Key events
Who knew Phil Foden and Nelly Furtado had so much in common.
Jonathan Wilson’s tactical preview
Team news: Saka not in Arsenal squad
Some interesting team news on both sides. Bukayo Saka isn’t in the squad, though Gabriel Martinelli – who has been out for three weeks – is on the bench. Jorginho is preferred to Kai Havertz, so Declan Rice will probably play as a No8. Eddie Nketiah is Saka’s replacement, which means a rejig up front, and Ben White returns at right-back.
Pep Guardiola prefers Rico Lewis to Kalvin Phillips in midfield and Phil Foden to Jack Grealish on the left. John Stones is fit enough for the bench.
Arsenal (possible 4-1-2-3) Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Jorginho; Odegaard, Rice; Jesus, Nketiah, Trossard.
Substitutes: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, Kiwior, Partey, Smith Rowe, Vieira, Nelson, Martinelli, Havertz.
Manchester City (possible 4-2-1-3) Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Lewis, Kovacic; Alvarez; Bernardo, Haaland, Foden.
Substitutes: Ortega Moreno, Phillips, Stones, Grealish, Doku, Gomez, Akanji, Nunes, Bobb.
Referee Michael Oliver.
Preamble
Rishi Sunak and the people of Islington don’t agree on much, but they’re all adamant it’s a time for change. Sunak wants to fix 13 years of Conservative governance; Arsenal are desperate to end eight years of Manchester City dominance. Their last Premier League victory over City was in December 2015, when Prince and David Bowie were alive and the league leaders Leicester were being patronised within an inch of their life.
Arsenal have lost their last crikey, I had no idea it was that bad 12 Premier League games against City, including a horrible chasing at the Etihad in April. Most of the time City have put Arsenal over their knee; on a couple of occasions, most notably New Year’s Day 2022, Arsenal were excellent and a bit unfortunate. This is their chance to prove that things are different now, and that they ain’t ’fraid of no Goats.
It does feel like a decent time to play City, who are without Rodri, John Stones and Kevin De Bruyne and even an association football match last weekend. Then again, Arsenal are without Gabriel Martinelli and possibly Bukayo Saka, so nobody knows anything. It should be fun finding out.
Kick off 4.30pm.