A highly anticipated match will take place in the Premier League on Sunday when Manchester City host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. The two teams were separated by just two points on the way to City winning the title last season, so it’s a match that, despite being early in the season, will have huge ramifications late in the season. Facing each other one after the other play at a draw midweek in Champions League play won’t be ideal, but that’s the price of success in the Premier League.
The line-ups could look slightly different to normal for Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta, with Martin Odegaard ruled out of the match and Kevin De Bruyne an in-match decision. Odegaard suffered an ankle injury on international duty for Norway, while De Bruyne was withdrawn from City’s midweek UCL tie against Inter with an injury. Guardiola has not yet ruled out De Bruyne from the match against Arsenal, but having missed so much time in recent seasons, it is difficult to see the Belgian playing fully, if at all, in the tie.
No team in the Premier League has created more xG than City at 9.28, while defensively both teams are in the top five for xG against in the league, suggesting this could be more of a defensive chess match between two managers who know each other pretty good. Recent matches also support that claim, as both encounters combined for just one goal last season.
The Premier League will not be won or lost on Sunday, but in a game full of psychological battles, City could deal a major blow to Arsenal’s hopes. They are already the last remaining team with four wins from their first four games. If that number is expanded to five, it will also create a five-point lead over Arsenal. A season of 38 games is a long time, but if Arsenal have been chasing City for years now, it means more.
Arteta has preached mentality because he knows his team cannot afford to make a mistake in games. Meanwhile, for Guardiola, they are the champions until proven otherwise. It will take a lot of credit to get to where City are and despite the success of Arsenal’s project, they have not yet managed to make it count, which will lead to further disappointment at the Etihad.
Here’s how to watch Man City vs. Arsenal can watch
Date: Sunday September 2 | Time: 11:30 am
Location: Etihad Stadium – Manchester, England
TV: US Network | Live stream: Fubo (free trial)
Chances: Manstad -135; Sign +260; Arsenal +400
Predictions for Matchday 5 of the Premier League
Saturday September 21
Westham 1, Chelsea 1
Aston Villa 2, Wolves 1
Fulham1, Newcastle2
Southampton 0, Ipswich Town 1
Tottenham 3, Brentford 1
Leicester City 1, Everton 1
Liverpool2, Bournemouth2
Crystal Palace 0, Manchester United 2
Sunday September 22
Brighton 2, Nottingham Forest 0
Manchester City 1, Arsenal 0