At a Glance:
- Arsenal take on Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon.
- The Gunners need to avoid defeat in this Premier League title showdown to rediscover momentum in the run-in.
- Here’s how Mikel Arteta might set up his team in the north-west.
Arsenal visit Manchester City in a Premier League title showdown at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon – a game which could define Mikel Arteta’s reign in North London.
The Gunners progressed into the last four of the Champions League in midweek, overcoming a stubborn Sporting CP side in the process. This is the first time in Arsenal’s history that they’ve reached back-to-back semi-finals in Europe’s elite club competition, and this achievement has certainly done something to lift the morale around N5.
However, attention now turns back to the intense Premier League title race that Arteta’s outfit are embroiled in. Last weekend’s disastrous defeat to Bournemouth and City’s coinciding victory over Chelsea has reduced the gap to just six points, and thus, the outcome of this game will have a significant impact in determining where the trophy ends up in May.
The momentum may not be with Arteta’s men, but they showed on Wednesday night that they are capable of playing for a draw when they need to, and that will suit the Spaniard’s team. City will be buoyed by their positive recent results, although playing against an Arsenal team who don’t need to score a goal is a different proposition to anything else in world football.
| Date | Result | Competition |
| 22/03/2026 | Arsenal 0-2 City | Carabao Cup |
| 21/09/2025 | Arsenal 1-1 City | Premier League |
| 02/02/2025 | Arsenal 5-1 City | Premier League |
| 22/09/2024 | City 2-2 Arsenal | Premier League |
| 31/03/2024 | City 0-0 Arsenal | Premier League |
| 08/10/2023 | Arsenal 1-0 City | Premier League |
| 06/08/2023 | City 1-1 Arsenal | Community Shield |
| 26/04/2023 | City 4-1 Arsenal | Premier League |
Arsenal team news vs Man City, Bukayo Saka injury update
Arsenal still have a number of injury issues to contend with. Mikel Merino remains out, and likely won’t feature again this season, while several other players look set to miss the trip to the Etihad.
Mikel Arteta confirmed in his press conference on Friday afternoon that Bukayo Saka won’t feature against the Citizens. The England international hasn’t played since before the international break, and is continuing to struggle with a delicate Achilles issue.
Meanwhile, the likes of Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori and Martin Odegaard all face late fitness tests to determine their availability. Arteta revealed that ‘some players are quite close’ when asked for a general injury update on Friday.
As for Noni Madueke, who limped off during the game against Sporting on Wednesday, Arteta provided a coy response when quizzed on the former Chelsea star’s availability for Sunday.
“We have another session tomorrow,” he said.
“It didn’t look that bad after the game, I’m hoping he could be available.”
Predicted Arsenal line-up vs Man City
Arteta has several difficult team selection decisions to make ahead of the trip to the north-west. Given a draw would suit the Gunners a lot more than it would City, expect a defensive approach from Arsenal, and for Arteta’s starting eleven to reflect this likely strategy.
David Raya will retain his place in goal, while William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes will inevitably form Arsenal’s centre-back partnership. At right-back, Cristhian Mosquera impressed against Sporting and should be called upon again over Ben White, with the Spaniard likely to provide more defensive security than his English counterpart, up against Jeremy Doku.
At left-back, the uncertainty around Calafiori means Piero Hincapie will undoubtedly keep his place. Myles Lewis-Skelly has an outside chance of featuring in midfield for the Gunners, although Arteta will likely revert to type and start his trusted double pivot in Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi.
Ahead of them, Eberechi Eze will be deployed as Arsenal’s number ten. Madueke will start on the right if fit, while Leandro Trossard may came back into the side after a positive cameo against Sporting.
Up front, Arteta must call upon Kai Havertz to replace Viktor Gyokeres, who has shown signs of fatigue in recent performances. The Gunners need the German’s technical security, with the Swede struggling against the big sides so far this season.
Predicted Arsenal XI vs Man City: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Madueke, Havertz, Trossard.
"What did Havertz do when he came on?"
— OryimanTheFirst⭐ (@sa7vad0r) April 15, 2026
"Everything Gyokeres wasn't." pic.twitter.com/ROeO2DcoGL
Man City vs Arsenal Prediction
City have looked rampant in recent matches, with the quartet of Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo, Doku and Erling Haaland causing teams all sorts of problems. While Arsenal remain the most imperious defensive team in the league, this plethora of talented forwards can certainly hurt the Gunners’ backline.
That said, the North Londoners are masters of making a game a non-event and restricting the opposition to nothing of note when they don’t need to take the initiative. They certainly have the capacity to sit deep, absorb pressure and negate City’s attack.
It’s almost certain to be a cagey affair where little happens, and it’s just whether the margins go Arsenal’s way or not. They might just be due a bit of luck.
Prediction: Manchester City 0-0 Arsenal
