Manchester City FC vs Arsenal FC, English Premier League 2024-25, Today Match Prediction

Manchester City FC vs Arsenal FC Match Prediction & Analysis

It's that time of the year when mentor takes on apprentice, albeit on home soil which should prove advantageous. Pep Guardiola will want to return to winning ways after a midweek Champions League stalemate, and endorse himself and his team as favourites for a fourth successive title. In a bid to outshine their title contenders from North London, Erling Haaland will have a major role to play, as he not only finds himself in red hot form but also on the brink of a 100th goal for the sky blues. 

Arsenal were fortunate to exit Italy with a point in their midweek fixture against Europa League Champions Atalanta. But, they have been unfortunate with the Premier League’s unforgiving fixture schedule, having only won the North London Derby last week. The gunners now face a tough test against a team they have gone toe-to-toe with over the previous few seasons. There is no room for slip ups, if they are to eventually secure the much eluded Premier League crown.

Head-to-Head Record : Both clubs have met 50 times in this competition with Arsenal winning 23 times, Man City 17 and 10 draws being registered. Their most recent meeting was in March that ended in a goalless draw at the Etihad. However, Arsenal who last won at the Etihad in 2015, will be looking to end that streak and beat the current champions, just as they did last season at the Emirates.

Current Standings : Man City find themselves in pole position with 12 points after being the only team with a 100% win record. A win, meanwhile, could assure the gunners a seat at the top of the table, as they currently sit in second with 10 points.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Manchester City FC Preview

Having won their first four Premier League games this season, Manchester City are looking to become the first team in English top-flight history to win their first five in five different campaigns, previously doing so in 1912-13, 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2023-24. Manchester City have won each of their last 13 Premier League games - in the competition’s history. There have only been six cases of a team winning 14+ games in a row, with the sky blues responsible for half of those (18 in 2017, 15 in 2019 and 15 in 2021).

In a league of his own

It’s no surprise that Erling Haaland is the one to watch out for as he has registered 9 goals in 4 Premier League games so far this season. The fewest appearances any player has taken to reach double figures in a single campaign is 6, by Michael Quinn in 1992-93 and Haaland himself in 2022-23. The Norwegian has scored 8 goals in his last 3 Premier League games, netting hat-tricks against Ipswich and West Ham, and a brace against Brentford. In Premier League history, only Luis Suarez has scored multiple goals in four consecutive appearances (hat-trick and three braces in December 2013).

Injury list

Oscar Bobb and Nathan ake have been completely ruled out. In a major blow for Pep Guardiola, injury-prone Kevin De Bruyne will miss this weekend’s fixture after having picked up a not so serious groin injury in the opening half against Inter Milan. 

Man City probable XI: Ederson (GK), Walker, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol (DEF), Silva, Kovacic, Rodri (MID), Grealish, Foden, Haaland (FWD).

Arsenal FC Preview

There’s new hope for Arsenal, as they earned four points against Manchester City in the Premier League last season, double the amount they had from their previous 15 such meetings with the Citizens (W0, D2, L13). The gunners will also take inspiration from the fact that they kept a clean sheet in both previous Premier League encounters with Man City, having conceded at least once in their last 16 matches against the men in blue beforehand (40 goals in total). 

Arteta’s men have now won 99 of their 211 meetings with Man City in all competitions. They’ve only reached triple figures for victories against Everton (111). Arsenal haven’t trailed in any of their last 11 away league games and could become the first side in Premier League history to go 12 successive matches on the road without falling behind in any. 

The Saka show

Bukayo has been involved in 5 of Arsenal’s dix Premier League goals so far this season (1 goal, 4 assists), assisting a goal in all 4 games so far. In Premier League history, only Thierry Henry (2004-2005) has provided an assist in each of a team’s first five matches in a season. Saka could easily be the difference maker with his mazy runs into City’s box. David Raya has been a rock at the back and kept things at bay. City will penetrate and threaten and if Raya could put in one of those stellar performances we saw against Atalanta, a new hero could be born. 

Injury list

Arsenal will be without talisman Odegaard as he recovers from an ankle injury. Apart from that, notable names such as Kieran Tierney, Tomiyasu, Merino, Zinchenko and newcomer Riccardo Calafiori will be missing out. 

Arsenal probable X1: Raya (GK), White, Gabriel, Saliba, Timber (DEF), Jorginho, Partey, Rice (MID), Saka, Havertz, Trossard (FWD).

MANCHESTER CITY FC vs ARSENAL FC
Winning Prediction

The stakes are high in this newfound rivalry. Records are there to be broken. Erling Haaland chasing his 100th goal for city, and Arsenal chasing their 100th win against City in all competitions. City will throw everything at Arsenal being at home. We’d expect the home side to have large amounts of the ball with calm, calculated play. Both teams have enough firepower to get on the score sheet. 

Arsenal will miss their main man Odegaard with his creativity and support play. The gunners have shown steely display against away assignments against Spurs and Aston Villa, but this test is of a different calibre altogether, in what should prove to be an interesting spectacle. 

Manchester City to win (2-1)

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