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Confirmed Arsenal team to face Manchester City – Solid team

Arsenal welcome Manchester City to the Emirates this afternoon and this is the team that Mikel Arteta has announced.

Arsenal team v Man City

Make no mistake, this is a huge game for both sides, especially Arsenal, who know full well that they must pick up all three points today to stay in touch with Liverpool, who won again yesterday at Bournemouth, 2-0.

As things stand, there is a nine-point gap between the Gunners and Liverpool, with both having played the same number of games. However, if Arsenal were to lose against the Citizens this afternoon, the points gap would remain the same, but Arteta’s men would have played one game more. With games running out, it becomes harder to see how the gap can be closed.

For City, they know that a win would reduce the gap to Arsenal to just three points. While their chances of a fifth consecutive title are slim, it would at least position them to pounce on any slip-ups by Liverpool at the top. In other words, it may not reignite their title hopes, but it would certainly do them no harm.

The bottom line is that this is a must-win game for both sides. A draw is no good, and we can expect an open and entertaining game with both teams going for the win.

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170 Comments

  4. Would have prefered Nwaneri starting and trossard /martinelli super sub. Lets hope all 3 of them have a great game. Have given up on the title long before but the only thing we can do is keep them under some pressure and hope for a miracle.
    COYG

  5. Good lineup. Arsenal go ahead and prove that you can beat anybody including M. city. UP GUNNERS
    3 – 0 Arsenal to win

  9. That’s a strong lineup. 3-0 Arsenal in the first half 💪 and and another goal in 2nd half by Nanweri. Match finishes 4-0. Come on Arsenal! ❤️🤍

    If this happens I’m staying humble, just saying 😉

  12. Was literally about to say it’s great that’s ederson is injured and their keeper plays that pass
    Great start

  13. Havertz in the right place again for an assist!!
    Could have shit, but played Odegaard in for the easy goal.
    What a team player he is!!

    2. If he took the shot he would have probably hit the corner flag ,so good job he decided against that option.

  16. City is playing much better since going down
    Our team won’t take this kind of pressure for long

  18. What is that clown still doing in an arsenal shirt.
    Let him go for free, hell pay the waste of space to leave.

    Just get rid of him

  20. Get rid of Havertz, get rid of Havertz. He is a Chelsea spy here to cost us points and make sure we win nothing.

      1. Great response Ben, because you can’t think of anything decent to say so you throw insults.

        @admin, is he not in breach of your rules?

        Ben, how about you be quiet if you can’t say something without throwing insults at others giving their opinions.

        I could insult you now but I wont

  22. Take Havertz off and put Nwaneri on and play either Trossard or Martinelli as CF
    This Havertz is disaster

    1. I have no idea what he is still doing in the team, must be buddy’s with Arteta. The guys does not make any other top 4 team.

      1. Because he’s the top scorer. Who else you going to play there? No one else in the squad can play that role. It’s honestly like you people have never seen football before. Yeah, Haaland scores that chance and Havertz should have as well but big Erling is just walking about the pitch so is always fresh, Kai has to run 12-14k every game and fight defenders. You just see stats and have no idea what the game is about.

        1. Putting the ball in the back of the net is all that matters and if you can’t tap it in for 300k p/wk you in the wrong business buddy. Nothing you say can make me think otherwise. This guys has missed multiple chances like this this year.

          Halaand does what he is paid to do and bangs em in buddy.

  24. Havertz should b sacked for his gross misconduct but so to arteta I would b at my job

    2. Because no other player has ever missed an easy chance right? I remember the great Henry missing an empty goal blazing over the bar.

      1. I have also seen FAR FAR more amazing solo goals, clutch goals, etc. Can’t say the same of Havertz..

      2. He has missed multiple in 2025 alone, but I guess we should accept and support mediocrity at 300k p/wk.

        This is what you are saying. If you like mid table go support a mid table team

        1. This is beyond mediocrity now. I know for a fact if I made a similar mistake in a hedge fund I would be fired on the spot..

          1. Do you read your comments before you post them? I’m sure you totally run multiple hedge funds and are totally beyond reproach and have never made a MINOR mistake during your work day. And I bet you definitely wouldn’t have mindless idiots on the internet calling for you to be sacked instantly. You aren’t a supporter, you’re someone who has aligned themselves with this club because anyone who actually supported the club wouldn’t say the sort of things you, Mickmematethemasterfarter and SWS are. It’s fine to be disappointed but it is absolutely not ok to call for someone to be sacked from their job because of a small mistake.

            This is a sport; a form of entertainment. How about getting some perspective. It doesn’t matter what he gets paid, that’s one of our business, just as what you get paid is none of mine and it isn’t for me to make arbitrary assessments of your performance in your job when I probably can’t do your job just the same as we definitely can’t do Havertz’s.

            1. I do, but you can take your virtue signalling and hide it where the sun doesn’t shine.

              If I ran multiple hedge funds nobody could fire me. But working at a hedge fund id definitely be fired for a BIG mistake like the one Havertz made. Now spare me your lecture, I don’t care about righteous opinions.

            2. So let’s support mediocrity, that’s right 5th place trophy would suffice for you?

              So how many small mistakes does one need to make before getting sacked?

    3. Whoever is responsible for buying Chelsea rejects for the past two decades is the one who should be sacked.

  25. My God havertz how can u miss that
    Dreadful start to the year for havertz complete opposite to 2024.

  26. Raya made one of the best saves I’ve seen. Normally those just hit the GK if they save it, but he really reacted to it.
    Feel bad for havertz, honestly – he’s not a good finisher but he’d normally put that one away. Confidence is clearly very low atm, but he’s putting in a shift – that’s all you can ask in times like this, and it’s not his fault we don’t have an alternative CF to take over.

    1. That’s what makes it worse. He’s so frustrating to watch. Superb workrate, great positioning always in the right spot but an atrocious finishing.

      1. True, but normally he’d have buried that one, most of our players would have. Just saying it shows his confidence is really low, and players with a poor attitude would not be applying themselves as well as he does in other areas of the game under those circumstances. It may be frustrating, but we’re relying on him (as there’s no one else) and he’s doing his best.

        1. It’s refreshing to see some level-headed comments regarding Havertz. I think it’s perfectly reasonable for us all to be disappointed he missed that chance but when you’re low of confidence you overthink every move you make, no matter what job a person does in life. I would much rather have Havertz in this side than some of the alternatives. Haaland by contrast does nothing for his team besides notch tap-ins. It’s much easier to score when that’s all you do and haven’t spent the rest of the match chasing down defenders and goalkeepers and fighting for every ball like Kai does.

        2. His confidence is has been shot for some games. Yes his finishing is not good but it is certainly not that level of bad. those misses vs Newcastle n united left scars.

    1. Reason why we don’t have to be worried about his age.
      He is top class and will still boss the midfield for the next 3 years. .
      We should give him 2 more years with improved salary.

  28. Unfortunately, disappointment again….again, the permanent embalmed footballer Havertz is the main player. How much we have lost due to the indifference, laziness, and irresponsibility of this former p Footballer… Arteta was fed up with getting rid of Chelsea. What else do you need to see, Arteta, to give him a permanent place on the bench… the guy is an adventurer.

    1. How can you call Havertz, indifferent, lazy and irresponsible? Yes, a striker he isn’t but he works his socks off and has good hold up play. I take it missing the sitter made you lose your mind? 🤣

    1. Bro has saved our blushes, made some super saves. He is pretty much the difference between the 2 sides.

    1. This is how he plays normally. He’s one of the best for a reason. Imagine playing someone who is worth 2 players in midfield as a RB.

  32. Can NOT play like we have the last 20 minutes. Brainless boring negative slow football. Idiotic when City are so vulnerable.

    2. I don’t call that a bad miss. He had a million years to shoot the ball, it wasn’t a flash shot. He SHOT IT WIDE. NOT EVEN ON TARGET!!!! His past only makes this worse. I am flabbergasted that he’s paid 300K per week.

      1. It’s absurd. I mean, hit SOMETHING! Even if it’s the GK maybe it still goes past him. He has zero confidence, overthought it and highly likely it costs us points. Yet again.

  37. Havertz made a great decision for our goal, but he also made an unbelievable miss. That should make Arsenal sign a new CF

    Partey was playing CDM well again, but Timber should be really careful as Man City would likely target him in the second half and we’ve got no senior RB to replace him on the bench

    1. Let’s hope we start the 2nd half strong and put one more in net. Can’t afford a slip up need to stay within touching distance of lpool

  38. I honestly can’t see a future at Arsenal for Havetz. He just doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere.

    1. He always gets in good positions but fluffs his shots and quiet a few are easy ones.

      I mean maybe it is a mental block that requires treatment

  39. What’s the point of havertz in the 2nd half better of with neto up front he’s confidence is completely shot I honestly can say I would have hit the target mite not have scored but hit the target it’s harder to miss it

  53. City is a prime example of how crucial confidence is in football. This is the same players who used to destroy opponents pressing with ease with their playing from the back.

  55. If we do not score 3rd then it will be 2-2 draw
    I hope I am wrong
    We are not going to hold this slender 2-1 lead till fulltime

    1. Haaland would score 50 epl goals with us with the amount of quality crosses we throw each games. Imagine saka pinging them to him.

    1. I knew he was going to score when he just ran at their defense. Finally someone just goes head on, we’ve been too pass focused this season. Gotta get after defenders, and take shots. Deflections, bad saves happen all the time.

  63. Lewis-Skelly is superstar in making
    He is going to be one of the best LB
    Boy Calafiori will have to do lot more to get into the 1st team

    2. He has a great stamina like Okazaki and Kante did, but he might not be able to do it four years later due to aging process

    1. This season we seem to run it to their box and then stop and pass backwards and it is quite frustrating.

    1. I think it had something to do with Ødegaard leading off at the ref for ignoring Trossard being fouled, (which looked a bit of a dive to me TBH).

  75. Guys guys let’s not have a go at the Ref, they can make mistakes even vital ones that cost teams points and they should not be called out for being bad at their jobs.

    Not my views though.

    1. Except our defence and midfield have eaten them more or less.
      Partey has basically made their midfield useless.

  92. Overall Havertz has redeemed himself today. A great shift second only to Odegaard I think. But it remains apparent the glaring need for a proper center forward

  96. With this and then losing yesterday and the pressure off us , not completely out of that second leg

    As I write this …..
    Goal!!!!!!

  99. Was anyone worried? Wow! We were so much more confident when he had that 2 goal gap, we were running rings around them.

  100. We’ve got some superstars in the making. Well done Arteta. We all need to give Mikel the credit today. He’s been under a lot of pressure and he’s delivered big time today. He’s done what we asked which is figuring out ways to win even when things aren’t going our way. Big big win. Well done boys!

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