still by no means secure with a host of clubs still in the running.

City have swept aside Arsenal in recent league meetings but Arsenal will hope to provide a sterner test on the big stage.

Taking down the Premier League champions will have given Arsenal a major boost heading into this fixture but City may have their number again.

Team news

Midfielder Mesut Ozil has returned to training for Arsenal having missed the past six games with back soreness but Arteta did not reveal whether the German would feature or not.

Guardiola usually selects Claudio Bravo in goal for cup matches but the Chilean is injured meaning usual number one Ederson will keep his place in the side.

Match facts

Arsenal have lost their past seven meetings with Manchester City in all competitions, by an aggregate score of 20-2. Only against Leeds have Arsenal ever lost more consecutive matches in their history (eight).

Manchester City’s last defeat against Arsenal in all competitions was in an FA Cup semi-final, throwing away a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 in 2017, with Arsenal going on to beat Chelsea in the final.

This is just the fifth FA Cup meeting between City and Arsenal, with City winning the first in February 1904, and Arsenal winning the next three (March 1932, February 1971 and April 2017).

Arsenal

Arsenal are playing in their 30th FA Cup semi-final – no side has played in more. They’ve reached the final on 20 occasions, which is also a joint record (level with Manchester United for both).

Arsenal have beaten/eliminated the holders of the FA Cup each of the past five times they’ve faced them, and this is their first such match since the 2014 semi-final against Wigan Athletic.

Four of Arsenal’s seven FA Cup goals this season have been scored by players under the age of 21 – the most of any side from the first round proper – Bukayo Saka (1), Eddie Nketiah (2), Reiss Nelson (1).

Manchester City

Manchester City have won 10 of their past 12 FA Cup semi-final matches, with their two defeats in that time coming against Arsenal (1932 and 2017).

Holders City are looking to reach the FA Cup final in consecutive years for the third time, also doing so in 1933-1934 and 1955-1956. They are unbeaten in their past nine matches at Wembley Stadium, last losing against Arsenal in the 2017 FA Cup semi-final.

City’s Phil Foden has had a part in seven goals in just six FA Cup appearances (4 goals, 3 assists), averaging a goal involvement every 57 minutes in the competition.