Arsenal will look to return to winning ways on Sunday when they host reigning Premier League champions Manchester City at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners suffered a 2-1 defeat to RC Lens in the Champions League group stage on matchday two on Tuesday night, ending their unbeaten start to the 2023/24 campaign in all competitions. The north London club do not have much time to heal their wounds and must quickly focus on their Premier League duties.
Mikel Arteta and company. will need to do their best to beat Man City, who travel to the Emirates on the back of a 1-3 win over RB Leipzig in the Champions League. Arsenal team information
Bukayo Saka is Arsenal’s injury problem having been in and out of the treatment room recently. He was forced off the field with a suspected hamstring problem in the second half of the match against Lens, leaving the winger’s availability on Sunday in doubt. The England international will undergo scans on Thursday to assess the severity of the injury.
Elsewhere, Gabriel Martinelli is still absent after suffering a hamstring injury against Everton, with the striker yet to return to training. In a positive injury update, Thomas Partey returned to action against Lens after a month out with a groin injury and he is likely to feature against Man City. Arsenal’s expected line-up against Manchester City (4-3-3
Goalie
David Raya has ousted Aaron Ramsdale as Arsenal’s No 1 this season, and the Spaniard is expected to start in the middle of goal against Man City.
Defense
Against Raya, Arsenal should form a 4-3-3 formation, with William Saliba continuing to play a formidable centre-back partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes. The pair must be as tight and strong as possible to keep Erling Haaland quiet this weekend.
Oleksandr Zinchenko is the obvious choice at left-back in Arsenal’s squad, while Ben White replaced Takehiro Tomiyasu at right-back after the loss to Lens.
Midfielder
Thomas Partey, who was an unused substitute against Lens after returning from a month-long injury absence, could be included in the squad to add steel and energy to Arsenal’s midfield. With Partey playing the role of goalkeeper and protecting the backline, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard can operate in the number 8 position for Arsenal with more freedom and create openings in the final third. for attackers.
This means Kai Havertz, Jorginho and Fabio Vieira will have to sit on the bench.
Attack
If Bukayo Saka is absent due to a suspected hamstring problem, Arteta could fill in for Gabriel Jesus on the right wing to face his former employers. Having played as a right-wing striker many times for Man City, Jesus will love to haunt them at Emirates Stadium.
With Martinelli injured, Leandro Trossard will bring creativity and finesse from the left wing to the Arsenal squad. With Jesus likely to be sidelined, Eddie Nketiah must shoulder the responsibility of leading Arsenal’s attack against Man City.
