Arsenal’s title hopes may very well be a dealt an enormous blow this weekend after they face Manchester Metropolis.
The Gunners path Liverpool by six factors on the high of the desk and any dropped factors towards the present champions could be it for Mikel Arteta’s males, particularly with the Reds having a recreation in hand.
5
The primary recreation on the Etihad ended 2-2 as John Stones scored a last-minute equaliser to interrupt Arsenal hearts.
The Gunners noticed Leandro Trossard despatched off for 2 yellow playing cards after they had been main.
It was a superb encounter and top-of-the-line of the season thus far, and with a lot on the road right here, this one ought to reside as much as expectations.
Nevertheless, there are harm issues for each groups, which means we might see some modified XIs.
Learn extra on Premier League
Arsenal
David Raya is Arsenal’s undisputed primary goalkeeper.
Nevertheless, he has a slight muscular concern and is uncertain for this one after lacking the 2-1 win over Girona in midweek.
Neto deputised and made a howler, so the Gunners will hope he will not should play.
Jurrien Timber has been filling in at right-back for some time resulting from Ben White’s harm, and he’ll little doubt proceed there.
Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba are a rock-solid centre-back duo, however at left-back, there are alternatives.
Myles Lewis-Skelly is accessible after his controversial purple card was rescinded.
The younger defender was dismissed throughout final week’s win over Wolves for what was deemed to be violent conduct.
VAR checked and confirmed the choice, which was extensively criticised.
Arsenal submitted an attraction and received, so he might begin, however Riccardo Calafiori can also be accessible.
The Italian scored the winner final weekend.
5
Arsenal received this actual fixture 1-0 final season – they final received consecutive dwelling league video games towards Man Metropolis between 2005-06 and 2008-09 (a run of 4).Having received 12 consecutive league video games towards Arsenal between 2017 and 2023, Manchester Metropolis at the moment are winless of their final three towards the Gunners (D2 L1).
The midfield three is prone to decide itself.
Captain Martin Odegaard has returned from sickness, so he’ll be part of Declan Rice and Thomas Partey.
With Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus injured, there are restricted attacking choices.
Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli are prone to be on both wing, with Kai Havertz main the road.
Raheem Sterling isn’t anticipated to start out towards his former membership.
5
Arsenal are unbeaten in 13 Premier League matches (W8 D5) and have received essentially the most factors of any aspect from MD11 onwards (29). The Gunners have by no means had an extended unbeaten run underneath Mikel Arteta, final going 14 with out defeat between August and December 2018 underneath Unai Emery.Manchester Metropolis are unbeaten in six Premier League video games (W4 D2) and solely Newcastle (15) have received extra factors since Christmas than Metropolis (14), whereas Metropolis have scored essentially the most objectives in that point (18).
Manchester Metropolis
Ederson is again in Pep Guardiola’s good books and grabbed an help within the 3-1 win over Chelsea for Erling Haaland.
With Kyle Walker gone, Matheus Nunes has been filling in at right-back, however given the attacking prowess Arsenal have, Rico Lewis would possibly get an opportunity.
Abdukodir Khusanov endured a tricky debut, wherein he gave away a aim and was booked earlier than being substituted.
Consequently, Stones ought to companion Manuel Akanji.
Josko Gvardiol is assured to start out at left-back whereas there shall be no Ruben Dias or Nathan Ake by harm.
5
Manchester Metropolis have misplaced simply one in every of their final 40 Premier League matches performed from January till the tip of the marketing campaign (W33 D6), shedding 1-0 to Brentford on the ultimate day of 2022-23. They’re unbeaten of their final 23 of those video games throughout the final two campaigns (W19 D4), scoring 66 objectives at a mean of two.9 per recreation.Arsenal have scored essentially the most objectives by way of set items (12, excl. pens) within the Premier League this season, whereas opponents Manchester Metropolis have conceded the joint fewest of those objectives (2, stage with Brentford). A kind of was towards the Gunners earlier within the season nevertheless, with 5 of the final 10 objectives that Arsenal have netted towards Metropolis coming by way of corners.
Ilkay Gundogan and Mateo Kovacic kind essentially the most strong midfield Guardiola has at his disposal, with Rodri out for the rest of the marketing campaign.
Kevin De Bruyne is beginning for use from the bench increasingly more.
That’s prone to see new man Omar Marmoush retain his place within the XI.
The Egyptian made his debut on the Etihad final weekend and impressed.
Bernardo Silva and Savinho are battling it out for a spot on the appropriate wing, whereas on the other aspect, Phil Foden has his place locked down once more.
After a gradual begin to the marketing campaign, Foden has scored six objectives in his final 4 league video games, protecting Jack Grealish on the bench.
5
39.6% of the minutes performed by Manchester Metropolis gamers within the Premier League this season have been given to gamers aged 30 or older, the second-highest proportion in a Premier League season for Metropolis behind the 2016-17 marketing campaign (54%).Since Mikel Arteta’s first Premier League recreation accountable for Arsenal, the Gunners have obtained extra purple playing cards than some other aspect (19). Regardless of this, Arsenal rank twenty third out of the 27 groups to function in that point for fouls per recreation (10.1).
Arsenal vs Man Metropolis: Date and the best way to comply with
This Premier League recreation is about to happen on Sunday, February 2.
Kick-off on the Emirates is scheduled for 4:30pm.
The match shall be proven on Sky Sports activities Foremost Occasion and Premier League.
Sky Go prospects can tune in by way of their laptops and cell gadgets.
Alternatively, followers can buy a NOW TV go. Extra data right here.
talkSPORT could have updates all through the afternoon, and talkSPORT.com could have the motion on our devoted Premier League weblog.
To tune in to talkSPORT by the web site, click on HERE for the reside stream.
You too can pay attention by way of the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, by your good speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Erling Haaland has scored 5 objectives in his final 5 Premier League appearances for Man Metropolis, two greater than he’d managed in his earlier 13 video games mixed (3). He’s exceeded his xG by 1.1 in his final 5 video games (5 objectives vs 3.9 xG), having underperformed by 5.2 objectives in his earlier 13 (3 objectives vs 8.2 xG).Man Metropolis’s Phil Foden scored extra Premier League objectives in January than some other participant, scoring six objectives from six photographs on course. He was the fifth participant on report (2003-04 onwards) to attain as many as six objectives with each shot on course in a month, together with Jermain Defoe in March 2008, Dimitar Berbatov in December 2011, Sergio Agüero in August 2019 and Taiwo Awoniyi in Could 2023 (all six objectives).
Arsenal vs Man Metropolis: What has been stated?
Gunners boss Arteta is aware of how vital this match is within the context of the title race.
Talking at his pre-match press convention, he stated: “It might be a giant increase for us. Successful huge matches is at all times one thing particular.
“Each time we play a giant match towards one in every of our huge rivals it brings one thing further – the arrogance, the emotion, the truth that they’re there and proceed to win – for that we need to obtain.”
