Arsenal is set to host Manchester City on Sunday, February 2, in a pivotal Premier League match that could significantly influence the title race. Currently, Arsenal trails league leaders Liverpool by six points, making this encounter crucial for their championship aspirations.
On September 22, 2024, Manchester City and Arsenal played out a dramatic 2-2 draw, with Erling Haaland throwing the ball at Gabriel’s head after Manchester City last minute equalizer.
After the game, Gabriel had a message for Haaland: “We are waiting for them at our ground.”
Now, the wait is over. This weekend, Arsenal and Manchester City face off at the Emirates Stadium, and anticipation is at its peak.
Arteta’s side battled to a 1-0 victory at Wolves last week despite seeing Myles Lewis-Skellysent off late in the first half. João Gomes’ red card evened things up with 20 minutes to play, and Riccardo Calafiori netted the winner just four minutes later.
Since Arteta’s first Premier League game in charge of Arsenal, they have received more red cards than any other side (19). Despite this, they rank 23rd of the 27 teams to feature in that time for fouls per game (10.1).
Arsenal are now unbeaten in 13 Premier League matches (W8 D5) and have won the most points of any side from MD11 onwards (29). The Gunners have never had a longer unbeaten run under Arteta, last going 14 without defeat between August and December 2018, under Unai Emery.
Team News and Predicted Lineups:
Arsenal:
• Injuries: Key players Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus are sidelined due to injuries. Goalkeeper David Raya is doubtful owing to fitness concerns.
• Defense: Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Myles Lewis-Skelly are anticipated to form the backline.
• Midfield: The trio of Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice, and Thomas Partey is expected to start, providing both creativity and defensive stability.
• Attack: With Saka and Jesus unavailable, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli are likely to support Kai Havertz, who is set to lead the line.
Manchester City:
• Injuries: Defenders Rúben Dias and Nathan Aké are unavailable, presenting challenges in defense.
• Defense: Ederson is expected in goal, with a backline comprising Rico Lewis, Manuel Akanji, John Stones, and Joško Gvardiol.
• Midfield: Ilkay Gündoğan and Mateo Kovačić are set to anchor the midfield, with Kevin De Bruyne potentially making an appearance off the bench.
• Attack: Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, and new signing Omar Marmoush are anticipated to spearhead the attack.
Match Prediction:
Given the attacking prowess of both teams and their respective defensive challenges, a high-scoring encounter is anticipated. A 2-2 draw seems a plausible outcome, reflecting the evenly matched nature of the sides.
Broadcast Information:
The match is scheduled to kick off at 4:30 pm on Sunday, February 2, and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports
