Arsenal vs Manchester City Preview – Prediction, how to watch & potential line-ups

Emirates Stadium forms the backdrop for a blockbuster Premier League top-table six-pointer between Arsenal and Manchester City on Wednesday night. 

Arsenal fans were over the moon a week ago, with the Gunners seemingly galloping to their first Premier League title in two decades on the back of a stellar 19-game league start (W16, D2, L1). 

However, the Londoners’ once comfortable-looking lead at the summit has been cut short in the blink of an eye after Mikel Arteta’s side collected just one point from their last two top-flight outings.

Although second-placed Man City failed to take advantage of Arsenal’s dismal 1-0 loss at relegation-threatened Everton, they sure did last weekend when the Gunners drew 1-1 with Brentford at home. 

A ferocious first-half performance saw the Cityzens put three unanswered goals past Aston Villa before half-time in a comprehensive 3-1 home victory on Pep Guardiola’s landmark day. 

The Spaniard celebrated his 250th Premier League match in charge of the reigning champions in style, helping them close the gap on Arsenal to three points. 

But City paid a potentially hefty price on Sunday as talismanic striker Erling Braut Haaland picked up a thing injury, which could sideline him for the midweek trip to London.

Guardiola delivered a fitness update on the Premier League leading goalscorer in the aftermath, suggesting the Norwegian may have to stay in the treatment room on Wednesday. 

Match Preview

Arsenal

Brentford’s dubious equaliser in Saturday’s clash at the Emirates left Arteta fuming at match officials, but there’s no time to moan as Arsenal could slip to second with a loss here. 

The Spaniard holds a personal grudge against Man City as they remain the only side he’s failed to beat in the Premier League since relinquishing the assistant-manager job at the Etihad Stadium in 2019 (L5).

On top of Arteta’s disastrous top-flight managerial record against the Cityzens, the Gunners have suffered defeat in their last eight Premier League encounters against reigning champions. 

Manchester City

While Arsenal’s prospects in this clash look bleak, Man City can draw confidence from having won their last ten league matches against Arsenal, including a 2-1 victory in this corresponding fixture in 2021/22.

And if you’re a fan of omens, Guardiola’s men have been victorious in their last 22 Premier League games played on a Wednesday, which stands as the longest winning run on a specific day of the week in the competition’s history.

However, with Haaland potentially out of contention for this trip, the visitors’ bid to bounce back from an embarrassing three-match losing streak away from home could be in jeopardy. 

Arsenal vs Manchester City Potential Line-ups

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Aaron Ramsdale; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey; Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli; Eddie Nketiah. 

Manchester City (4-3-3): Ederson; Rico Lewis, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake; Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan; Riyad Mahrez, Julian Alvarez, Jack Grealish. 

How to Watch?

Arsenal vs Manchester City, alongside all other fixturesEngland’snd’s top flight, is available to watch online via live Premier League streams.

Arsenal vs Manchester City Prediction 

The rumoured absence of City’sty’s free-scoring striker Haaland would give out-of-form Arsenal a much-needed leg-up in this contest, but it may not be enough. 

In addition to the two recent Premier League slip-ups, the Gunners fell to a 1-0 FA Cup loss at Man City in late January, so the spirits at the Emirates are no longer as high as they were a fortnight ago. 

Based on hosts’ growing form woes and their abysmal H2H record against the Cityzens, we have no other option but to back the visitors to turn the tables on Wednesday.

Arsenal 1-2 Manchester City