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Confirmed Arsenal team v Man City – Havertz starts Gyokeres on bench

Manchester City will host Arsenal in a crunch Premier League meeting between the two best clubs in the division, and this is the starting eleven selected by Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal team v Man city

Arsenal currently hold a six-point cushion at the top of the standings, although City still have a game in hand. That advantage gives Arteta’s side some breathing space, yet it will be seriously tested when they face the defending champions in one of the most significant matches of the season.

Huge Stakes In Title Race

If Arsenal win, which would be the ideal outcome for them, they would extend their lead and place themselves in an even stronger position heading into the closing weeks of the campaign. A victory at this stage could also provide a major psychological boost.

However, defeat would reduce the gap to just three points and hand City the chance to draw level if they win their outstanding match. That scenario would dramatically shift the momentum of the title race and increase the pressure on Arsenal.

Arsenal Must Raise Their Level

The worst result Arsenal should aim for in this contest is a draw, as taking a point away from home would still preserve their advantage at the summit. Avoiding defeat could prove vital against a side with City’s experience and quality.

City beat Arsenal a few matches back in the Carabao Cup final, so they already know how to stop Arteta’s team. That previous success will give Pep Guardiola’s side confidence, while Arsenal must show they have learned from that setback.

It is set to be one of the biggest matches in European football this weekend, and Arsenal are expected to give everything in pursuit of victory. The importance of the occasion means concentration, discipline and composure will all be essential.

Having failed to beat City in two other meetings this term, Arsenal will need to perform far better than they did in those matches if they want to end the campaign as champions.

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273 Comments

    1. It appears he’s playing on the left wing. Why, I’d like to know. Timber is a big miss. I was at least hoping to see him on the bench given that he has a groin injury with no reliable time frame for his return being provided yet.

      1. BB, I think that’s how he used to play at Palace. Starting out left and moving inside.

        1. Hi Jax, he played in various positions with CP but mostly as an incredibly effective attacking left 8. He can be effective on the wing at times but not very often. Also, in general he doesn’t have many defensive skills to draw on so they may have a field day on that side of the pitch.

  3. The line-up looks good, although I’d prefer Martinelli on the left wing instead of Eze to catch Man City on the break with his pace

    I believe Man City will win the ball possession by 60+%, but we could win or draw the game by scoring from set-pieces. Havertz’s and Mosquera’s aerial abilities will increase our attacking set-piece threat

    1. And mostly Man City’s attack will be from their left wing
      I fancy O’Reilly goal again or perhaps Doku gets the penalty

      1. Guardiola has been relying on O’Reilly’s aerial ability to score lately

        Madueke should prevent the tall inverted LB from popping up in our penalty box

        Hopefully the young LB will be busy to deal with Madueke’s tricks

  5. Game of the season!! We only need a point to secure the title and avoid the most embarrassing failure in the history of English football!

    If we fail to win the league after holding it in our hands for the whole season Arteta must resign and return this season’s salary.

    1. Secure the title when there are still 5 matches left to play ?

      We all just watched our team lose to Bournemouth in our own backyard and you’re dismissing 5 teams just like that ?

      1. All 5 teams we have left are below Bournemouth in the league. City also will have 6 games left after this and if we do draw we will be 6 points ahead with a better gd so yes we should be confident at that point. City have the harder run in and will be 6 points behind.

        Got to get the result today 1st though.

  6. Best attack against probably the best the backline in the league ,take a draw but obviously 3 points would be the icing on the cake .

    1. I don’t fancy us to win
      Best we can get is draw
      But I think City will probably win this one

  7. Eze should Play where trosard or matinelli position, this what I anticipated from arteta, good luck Arsenal. Nothing less that draw.

  8. I do not like Arteta and never will but I will be cheering for him like crazy today. Its about time we celebrate some major silverware.

  9. This is the kind of squad I wanted to see in the FA Cup and Capital One Cup later stages.

    You should always play your best team available, if you lose the next game, so be it

  10. I’ve huge hope on FINISHERS in Trossard, Gyokeres and Martinelli. They can change the outcome of the game. Do Eze and today’s captain Odegaard dovetail? Contrary to broader anticipation if Gunners make surprise offensive play in the first 10 minutes may result in a goal. Pre emptive strike strategy! Good luck Gunners!!!

  11. I do not mind Havertz as a 9 as long as he is not in MF. I do not like Eze on the left as he does not get back enough to cover for the left back. Same with Madueke. Would have preferred Martinelli on the left. I am going to have to hide behind the pillow in the room. I want MA to prove me wrong.

  13. Can Mosquera handle Doku? Pep orders his team to target and attack on that line. Buckle up Mosquera! He should be aided closely by Saliba Madueke and one of Zubi or Rice. COYG!!!

  14. Let’s go

    The way to trouble Man City is known by everybody

    It doesn’t matter how long they hold possession put the fear in them that

    “whenever we get the ball we’ll be running straight to exploit the plenty spaces you leave behind you – and we will not stop doing so nomatter how many times you quickly recover possession from us – and we will also keep doing it bullishly and aggressively”

  15. Well thats the team he has gone with. Worried about Zubimendi, getting exposed and Eze left wing but lets go, the manager knows best.

  16. Today is the perfect day for haram football and lockdown the match to a halt, City have to win we don’t. A draw keeps everything in our hands. Yes we must start the match looking for a win or early goal to crack City recent momentum but in no way should we be the one taking risks. Let City push forward and leave themself vulnerable.

    A defeat here would mean we start the match vs Newcastle next week in 2nd position due to goal diff as City play mid-week vs Burnley and will definitely win. I don’t think the boys would recover mentally to overtake City especially with our current physical and mental level.

  17. People talk about we defending defending playing defense football

    Thank God Arteta knows his team more than everybody else

    As long as Odegaard is in the middle
    And there’s at least someone on the wing who’s comfortable on the ball
    And the Striker is not someone that loses 90% of the ball passes to him

    Then we’ll possess you
    Man City are the only team who will possess every Goddamn team

    With this lineup only Man City can force us to be defending for too long

  18. Ødegaard ✅ Madueke ✅ Eze✅ Havertz ✅✅ still not expecting a win for us though.

  19. Hopefully Odegaard is up to speed we have missed him. He’s number 1 for assists per min (still joint top for assist total despite missing half the season), 3rd for key passes (passes leading to shots) per min behind Saka/Rice who have the set pieves, 1st for through balls per min etc. Missed that in the team. Eze is 2nd for through balls per min as well so double happy days should be a better on the ball performance today.

    1. He is the outlet for all our defensive players to connect to the attacking players:
      that’s all that concerns me

      With him we can create a goal from CB to Striker within 4 seconds if the need be

      Without him we can’t

      Yes with him we still do a lot of recycling but any moment the opposition slacks we will be there to take advantage

      Without him we lose that

      1. even defensively our best 4 attackers for interceptions are

        1.) Saka
        2.) Merino
        3.) Odegaard
        4.) Eze

        so having odegaard and eze back will help not just holding the ball but winning it in dangerous areas.

  20. To have any chance we need to score first otherwise it will be a difficult afternoon

  21. Well, there’s been lots of talk this week from manager and players alike about how they’re ready and fired up. We’ll soon see if it was empty words or fighting talk? Time to stand up and be counted!

    1. The team does look set to attack so it at least looks like Arteta is doing his part to make a game of it..

  23. A lot depends on the mentality on display this afternoon. All good players in their own right but with a few I wish were available for selection

    1. Mosquera is getting played like a fiddle and now has a yellow card. White may not do much better but must be subbed in. I’ve already had to use the defibrilator a couple of times.

  24. Let’s tear City a new one. That scum drinking out of an Arsenal bottle last week was selling those bottles outside the Etihad today

    1. Given our recent performances and our record every season in the month of April and recent performances from City I think City will win by 3-0
      Probably O’Reilly to score opener
      Haaland and Semenyo to finish it off Arsenal’s title hopes again

  25. Given our recent performances and our record every season in the month of April and recent performances from City I think City will win by 3-0
    Probably O’Reilly to score opener
    Haaland and Semenyo to finish it off Arsenal’s title hopes again

  26. Arsenal do a bad pass at the back that doesn’t lead to a chance Neville goes on and on about it. City pass it out for a corner under no pressure, crickets. Gonna be an annoying listen, can tell already.

  29. Taken 40 seconds to take the corners 🙄
    Hopefully next season that’s something taken out the game .

  35. Great goal but the start we’ve made gives me confidence we can get back in this. We’ve been playing well.

    1. Both keepers and defence looks tense and also facing 2 of the best pressing teams in the world.

        1. I’m tense watching from my sofa now imagine them. No building from the back for us though Arteta said u can take your 4 man press and begone pep. Every kick is long.

          1. Yes I can’t handle any more of those cock-ups at the back, don’t want to gift them a goal

        2. We haven’t pressed this high all season and against the most offensively talented team in the league. I don’t know if I can take 95 of this and even worse I don’t think we have the fuel in the tank to make it work until full time.

  44. Eza lost the ball so easily. I don’t see what others see when they say we started well, I just don’t. Important not to let this get embarrassing

  45. Let’s destroy them, half their team shouldn’t be there anyway, because they have cheated FFP.

  46. haaland outside the box (no city player in the box) completely miscues a shot wide. Neville, really really good move by city.

    1. I’ve decided to steam the game with foreign commentary so I don’t have to listen to the bias crap from sky

  47. City mess up at the back again which Neville went on and on about the 1st time arsenal did it. Reily dribbles out. “That is superb these fb’s are on another level” no mention of the arsenal press or poor passing from city.

  48. Arsenal are playing too much football in their own half
    That’s dangerous
    And Arsenal need to take Musquera out now
    He is on yellow
    Potential red card

  49. You would think being payed millions of pounds and being a professipnal footballer would at least warrant mastering the basics like passing?

  51. Man City v Arsenal
    Possession
    Man City:59.9%
    Arsenal:40.1%
    Expected goals (xG)
    Man City:0.69
    Arsenal:0.55
    Shots
    Man City:8
    Arsenal:3
    Shots on target
    Man City:2
    Arsenal:1

    Not bad away from home

      1. It might still be, Sue if we approach the second half like the Carabao Cup final. We need to keep the performance high because Pep is likely to have City fired up for the second half.

        1. Yes I thought that as I wrote it and that’s what worries me, GunneRay. Hopefully Arteta will do the same 🙏

  52. Blunt again as far as attacking and we are making silly errors at the back. Zubimendi is a passenger and Mosquera needs replacing and White will need help. Saliba And Raya are as slack as you like and are very worrying. We need to score because City will.

    1. This game Zubi has the only interception on the team and hasn’t been tackled once.

      Rice/Mosquerra have 3 tackles each. Madueke/Hincapie have 2 each. Zubi has 1 with Gabriel.

      In clearances its Hincapie 3, Rice/Saliba 2 and Zubi/Raya 1/

      In being fouled he’s on 1 with Mosquera/Rice/Raya.

      Doing his job.

    2. Irony is Saliba has been by far the quietest and least involved of the back 6 but you didn’t mention him.

        1. worth noting Saliba is not involved because he is on Haaland don’t let him sprint in behind duty,

  53. Yet we are really not really creating anything .We are playing better than against Bournemouth but I think we will need to score in the second half to get at least a draw

    1. We are looking better because at the moment we don’t have pressure to score the goal
      Against Bournemouth we had a pressure to score a goal and under pressure we don’t perform

  54. Excellent high press and good aerial duels from Havertz

    White should replace Mosquera to avoid the second yellow card, because Doku was super tricky

    1. I think if City wins today then it will be Individual flair and brilliance just like we saw from Cherki
      City has good ball carriers like O’Reilly, Cherki, Bernardo, Semenyo, Doku
      We are finding it difficult to contain these ball carriers

      1. Man City’s technical director has smartly signed attackers who’re excellent in duels like Doku, Cherki and Semenyo

        Berta should learn a lot from Begiristain and Viana

  55. What a way to be back in the game, let’s go boys, we have a chance of winning this.

  56. We’re not playing brilliantly, but City aren’t so wonderful either. Keep it like this please.

    1. I think if City wins today then it will be Individual flair and brilliance just like we saw from Cherki
      City has good ball carriers like O’Reilly, Cherki, Bernardo, Semenyo, Doku
      We are finding it difficult to contain these ball carriers

  57. Those that don’t see Saka’s usefulness even when he’s not on a blazing form:

    Noni loses the ball 80% (inclusive of the defender getting/blocking what he wants to do)

    We can’t construct a chance with his side – when he gets the ball he feels it’s his family-inheritance and that attack must end at his side

    Just one movement, turn, play to another teammate let’s move the ball around – an opening will show up somewhere

    But no, when it gets to him he feels he must always dribble – and that dribble of his is not even intelligent as what he always wants to his run to the byline and cross/square-play

    If there was someone that doesn’t make our attack end when it gets to him – our possession will be up a lil more and will have created much more chance

    Right except the play is set in such a way that Noni is 1-on-1 with a single defender and able to run directly at him – except that I’m scared when the ball gets to him – as Man City will either win it off him an counter us or just kill that attack

  59. Not as bad as I was expecting, although I am watching a re run of City goal and I am afraid to say that Eze was found wanting. I think is was GunnerRay who wrote he isn’t committing, Equally at the other end Havertz scored an opportunistic goal after a blunder, so still all to play for.

  60. One shot on target after every first half. I wouldn’t even call the goal a shot on target.

    Man city will go up in gears, I’m not sure about Arsenal as this is as fire as it gets based on the last last two months worth of games.

  61. Would bring Martinelli and White on the right, not for quality but Martinelli will defend better than Madueke. Wether we move Madueke left? But the right needs sorting. I woukd take of Zubimendi and put Norgard on.

  62. I know some will be surprised

    This game against Man City doesn’t suit a player like Max Dowman even

    Being able to relief the team from excessive defending is priority – so players that just run Everytime they get the ball will be easy to disposess (Martinelli, Noni, Dowman) or foul and that isn’t what we need against Man City

    But since Noni is in
    I guess Dowman can come in also

    At least 1 of their runs gets us a goal before Man City does then we can defend and use their pace as an outlet

    But before then we don’t want to be giving away cheap possession like Noni is busy doing

  63. If we can get the basics right we can definitely come away with a good result. Possibly a great one? We need to keep putting the pressure on. They can make mistakes too! I just hope we don’t revert to dropping too deep and passing to Raya too much. We will get punished. I do want to see Eze in the game more. He’s not having much of a baring on the game so far. I know he can do more. I’m not surprised Martinelli is coming on for Madueke..

  64. We need to take mosquera off he has probably only one more foul before in danger of red. White hasn’t been good especially defending but a red card would be catastrophic.

  66. So far so good the game is going well. The arsenal cracks are showing because city113 are are very good side and playing tactically. Come on boys let’s snatch this victory.
    COYG.

  69. We can’t get out of our own half.It has a feeling of the second half of the league cup final

  70. Just to remind everyone we are the team that is 6 points ahead, playing away from home, with 6/5 games left after this and the score is 1-1.

  75. xg currently 1.2 arsenal v 1.01 city and that eze effort that hit the post was very low xg

      1. That’s the problem. We nearly score. They actually score. We were gifted our goal.

      2. But I think City have more chance to score 3rd than we are scoring 2nd because even with 1-1 we left acres of space at the back
        So at 2-1 down we will more than acres

      1. i put the stats so people don’t lie that city were dominating thats pretty much it. Results ultimately are the thing that matter.

        2. It doesn’t matter either whether you dominante or not final outcome is more important than anything else
          And I can see final tag will be bottlers in May

          1. we’ll have the same points as city if they beat palace in their game in hand with 5 games to go.

            1. Comments used to say 9 points, then 7, then 4 points ahead….now its we’ll be level on points

              I think a 8 year old could see where the trend is heading and the direction

              Anyway I’ll leave you to go back to your trolling

              1. they will be level with us with 5 left if they beat burnley midweek and we do not equalise.

              2. city last 4 saw them draw to forest and west ham. Cups saw them lose twice to madrid but beat us and liverpool. What form or trend?

              3. 3 games ago in the league city were 5 behind, they drew 2 we won 2 and went 9 clear, we lost 1 they won it went to 6. At christmas it was 2.

          2. you do realise you are giving credit to city for being level with Arsenal after 33 games (they havent beaten palace yet either) that is wild

    1. hit the post since this comment what is wrong with you? even if we lose we are still 3 point ahead and 2 gd ahead with 6/5 to play. This section of the Arsenal fanbase that want to throw in the towel when top of the league and in the semi of the cl is wild.

      2. Shut up.
        These people see the writing on the wall for ANOTHER season under this perennial screw up.
        One FA cup built on Unai Emery’s squad. He has shown for six long years we are just also rans.

  83. Arsenal will lose – every big pressure game they crumble.
    They will never achieve anything under Arteta. Nothing.

        2. If they were winning and not blowing big leads and half the time not putting the effort into games then people wouldn’t push for him to be removed would they?

        3. It’s sad to you who put him before the club. Why shouldnt he get fired if he is not doing his job that he is overpaid for?

          1. Ive always said Arteta legacy will be judged on trophies and if we start to go backwards he should be sacked. Im not the insane one here.

            1. Where are the trophies after 6 years? You have been cheerleading this substandard bottler manager for 6 years now where are the trophies?

              1. we are top of the prem even with the loss today if we dont equalise and in the cl semi against a team we beat 4-0 in the group stage?

        4. Sorry Angus but some of us are reaslists. You have to accept when you’re not good enough. You chose to change perspective from game to game. Even though it’s obvious what is happening (again). We were in a fantastic place three weeks ago and we’ve given everyone the ammunition to callnus bottlers. It’s not just about this game or this season. It’s about our past and our predictable future. The realist know exactly what to expect. If we lose out on the EPL again after being in such a great position, it gets harder to defend the manager and the club.

          1. GunnerRay,
            I can only speak for myself as I first responded to Leon. Obviously I don’t think people want Arteta to fail, but it is pretty pointless to go ballistic until the final whistle on this occasion, and then at the end of the season if the season ends with nothing

            We probably won’t get anything out of this game, but I am not going to hang the players on this second half effort. They have given it a go.

            1. Complete understand that, SueP. The problem for me though is that it’s not about this game for me. It’s about our predictably to fold when we shouldn’t be. It happens every year. This is Citys worst season and are looking more lively to lift the EPL again because we faltered again.

              1. On today’s showing, I didn’t think we folded. We definitely were terrible against Bournemouth which is what I imagine you were referring to. I thought it was a much better display and if they show as much in our remaining games, it doesn’t mean that the game is up.

                All theoretical of course

    1. Ignore Angus, he’s a troll that choses to bomb the comment section when he comes out of his cave every now and then. He will not allow you to have your own opinion 🤣

      1. do you understand what troll means? I say dumb mean things when drunk 1 in 100 of posts thats it.

      2. He’s a dreamer who chooses to call people out for having a genuine realistic opinion.

  85. I think Havertz has been terrific today
    His movement and link up play was really good

  86. To be fair we have been unlucky hitting the post twice but it doesn’t appear it is our year.Next season

    2. Ah from 4 trophies to one, and it highly unlikely we will win it plating like we have in recent weeks.

      Bottle of the century no doubt.

        1. No that’s not correct .If both teams win their remaining games it will come down to goal difference,so we will have to play positive football and score lots of goals.It is therefore still in our hands.Well sort of

          1. Some people say City will drop points (as they have the harder run-in apparently) which I can’t see. However, I can see us dropping points. We’ve blown it big time (and yes that was copied from last season)

    1. And the sad thing is, this is a weaker City than usual.

      Arteta has hit his ceiling, no shame in that. Just admit it and bring in someone new.

  88. Never win anything playing this way. Its just poor football. We try to keep possession but the way we play, we never will. Totally void of IDEAS.

    1. And before an idiot says they haven’t. They played proper football, we played without a lot of composure.

    1. I give up on arsenal. Never will i call myself and Arsenal fan ever again

  92. We need a top finisher next season. Havertz is not it. Should have had at least three goals today and that is why we will miss out on the EPL. We haven’t score enough goals.

    1. We have a top finisher in Gyokeres but Mr Egoman will not use tactics to accommodate him since he is not his signing. He would rather have Merino, Havertz or even Raya as a CF.

    3. No, I wouldn’t say so, but without question the task is harder.

      I was expecting worse than actually happened on the day and I felt that the majority on that pitch gave much more than I have seen lately. We haven’t got to play City again, so all we can do is see how the rest of the games go.

      1. SueP, so was I. Thought we might get a bit of a hammering today. Still a lot to play for.

        1. Of course there is HD. It’s the post match blues which I understand. It was an away fixture against the most successful team in the last 9 or so years with the most accomplished manager for many more years than that.

  95. Why not turn up like that against Bournemouth.

    Beat Bournmouth would be six points up now and 3 up next week.

    The performance against Muff and Man C was chalk and cheese.

      1. We were very good today.

        It’s not performances like that one which cost us this title.

        1. But it is!!!!!! If you think that type of football wins trophies, you do not understand what is required?

    1. We will start next season joint favourites with Man City.
      Hard to see Liverpool and Chelsea sorting the mess out between now and then. So on to next season, battle Man City again.

  99. On the basis City will beat Burnley we now have a 5 match mini league for the title.Arteta has to play positive football and score lots of goals.

      1. We beat Munich and A Madrid and Aston Villa at home very conveniently. It is possible .No more hand brake.We were unlikely today .It isn’t over .Remember 89

          1. We do play better when the pressure is off and now everyone will be saying City are already champions. City weren’t that great today .Beat Newcastle on Saturday and let’s see

    2. It’s over mate
      Absolutely over
      Arsenal are not gonna win anything till the time Arteta is in charge

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