Can Arsenal humiliate City again? Expected line up

By Danong 

Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola renew their rivalry on Sunday evening as Arsenal host Manchester City at the Emirates.  

Arteta is unbeaten in five games in all competitions against Guardiola. A win or draw today would see him become the only manager to go five games without defeat against Guardiola, one of Europe’s finest coaches.  

With Bukayo Saka and Ben White still injury doubts, there is a question mark if they can even be on the bench.

In their absence, Noni Madueke and Jurrien Timber have already demonstrated that they can be relied upon at right wing and right back, respectively.  

Elsewhere, having returned to Arsenal’s matchday squad in the 3–0 Champions League win over Athletic Club, William Saliba will be pushing to reclaim his place in Arteta’s starting XI.  

While Cristhian Mosquera impressed in his absence, the Frenchman is undroppable on his day and could well start alongside Gabriel Magalhaes at the heart of defence.  

The experience of the two should be enough to keep Erling Haaland, who is off to his brightest start to a league campaign with six goals in five games, at bay.  

Martin Odegaard may also miss this game with a shoulder injury. If so this will be a setback that will heavily influence Arteta's midfield selection.  

The bold decision will be to start Nawneri and it will be exciting to see that happen. But sticking with the safe option of Merino will probably be Arteta's choice.

That new front line of Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyokeres and Madueke looked decent, though Eze has yet to exert the same influence he showed at Crystal Palace.

While there is a push to switch his position, he likely continues on the left wing.  

Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli both made impresive sub appearances against Athletic, combining for two goals. But doing it from the start is not something they have shown recently.

Arteta cannot afford to gamble with his line‑up and it seems likely he will stick with this unpopular selection:  

Raya  
Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori  
Zubimendi, Rice, Merino  
Madueke, Gyokeres, Eze  

Looking at this line‑up, the big concern is that, as was the case against Liverpool, Arsenal may once again adopt a cautious approach, playing with the handbrake on.  

Yet with Rodri looking unsteady and Tijjani Reijnders so attack‑minded, Arsenal’s midfield should, in terms of duels and physicality, overpower City’s.  

If they can dominate those battles, Arsenal should not only secure the result they need, but could do so in a manner that  humiliates the Cityzens, again.