Arsenal vs. Manchester City: Team News, Predicted Lineups, and Injury Updates for Premier League Showdown

Manchester City will travel to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, February 2, 2025, to take on Premier League leaders Arsenal in a high-stakes encounter. Pep Guardiola’s men are eager to close the gap at the top, but they will have to navigate through a challenging injury list.

Manchester City Team News

City head into the game on the back of a 3-1 Champions League victory over Club Brugge, with Brazilian winger Savinho playing a key role. The youngster made an instant impact after coming off the bench, scoring the third goal to seal City’s progression to the knockout stages. Guardiola was full of praise for Savinho and could hand him a starting spot against Arsenal following his impressive display.

The squad will also be boosted by the availability of recent signings Vitor Reis, Omar Marmoush, and Abdukodir Khusanov, who were ineligible for the Champions League clash but can feature in this Premier League showdown. However, City’s injury woes continue, with several key players still sidelined.

Man City Injury Updates

Guardiola will be without some crucial names, including:

• Rodri (Muscle injury) – Unlikely to be fit for the game.
• Nathan Aké (Hamstring) – Set to miss out.
• Julián Álvarez (Knock) – Doubtful for the trip.
• Rúben Dias (Injury) – Remains out.
• Jérémy Doku (Muscle issue) – Still recovering.

With these absences, City will have to rely on key figures like Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Bernardo Silva to lead the charge against an Arsenal side that has been solid at home this season.

Predicted Man City Lineup (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Ederson
Defenders: John Stones, Manuel Akanji, Joško Gvardiol, Kyle Walker
Midfielders: Mateo Kovačić, Matheus Nunes, Kevin De Bruyne
Forwards: Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, Savinho

Guardiola could experiment with his setup, possibly introducing Savinho in a more advanced role alongside Foden and Haaland.

Arsenal’s Form and Key Players

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have been in stellar form this season and currently lead the Premier League table. The Gunners boast a well-organized defense, spearheaded by William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães, while midfield duo Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard continue to dominate games. Up front, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus will be key threats for City’s defense.

With the game set to kick off at 4:30 PM GMT, fans can expect an electrifying battle between two of the league’s top sides.