An Easter Sunday Etihad extravaganza headlines the return of Premier League football following the international break, as holders Manchester City welcome leaders Arsenal to their headquarters for a battle of epic proportions.
Mikel Arteta returns to his former stomping ground with his side boasting a one-point lead over the treble winners, which will increase to four if they can banish their nine-year Etihad curse.
While the Gunners may have leapfrogged Pep Guardiola’s team before the international break, City still head into this meeting in imperious form. They have lost just one of their last 20 Premier League games, and are unbeaten in 13 since a 1-0 loss at Aston Villa in December.
Six-straight wins to start the campaign saw them top the fledgling table, but having initially recovered from back-to-back losses to Wolves and ourselves in the autumn, another run of one win in six saw them slip to fourth as they headed to Saudi Arabia to successfully claim the World Club Cup.
Since their return, they have been virtually imperious, recording 15 wins in 17 matches in all competitions to sit a point behind us in third position, as well as reach the FA Cup semi-finals and the last eight of the Champions League. Guardiola will believe his team are perfectly poised to record an incredible double-Treble.
Team News
England duo Kyle Walker and John Stones have been ruled out of the game by the Citizens manager, although Manuel Akanji – who withdrew from Switzerland duty – is doing fine, while first-choice goalkeeper Ederson is also “much better” and could return in between the posts.
There was no update on the knock that Matheus Nunes picked up on Portugal duty, but Kevin De Bruyne – a frequent tormentor of Arsenal’s with eight goals and five assists from 20 games against them – has trained “really well” and is expected to be given the thumbs-up. Jack Grealish is fit again too, but a spot on the bench beckons for the Englishman.
As City players dropped like flies over the international break, so did a handful of Arsenal’s key troops, as Brazil defender Gabriel Magalhaes and England winger Bukayo Saka both withdrew from their countries’ camps before playing a game.
Gabriel Martinelli – scorer of Arsenal’s solitary goal in October’s win over Man City – was already a known absentee with his foot wound, although Arteta is hopeful that all three will be able to shake off their niggles in time to reprise their regular starting roles; he confirmed on Friday that there was a “chance” for all three of them.
Takehiro Tomiyasu and Thomas Partey are also expected to be available after facing Queens Park Rangers in a behind-closed-doors friendly during the international break, potentially leaving ACL victim Jurrien Timber as their only absentee, but the Dutchman is on course to play again before the season draws to a close.
Lineups
Manchester City possible starting lineup
Ederson; Lewis, Dias, Akanji, Ake; Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Foden, Haaland, Doku
Arsenal possible starting lineup
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Predictions
Fans should expect a battle of the titans as both teams set eyes on the title. Although City are favourites, getting the three points out of Arteta Boys would require more than hardwork.
Arsenal are also keen to break their trophy drought so they will give it all.
