Key battle, team news, predictions… All to know as Arsenal aim first win at Etihad in 10 years

Third placed defending champions, Manchester City will take on Arsenal in the Premier League on March 31st as they hope to gain ground on the league leaders.

Sunday marks the start of Arsenal’s last lap in the Premier League title challenge as they go to Manchester City in an attempt to win at the Etihad since 2015.

Arsenal hasn’t won at the Etihad Stadium since January 2015; if they want to win the league for the first time in twenty years, they will undoubtedly need to walk away with three points.

Neither of the two teams could be playing better before the March international break. City looks well-positioned to duplicate their treble-winning performance from the previous season. This is the final head-to-head match between the three title candidates, and it will mark the beginning of the run-in after the March international break for both teams. Key battle, team news, predictions.

The Cityzens will go into the game off a good run of form as they have won six of their last seven games in all competitions and recorded one draw. Within that period, they scored 17 goals and conceded only five.

In contrast, the visitors’ current form is comparable to that of their opponents. In their last seven games across all competitions, the Gunners have won six and lost one. They had an incredible 24 goals scored and an equally astounding 2 goals surrendered throughout that streak. In their most recent match, they eliminated FC Porto from the Champions League to advance to the quarterfinals.

MANCHESTER CITY VS ARSENAL TEAM NEWS

Pep Guardiola will need to address a few injury worries before deciding on his starting lineup against Arsenal. Goalie Ederson was not included in the starting lineup for City’s FA Cup victory over Newcastle, playing this game might be a doubt.

The manager of the Cityzens has ruled out England’s Kyle Walker and John Stones, but Manuel Akanji, who pulled out of his Switzerland duty, is doing well. First-choice custodian Ederson is also “much better” and may start again in goal. Star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne also withdrew from Belgium’s squad for the international break.

A few of Arsenal’s important players withdrew during the international break, including England winger Bukayo Saka and Brazil defender Gabriel Magalhaes, who both left their national teams before a match. City players were also dropping like flies during that time.

The only goal Arsenal ever scored against Man City in October came from Gabriel Martinelli, who was already listed as out due to a foot injury. However, Arteta is optimistic that all three players will recover in time to return to their regular starting positions; he stated on Friday that there was a “chance” for all three of them.

ACL victim Jurrien Timber may be the only player missing from the team, but the Dutchman is expected to return before the season ends. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Thomas Partey are also anticipated to be available following their friendly match against Queens Park Rangers during the international break.

MANCHESTER CITY PREDICTED STARTING LINE-UP:

Ederson, Lewis, Dias, Akanji, Ake, Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne, Foden, Haaland, Doku

ARSENAL PREDICTED STARTING LINE-UP:

Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice, Saka, Havertz, Martinelli

KEY BATTLE 

Rodri vs Declan Rice

This tantalising battle in the midfield between two of the best defensive midfield players in the Premier League, if not the entire world might determine the game Both Rice and Rodri have the ability to score some significant goals.

As of now this season, Rodri has 11 assists and seven goals for City in all competitions, while Rice has six goals and seven assists. The centre of midfield is going to see some intense competition. The winner is likely to influence significantly how the game will be decided.

MANCHESTER CITY VS ARSENAL TIME AND VENUE 

Kick-off date is Sunday 31st March, 2024.

Kick-off time is 4:30pm WAT

Venue is Etihad Stadium

Referee will be Anthony Taylor

MANCHESTER CITY VS ARSENAL PREDICTION 

The “deciders” for this season haven’t been that convincing thus far. Arsenal left Anfield with a point while City and Liverpool have shared the spoils twice.

Should Martinelli be declared fit, the traditional Etihad defeat should not be on Arsenal’s menu this Saturday, especially considering the apparent unavailability of Stones and Walker, if Guardiola’s statements are to be accepted.

But with City as unstoppable as ever in front of the home fans, a split of the spoils appears to be the most likely result from Sunday’s big event—a point that the away end should celebrate more than the Citizens supporters.

Prediction: 1:1

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