Match day three within the Premier League will get an enormous bang when Manchester City welcome Arsenal to the Etihad Stadium.
After getting unfastened in opposition to Tottenham on the opening weekend, City bounced emphatically with a 5-0 knockout of Norwich and reminded everybody how good they are surely.
As for Arsenal, they’re nonetheless searching for each their first level and their first aim of the marketing campaign. Mikel Arteta is below actual strain to show issues round and a gathering together with his earlier employer may perhaps be the last item he needed to deal with immediately.
Here is a 90 minute preview of the sport.
When is it kick off? Saturday 28 August, 12:30 (BST)
Where is it performed? Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Which TV channel is it on? BT Sport 1 (UK), NBC Sports (USA)
Who is the choose? Martin Atkinson
Who has VAR service? Darren England
De Bruyne remains to be unavailable / Visionhaus / Getty Images
Pep Guardiola will positively be with out each Phil Foden (foot) and Kevin De Bruyne (ankle), however there are hopes that each might be again after the break if the whole lot goes in line with plan.
Left-back Benjamin Mendy may even miss the match after City confirmed that he has been suspended throughout an investigation by the police.
The solely different headache for Guardiola is constructive. Both Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling got here off the bench to attain in opposition to Norwich and can seemingly be restored to the beginning line-up together with assistant hero Gabriel Jesus, that means Jack Grealish might must be dropped again in midfield.
Odegaard is predicted to current / James Williamson – AMA / Getty Images
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette have each recovered from COVID-19 and are in line to be part of, however Ben White, Willian and Alex Runarsson stay remoted and should miss this one.
A foot harm will maintain Thomas Partey from the aspect, and though midfielder Gabriel Magalhaes has returned to coaching after a knee harm, he just isn’t anticipated to get better for this one both.
However, it could possibly be a second “debut” for Martin Odegaard, who managed an hour within the cup victory over West Brom in the course of the week and is in line for his first Premier League begin since returning to the membership.
Man City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo; Rodri, Gundogan, Grealish; Mahrez, Jesus, Sterling
Arsenal: Leno; Cedric, Holding, Mari, Tierney; Xhaka, Lokonga; Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe; Aubameyang
The metropolis has historical past on its aspect / Shaun Botterill / Getty Images
City are in a three-win collection in opposition to Arsenal, having doubled over the Gunners final season and added a victory within the Carabao Cup quarter-finals for good measure.
Arsenal acquired the final snort within the semi-finals of the FA Cup 2019/10, when an Aubameyang double had his life below Arteta who regarded rosy, but it surely was their first victory over City because the similar stage of the 2016/17 season.
In the Premier League, Arsenal’s final victory over City got here with a 2-1 victory again in December 2015. The 11 league matches that adopted have yielded 9 losses and two attracts, with a complete rating of 28-8.
City are overwhelming favorites for this one / Shaun Botterill / Getty Images
City have had an actual behavior of tapping Arsenal in recent times, and even in the event that they wouldn’t have an elite striker on their books but, they are going to nonetheless be assured of becoming a member of Arsenal.
Arteta could have extra pleasure within the assault because of the return of Lacazette and Aubameyang, however with White and Gabriel left, the Gunners are caught with the identical components of the protection that collapsed in opposition to each Brentford and Chelsea. City are the final staff they wish to face immediately.
The hosts are the overwhelming favorites for this one, and they’ll not solely make sure to win, however they are going to have the prospect to maintain Arsenal chasing their first aim of the season for some time longer.
Prediction: Man City 3-0 Arsenal
