The Gunners are getting ready for a championship matchup against Manchester City, which is perhaps Arsenal’s greatest game since moving to the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side are gearing up for the biggest game of their season on Wednesday night as they welcome reigning champions Manchester City to the Emirates.
They come into the tie with some jitters on display in recent weeks, having been beaten 1-0 by Everton at Goodison Park last week before dropping two more points against Brentford at home courtesy of a 1-1 draw at the Emirates on Saturday.
Both of those contests have seen the Gunners boss deploy his usual starting eleven with no real surprises and in truth, despite the shaky form of late, that is likely to remain the case for when Pep Guardiola’s men rock up at the Emirates.
Aaron Ramsdale will almost certainly keep his place between the sticks, while Benjamin White is likely to remain at right-back.
The Gunners have seen the central defensive pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes serve them well this term, though club legend Emmanuel Petit recently blasted the duo for a decline in the quality of their performances since the World Cup.
Regardless of Petit’s remarks, they will pair up and try to keep Erling Haaland quiet, with the City talisman expected to be fit despite a late scare after sustaining some damage to his thigh during Sunday’s win over Aston Villa.
Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba will try to keep Erling Haaland quiet
Oleksandr Zinchenko will be ready and raring at left-back to try and get one over on his old side, though the Ukrainian will have to keep his emotions in check and not get too invested as he comes up against some familiar faces with whom he won four Premier League titles.
Few players are more important to Arteta’s system than Thomas Partey, which is why if he is fit, he plays. It is a similar story for his midfield partner Granit Xhaka, who has managed to completely transform his standing in the eyes of the Arsenal faithful over the last 12 months or so.
Arteta’s three attacking midfield options have helped contribute a number of vital goals over the course of the current campaign, with captain Martin Odegaard boasting the most league goals of anyone in the side so far.
He’ll skipper the side and can expect to be flanked by both Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on the right and left wings respectively.
Saka is most likely the first name on the team-sheet for Arteta, but there has been some debate over whether Martinelli should feature after a string of underwhelming performances.
Fans have also had their heads turned by January signing Leandro Trossard, who netted his first goal for the Gunners during the draw against Brentford.
Some fans have called for Gabriel Martinelli to be dropped
The Belgian has impressed each time he has replaced Martinelli on the left-wing and could soon be expecting a first league start, though a game of this magnitude feels like a bold time for Arteta to make that call.
Eddie Nketiah will lead the line in the absence of another former City star in Gabriel Jesus, who Arteta has revealed is training alone and enjoying some ball work as part of his recovery from knee surgery.
Arsenal know that a third defeat of the season would see City leapfrog them into top spot, with Arteta’s men just three points in front and with an inferior goal difference.
Predicted Arsenal XI vs Man City (4-2-3-1):Ramsdale; White, Gabriel, Saliba, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Nketiah
source: www.mirror.co.uk
