Match day three within the Premier League will get a giant bang when Manchester City welcome Arsenal to the Etihad Stadium.
After shedding 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 purpose of the marketing campaign. Mikel Arteta is underneath actual strain to show issues round and a gathering along with his earlier employers may possibly be the final thing he needed to deal with right away.
Here is a 90 minute preview of the recreation.
When is it kick off? Saturday 28 August, 12:30 (BST)
Where is it performed? Etihad Stadium, Manchester
What 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 continues to be unavailable / Visionhaus / Getty Images
Pep Guardiola will undoubtedly be with out each Phil Foden (foot) and Kevin De Bruyne (ankle), however there are hopes that each will be again after the break if all the pieces goes in accordance with plan.
Left-back Benjamin Mendy will 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 optimistic. Both Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling got here off the bench to attain towards Norwich and are probably to be restored to the beginning line-up together with assistant hero Gabriel Jesus, which means Jack Grealish could have to 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 current, however Ben White, Willian and Alex Runarsson stay remoted and should miss this one.
An ankle damage will preserve Thomas Partey from the facet, and though midfielder Gabriel Magalhaes has returned to coaching after a knee damage, he is just not anticipated to get well for this one both.
However, it might be a second “debut” for Martin Odegaard, who managed an hour within the cup victory over West Brom in the midst 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 facet / Shaun Botterill / Getty Images
City are in a three-win sequence towards Arsenal, having doubled over the Gunners final season and added a victory within the Carabao Cup quarter-finals for good measure.
Arsenal received the final chuckle within the semi-finals of the FA Cup 2019/10, when an Aubameyang double had his life underneath Arteta who appeared rosy, but it surely was their first victory over City for the reason that 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 been within the behavior of tapping Arsenal lately, and though they don’t but have an elite striker on their books, they’ll nonetheless be assured of becoming a member of Arsenal.
Arteta can 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 elements of the protection that collapsed towards each Brentford and Chelsea. City are the final workforce they wish to face right away.
The hosts are the overwhelming favorites for this one, and never solely will they make sure you win, however they’ll have the possibility to preserve Arsenal chasing their first purpose of the season for some time longer.
Prediction: Man City 3-0 Arsenal
