In an effort to maintain our longest unbeaten streak since 2007–08 and surpass our rivals in the standings going into the international break, we take on Manchester City for the fifth time in 2023.
While we defeated Bournemouth last weekend to make it five wins and two draws from our first seven games, Pep Guardiola’s team lost 2-1 at Wolves.
The last time they suffered consecutive league defeats was in 2018, though.
We enter this particular matchup with many reasons to believe we can finally end our 12-game league losing streak against the Sky Blues.
The reigning treble holders head to north London juggling numerous suspensions and injuries in recent weeks.
Nervous City.
Wolves defeat Manchester City thanks to a goal from Hwang Hee-chan.
Before the past few weeks, everything was going great for City.
They climbed to the top of the Premier League after six straight victories, and the Treble winners continued where they left off at the end of the previous campaign when they defeated Red Star Belgrade in their Champions League opener.
Wolves shocked Guardiola’s team by winning 2-1 at Molineux to end the unbeaten league start, but a rotated team was defeated 1-0 by Newcastle United at St. James’ Park to put an end to their interest in the League Cup at the first hurdle.
Only late goals from Julian Alvarez, who scored his fourth goal in as many games, and summer signing Jeremy Doku allowed RB Leipzig to be routed 3-1 away from home in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
what the supervisors state.
The team will benefit greatly if we can create the best atmosphere at the Emirates, according to Arteta.
There have been times when we have handled it remarkably well.
A really good example was against PSV, and there were some parts against Spurs, but that’s on us.
It would be a big plus if the crowd could give us that.
We aren’t reviewing our previous results against City because different players were involved in those contests, but we do know that we must perform at the top of our game.
For 100 minutes, each department must perform at its highest level.
Our chance is then. Read each and every sentence from Mikel’s pre-game press conference.
Pep Guardiola in the RB Leipzig victory for Manchester City.
“Undoubtedly [Arsenal will be title rivals], along with Liverpool,” said Guardiola.
The first 10 games are supposed to be used to evaluate contenders. We haven’t played 10; we must wait, but big clubs are almost always contenders.
Arsenal has come back.
When I was a young boy and beginning my career as a manager in Barcelona.
I am aware of their conflict with Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United squad.
After that, they disappeared for a while, but they are now back.
It’s a contender, yes, and when you see on the calendar that you go to the Emirates, it’s a tougher one.
“This [game] won’t really define much.
When they arrive at the Etihad, it will be different; then, it will depend on the circumstances.
“.
Talking strategies.
a Manchester City player named Rodri.
According to Adrian Clarke’s article in the official matchday program, Guardiola has switched back to the 4-2-3-1 formation in all seven of his league games after finding success with an unconventional 3-2-4-1 formation toward the end of last season.
That choice may have been influenced by John Stones’ absence, who excelled in an engine room role.
City has produced a division-high 164 sequences of 10 or more passes so far this season, an increase of three per game from 2022/23, and the champions are extremely patient before exploding into life around the box.
Rapid play changes frequently occur, and when defenses are worn thin, they allow passes to be made to runners who are bursting into the area from deep.
Off the ball, not much has altered.
The champions aggressively work in packs to quickly retake possession when it is lost. They have only taken 44 shots so far this season, which is 23 fewer than the next-closest Premier League team, ourselves, with 67.
However, City is significantly weaker without the suspended Rodri and has appeared more prone to turnovers as a result.
When the visitors have moved bodies forward, if we can disrupt play and regain possession, we can try to score quickly.
group news.
During our game against Lens, Bukayo Saka was injured on the field.
Bukayo Saka has scored in each of his last two home games against City, but it is uncertain if he will be healthy enough to play on Sunday after leaving the field against Lens on Tuesday with a muscular injury.
Gabriel Martinelli has also missed the last four games after pulling a hamstring against Everton last month, and Jurrien Timber is our only long-term absentee after tearing his ACL on the first weekend.
As a result of Rodri’s dismissal against Nottingham Forest, City will be without him, and the statistics indicate that they will perform worse as a result.
While he has only lost 13% of the Premier League games he has played in, that number jumps to 33% when he is not present.
The fact that Kevin de Bruyne will be absent due to a torn hamstring could be crucial because the Belgian has contributed to eight goals in his last six league games against us (6 goals, 2 assists), and John Stones will also be absent because his hip injury from our Community Shield matchup has worsened.
Despite missing the previous three games due to injury, Bernardo Silva made a comeback against Leipzig.
facts and statistics.
Mikel Arteta playing against Manchester City.
In our last 26 home Premier League games, we have only lost twice (W19 D5), though one of those losses was to Man City (1-3 in February).
We have only scored five goals and given up 33 in our last 12 Premier League games against Manchester City.
In the history of our league, this is the longest losing streak we have ever experienced against a foe.
Since a 2-0 away victory in January 2015, we haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of our previous 16 league games against City.
Since a run of 30 games against Manchester United between 1953 and 1968, this is our longest stretch without a league shutout against an opponent.
No team is currently on a longer such run going into this weekend’s games than us (Spurs also have 8 games without a loss in the Premier League; W6 D2).
Since 2007–2008, when they went 15 games unbeaten, this is our longest league-wide streak without a loss.
With the exception of Man City, who he has lost all seven games to, Mikel Arteta has defeated 23 of the 24 teams he has faced in the Premier League.
Against the other 23 clubs in the division, the Spaniard has actually averaged at least one point per game.
Pep Guardiola has defeated us 20 times in his managerial career, more than any other opponent.
Saka has contributed to seven goals in his last eight Premier League games (5 goals, 2 assists), and in each of his last five games, he has either scored (3) or assisted (2).
Additionally, he has scored in each of his last two home victories over City.
In his last four league games in London, Erling Haaland has scored in every game.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, who did it between September 2002 and September 2003, is the only player to score five straight goals in the capital (for a team not based in London).
officials for the game.
Peter Oliver.
After presiding over our most recent league match, which we lost 4-1 in Manchester back in April, Michael Oliver is once more chosen to oversee a match between the two teams.
He was appointed to oversee our opening-weekend victory over Nottingham Forest, and this is the second time he has presided over one of our games this year.
In our last seven games, dating back to February 2022, we have only failed to earn three points once under Oliver’s watch, and that was the defeat at the Etihad Stadium.
The last of the 16 games he has officiated, a 5-1 rout of Fulham in September, was a victory for City, who have won 15 of the last 16.
Michael Oliver is the referee.
Lee Betts and Stuart Burt are the assistants.
Tim Robinson, fourth representative.
John Brooks is a VAR.
Darren Cann is the assistant VAR.
City’s most recent visits.
With a 3-1 victory over us last year, City overtook us atop the table. De Bruyne scored the game’s first goal, and Saka added a penalty-kick goal to complete the scoring.
However, goals from Grealish and Haaland in the second half gave the visitors the victory.
On January 1st 2022, when Guardiola’s team was there, a last-second Rodri goal gave the guests the victory, the visitors had previously set up in N5.
We had taken the lead thanks to Saka, but a penalty from Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel’s dismissal from the game helped the tide turn.
They have won seven straight games on our patch overall, dating back to April 2017.
The last time we beat City at home was in December 2014, a 2-1 victory with goals from Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud.
With these memorable matches, you can watch some iconic goals and home victories over City.
Deconstruction Live.
Live breakdown.
An hour prior to kickoff, Nick Bright and Adrian Clarke will be live on Arsenal.com and the official app to provide you with the best match buildup and analysis.
In addition to TJ and Femi from Mercury Prize-winning Ezra Collective, Gunners legend Liam Brady will stop by the box to offer his opinion on how he thinks the game will unfold.
Dan Azeez and Joshua Buatsi will also speak with the players before their match at the O2 Arena, and Arsenal Lithuania will be watching from the stands.
Dan Roebuck and Jeremie Aliadiere will then provide live commentary beginning at 430 PM UK time.
If you want to watch the action wherever you are in the world, you can find out which broadcaster is showing the match in your nation.
Likewise on gameday.
Born to Be a Footballer, a new autobiography by Liam Brady.
If you plan to attend, stop by The Armoury between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. after the game to meet Brady and get a copy of his new autobiography Born to be a Footballer.
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