Manchester City and Arsenal meet for the first time this season in what will be an interesting preview for the Premier League title race as the two rivals go head-to-head in the fourth round of the FA Cup tonight. Both teams has published official line-ups.
The Gunners are five points ahead of City in the league, unbeaten in seven games across all competitions and are full of confidence following their late 3-2 victory over Manchester United last time out. The team’s focus now shifts to the FA Cup as manager Mikel Arteta attempts to defeat his old mentor Pep Guardiola. Before taking over at the Emirates Arteta was Guardiola’s assistant at City so tonight’s match is a case of seeing how well the apprentice has developed.
Manchester City are in good form. They demolished Chelsea 4-0 in the third round of this competition and have scored seven goals in their previous two league games – against Tottenham and Wolves respectively. Guardiola has also won his last five matches against Arsenal but his last defeat to Arteta came in the FA Cup semi-finals in 2020, when the Gunners went on to lift the cup. Will Arsenal replicate that feat this year as well?
Man City vs Arsenal official line-ups
Man City XI: Ortega, Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Ake, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Mahrez, Grealish, Haaland
Arsenal official XI: Turner, Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Partey, Vieira, Trossard, Saka, Nketiah
When it comes to some of the most exciting players on the market, Edu no longer has to make the phone calls. The Arsenal sporting director is now taking them, as so many of the best talents and agents go to him.
They can see which way the club is headed. Declan Rice is now considering them over Chelsea and Manchester United, to go with a host of other names. Arsenal are very suddenly one of the most attractive prospects in sport.
“Suddenly” is the key word, because it makes a considerable difference from this time last year and a profound difference from Mikel Arteta’s first full season.
