Arsenal face a title showdown when they head to the Etihad on Wednesday evening, knowing that a win for either side will put the Premier League firmly in their hands.
Currently five points clear of Manchester City atop the Premier League, Pep Guardiola’s side have two games in hand on the Gunners, and a win would see them close the gap to two points with those two games still to come.
However, three points for Arsenal would put the title firmly back in their hands once more, following a run of three draws that has seen it slip away.
Here’s how we expect Arsenal to line up at the Etihad, and the latest team news from north London.
📰 Table Of Contents
Predicted XI
Team News
The Gunners have their fair share of injury worries heading to the Etihad on Wednesday, none more so than William Saliba. The Frenchman suffered a back injury in their Europa League defeat to Sporting last month, and has not featured since.
He will not play a part against the reigning champions either, with Mikel Arteta explaining that “We are still hopeful [he will play again this season] but obviously it’s another week that’s gone by and he hasn’t been able to train with the time.”
Perhaps more concerningly for Arsenal, they could also be without Granit Xhaka, who missed Friday’s draw with Southampton through illness and is yet to fully recover from the issue, with Arteta telling the media: ‘Granit Xhaka has been out, but hopefully he will train today and he is a doubt.’
Elsewhere, there remain long term injuries to both Mohamed Elneny and Takehiro Tomiyasu, with neither expected back until next season.
