Arsenal will look to put their Premier League title chase right back on track with a statement win against defending champions Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, February 2.
The Gunners, who won their last home league encounter against City, will draw confidence from that narrow 1-0 win as they also managed to keep a clean sheet. With four wins and one draw in their last five matches across competitions, they will enter the upcoming clash in a pretty good shape and will look to carry their confidence from those results into this match.
Despite being without marquee talent Bukayo Saka, other players such as Leandro Trossard, Ethan Nwaneri and Kai Havertz have stepped up to plug the gap. The club remain in the market for new additions, but will have to make do with what is on hand until then.
With that said, let’s take a look at how they could line up against City.
Possible Arsenal XI: Lewis-Skelly straight back in?
David Raya will assume his position between the sticks after 35-year-old reserve goalkeeper Neto made his debut for the Gunners midweek against Girona. In front of him, Jurrien Timber will play at the right back spot.
Alongside the Dutchman, familiar central pairing William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes will start. Joining them will be Myles Lewis-Skelly, who is expected to be slotted straight into the XI after his red card was rescinded.
Martin Odegaard will don the captain’s armband for the Gunners in midfield, and will play with Thomas Partey and Declan Rice. Gabriel Martinelli is expected to start on the right flank, Kai Havertz in the middle, and Leandro Trossard will be on the left.
Predicted XI: Raya (GK); Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard (C), Partey, Rice; Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard.
