Arsenal vs Manchester City Preview: Lineups, Injury News, H2H & Prediction
Gameweek 5 of the Premier League is headlined by a showdown of title contenders at the Emirates on Sunday as Arsenal host Manchester City in their 214th all-time meeting. Prior to Liverpool capturing the league title last season, the Gunners had finished second to City in consecutive campaigns.
In this article, we cover the predicted lineups, latest injury news, head-to-head record, betting odds and a score prediction for Arsenal vs Manchester City in Gameweek 5.
Arsenal, led by Mikel Arteta, will see a home victory over Manchester City as a requirement to ending their 21-year title drought. After finishing second-best in three straight seasons, Arteta’s squad has been refreshed in an effort to aid the squad’s ability to compete domestically and in European competitions.
Manchester City is looking up the table from their position in 9th after a 2-0-2 start to the campaign has left the Cityzens off the pace of their fellow title contenders. Guardiola’s ability to integrate $242.83 million of summer signings into the squad will be a harbinger of City’s ceiling of success in the 2025/2026 campaign.
Premier League Schedule and Fixture Difficulty Ranker
Premier League Player News & Updates
Premier League Injuries & Suspensions
Arsenal vs. Manchester City Head-to-Head Record
Arsenal and Manchester City have met on 213 occasions, dating back to 1893 when Arsenal, then known as Woolwich Arsenal, defeated Manchester City, then known as Ardwick, 1-0 in a League Division Two clash.
City are winless in the last five meetings between the clubs across all competitions (three losses, two draws).
Arsenal lead the all-time series, having won 101 times and drawn on 47 occasions.
Fixture Trivia
Fixture Trivia Question: Who was the first Manchester City goal scorer versus Arsenal after Mikel Arteta was hired in December of 2019?
(Answer provided on Gameweek 6’s Premier League Preview article)
Gameweek 4 Trivia: Who recorded a hat trick in the frenetic, nine-goal affair between the clubs in October of 2022?
Erling Haaland and Phil Foden both scored hat tricks during City’s 6-3 win over United.
Betting Odds and Predictions for Arsenal vs. Manchester City Match
Premier League Odds Comparisons
Moneyline Odds
DraftKings: ARS -110 Draw +260, MCI +285
FanDuel: ARS -115 Draw +260, MCI +290
BetMGM: ARS -110 Draw +260, MCI +275
Bet365: ARS -110 Draw +280, MCI +270
Visit WagerKey all season for exclusive sports betting picks and our weekly Premier League betting show. Remember that betting apps vary in terms of odds, so we have an easy-to-use odds page that allows you to shop for the best lines at DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and PointsBet. Claim over a thousand dollars in bonuses by signing up at the best sports betting sites using the best sportsbook promos.
RECENT FORM
Arsenal (WWLWW) have faltered just once early in the campaign when they fell in a narrow 1-0 loss to league-leaders Liverpool. Most recently, Arteta’s men opened the Champions League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Athletic Club Bilbao in Spain.
Manchester City (WLLWW) sandwiched losses to Tottenham and Brighton between victories over Wolverhampton and Manchester United to begin the Premier League campaign. During the midweek, City earned a 2-0 victory versus a 10-man Napoli squad in their opening Champions League fixture.
FORMATIONS
Arsenal’s shape has been pliable under manager Mikel Arteta. With a newly signed No. 9 and a reconstituted defensive midfield, expect Arteta to use a base 4-2-3-1 formation with the ability to push players forward when in possession and create defensive solidity in front of goalkeeper David Raya.
Manchester City are most likely to line up in a 4-3-3 shape. When City control possession, look for Guardiola’s tactical nuances to take shape as a full-back will move into the midfield, allowing the likes of Bernardo Silva to take-up an attacking position further up the pitch.
LINEUP NOTES & INJURY NEWS
Premier League Predicted & Confirmed Lineups
Arsenal Injury News
Bukayo Saka is set to miss the match after suffering a hamstring injury in Arsenal’s victory over Leeds United. Fellow attacker Kai Havertz is out for the match after undergoing minor knee surgery, according to David Ornstein of the New York Times. Gabriel Jesus (knee) remains unavailable as he works to return to fitness following major surgery.
With Saka out for the fixture, look for Noni Madueke to feature off Arsenal’s right wing, alongside new signings Gyokeres and Eze.
Key midfield cog Martin Odegaard (shoulder) will be a game-time decision ahead of Sunday’s fixture. The club captain was limited to 18 minutes against Nottingham Forest after aggravating the injury he suffered earlier in the campaign. In their midweek Champions League clash, Mikel Merino assumed Odegaard’s role in midfield. If Odegaard is deemed unavailable for Sunday’s clash versus City, expect to see Merino feature once more with Ethan Nwaneri and Christian Norgaard also options.
Ben White (undisclosed) has been held out of each of Arsenal’s last four fixtures. As White continues to recover and rebuild fitness, anticipate Jurrien Timber to once again assume the right-back role.
Manchester City Injury News
City have been plagued by the injury bug early this season.
Across the backline, John Stones (undisclosed) and Rayan Ait-Nouri (ankle) are each listed as doubts ahead of Sunday’s clash. Stones is the most likely to return for the marquee matchup, as the defender resumed training with the squad this week. Ait-Nouri remains sidelined for at least another month. In Ait-Nouri’s absence, Guardiola has opted to deploy Nico O’Reilly at left-back. However, if Josko Gvardiol is not required in central defense Sunday, he could also be an option on the left-side of the backline.
Mateo Kovacic (achilles) is nearing a return as he works his way back to fitness from a long-term injury. Guardiola will continue to be without Omar Marmoush (knee) after the forward suffered an injury on international duty with Egypt that will keep him sidelined for weeks.
KEY MATCHUPS
Gianluigi Donnarumma versus Viktor Gyokeres
Gyokeres’s arrival at the Emirates was intended to provide the Arsenal attack with a focal point. The striker has produced three goals across his first five appearances (five starts) in all competitions. Conversely, Donnarumma arrives at the Etihad fresh off of a Champions League winning season with Paris Saint-Germain and as a reputation as one of the best shot stoppers in the world. The imposing Italian kept a clean sheet in his first career Premier League appearance.
Eberechi Eze & Noni Madueke versus City full-backs
Guardiola’s teams love to control the pace of matches by maintaining possession and dictating play. City often leaves three, and at times just two, defenders in their backline while sustaining possession in the attacking third. This desire to stay on the front foot means City can often be vulnerable on the counter. Eze and Madueke’s competency in the wide areas after Arsenal win possession are likely to be decisive.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Declan Rice will play a huge role in proceedings Sunday from his place in the Arsenal midfield. The central midfielder plays a box-to-box role by partnering with newcomer Martin Zubimendi to protect the backline. When the Gunners win possession, look for Rice to spring the attack or be key in matriculating the ball through the middle third of the pitch.
In addition to his threat from open play, Rice has attempted 10 corners across his first five appearances (four starts) in all competitions. Anticipate the midfielder creating chances by providing service from the corner flag.
In Odegaard’s absence, I expect Rice to be the pulling the strings in attack for Arteta as they seek a sixth successive matchup versus City without defeat.
PREDICTED RESULT
Arsenal 2 – Manchester City 1
UPCOMING FIXTURES
Arsenal: Sept. 28 at Newcastle
Manchester City: Sept. 27 vs. Burnley
