Match Preview

After a long awaited return, the Gunners restart their campaign with a trip to the Etihad Stadium which Arteta will know all too well. Before the lockdown Arsenal were in fine form, winning their last three league fixtures and currently are the only team in England to have not lost during 2020, whereas Manchester City are coming back off a loss to bitter rivals Manchester United just before the break.

Both sides will be eager to start fast in this fixture as Arsenal are looking to hunt down the teams in the top four, as they currently trail by 8 points with a game in hand, whereas Manchester City will want to cement their place in the top 2. I believe Arteta will slightly change his approach in this one, as I can see him setting up with a compact formation with Aubameyang and Pepe on the wings in order to exploit their pace on the counter attack. Pep’s side will most likely control possession, however it is down to the visitors to work hard to win it back and be clinical when chances fall their way. Let’s have a look at the injury news for both teams:

Arteta will be pleased in a way with how the lockdown has helped key players return to full fitness, with Kieran Tierney, Héctor Bellerín and Lucas Torreira all looking sharper after some nasty injuries. The away sides only absentee will be Callum Chambers who tore his ACL back in late December. However, it has also had the same effect for Pep and given Leroy Sane and Aymeric Laporte time to recover meaning they are both now ready for selection. As a result the home side have a fully fit squad for the first time this season.

Predicted Lineup

Formation – 4-3-3

GK – Bernd Leno

RB – Hector Bellerin

CB – David Luiz

CB – Shkodran Mustafi

LB – Kieran Tierney

CM – Dani Cellabos

CM – Granit Xhaka

CM- Joe Willock

RW – Nicolas Pepe

ST – Alexandre Lacazette

LW – Aubameyang

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James Humphreys