The pursuing champions face the stumbling leaders in the most anticipated game of the Premier League season on Wednesday night when Manchester City host Arsenal in a top-of-the-table showdown at the Etihad Stadium.
Team Form
Man City
As the season nears its end, Manchester City continues to dominate the Premier League and looks set to clinch the title with their impressive run of form. Their upcoming match against title rivals Arsenal could be the defining moment of their season.
Following a comfortable victory over Leicester City in their last Premier League match, they demonstrated their prowess by maintaining an unbeaten streak of 16 matches across all tournaments.
Despite their recent successes, Guardiola’s side has only kept 2 clean sheets in their last 10 top-flight games, which could give Arsenal hope.
However, with their star player Riyad Mahrez in peak form, having scored a treble in their recent FA Cup semi-final victory against Sheffield United, City will be a force to be reckoned with.
Having already secured their place in the Champions League semi-finals with a resounding victory over Bayern Munich, the Citizens are a team brimming with confidence and determination.
Man City PL Form: W W W W W
Arsenal
As Arsenal’s season draws close, their manager Mikel Arteta aims for the biggest win of his fledgling managerial career.
The Gunners have let two-goal leads slip in successive matches against West Ham United and Liverpool, marking the first time this happened in the Premier League.
This, combined with ongoing defensive concerns, was highlighted in their recent match against Southampton, where they found themselves 3-1 down before a late comeback secured them a point.
Arsenal’s upcoming matches against Chelsea and Newcastle United will provide further tests for Arteta’s team, who have struggled to keep clean sheets in their last six matches.
However, their away form has been impressive, with 36 points from 16 games on the road and just 13 goals conceded.
Despite their defensive issues, Arsenal has found the back of the net at least twice in their last eight top-flight matches, home or away. This attacking prowess could prove crucial in their bid for a strong finish to the season.
Arsenal PL Form: W W D D D
Squad Report
Man City
Manchester City is gearing up for a crucial match on Wednesday with only one injury concern.
Ake has been dealing with the injury for some time now, and Guardiola will be hoping for positive news regarding his fitness ahead of the match.
Arsenal
Arsenal’s defensive concerns continue to mount, with the news that William Saliba is unlikely to feature in Wednesday’s game against Manchester City and could be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a slow recovery from a back injury.
Furthermore, the Gunners will also be without Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny, who are recovering from season-ending knee surgeries. However, there is some good news for the team, as Granit Xhaka is expected to return after missing their last match due to illness.
Man City’s expected starting lineup:
Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Laporte; Stones, Rodri; Mahrez, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland
Arsenal’s expected starting lineup:
Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Jesus
Head to Head
The history of encounters between Arsenal and Manchester City shows that the former has a better record, having won 64 out of the 135 games between the two teams. In contrast, Manchester City has won 37 games, with 34 ending in a draw.
However, in recent times, it has been a different story, with Manchester City dominating their meetings. City has won their last seven games against Arsenal in all competitions, which is a worrying statistic for the Gunners.
Time, Date & Venue
Date: Wednesday, April 26
Time: 08:00 pm, BST
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Prediction
Without Saliba in their backline, Arsenal could struggle to contain Manchester City’s relentless attacking threat on Wednesday night.
Manchester City is in irresistible form, with a seemingly unstoppable winning streak at home. With their attack firing on all cylinders, it’s hard to see anything other than a comfortable victory for Pep Guardiola’s side.
