Arsenal News Arsenal opinion

Official Arsenal team to face Man City – attacking line up from Arteta

This is a massive game for Arsenal and could be season-defining, especially when it comes to qualifying for Europe and the Arsenal team to face Man City will need to be at its very best this evening at Wembley Stadium.

On paper, Man City are clear favourites and looking at both teams it is easy to predict that Pep Guardiola’s men will steamroller over Arsenal but everyone said that about Liverpool and look what happened.

The FA Cup is notorious for surprising results and to write Arsenal off before a ball is even kicked is wrong, they may be underdogs but they still stand a chance, however small that may be.

This is the team that Mikel Arteta has gone with and I like it.

Arsenal team to face Man City

Can this team pull off a second magnificent result this week and reach the FA Cup final at the expense of Man City? Let us know in the comments below.

Links to streams will be put in the comments where to watch the game live and free so keep checking in.

Also, if you go to the official Arsenal website here you will be able to get live commentary text and radio.

JustArsenal predicted line up (for comparison) here

JustArsenal match preview here

More Stories / Latest News
Arsenal need to bounce back quick or they need a quick trip back to Dubai
Should Arteta have gambled on Thomas Partey against Bayern Munich?
How can Arsenal fix their left-back dilemma next season?
Posted by

Tags Arsenal v Man City FA Cup Official Arsenal team

206 Comments

    1. About time too Sue, he’s to good to let go – like this team, it’s playing to our strengths and not worrying about theirs.

    2. Here comes the magical fa sue we’re the record champions. In with a shout. Lioz scores today. To atone that horror show

  2. I hope the formation would be 4-2-3-1 with Ceballos as no 10 and Maitland-Niles as a DM in a double pivot:

    ……………………… Martinez
    Bellerin . Mustafi . Luiz . Tierney
    ………… Niles …………. Xhaka
    Pepe ………….. Ceballos …………. Aubameyang
    ……………………… Lacazette

    But I believe Arteta would use Maitland-Niles as an LWB in 3-4-3 formation instead. If that’s the case, he should’ve used Kolasinac or Tierney as attacking LWB

      1. Kolasinac is good in attacking and defending. He just had one brain fart in one EPL game, because he didn’t play in his natural attacking LWB position

        1. He didn’t just have one brain fart, he’s had numerous. He’s too scared for a big guy. 90% of his passes every match are backwards.

          2. i’ve got an idea, Kolasinacs low crosses from the bylines were always somewhat predictable, and since you know the guy is not able to dribble, is was never not predictable what he would do. He’s a good bulldozer to have on the bench for 2nd half.

    2. I think AMN has pace. Also, Kolasinac has been poor recently. Tierney is also intelligent with good positioning.
      A good lineup. Is Saka injured?
      He is not on the bench

  4. Glad to see Niles made the starting line-up in a game as important as this…… perhaps the coach has faith in him afterall…. hopefully, Arteta would get one over his former boss. who would we prefer in the final?,…….. I’m thinking Chelsea 😀. Anyways, let’s win this first…… COYG!!!

  6. I am afraid, I can’t get to understand what formation this is but I trust what he has put up and hopefully we come out the winners

    1. With Rob injuries in recent years, can he play twice a week? Only the medic can tell, probably reason he isn’t featuring consistently since returning from that long lay off

  9. Holding was the best defender by far when played against liverpool? why is he dropped?

  11. Pepe again. What do we gotta do to get this guy on the bench, we’re already playing with a man down with him in that starting 11. He was piss poor in his last 2 games. It was almost as though the spirit of ozil entered him. Hope he proves me wrong today and justifies why Arteta started him. Holding did enough in the last match to deserve a start in today’s match Imo. I thought teams were selected based on the form of their last matches. Pepe is somehow proving to be an Arteta favourite regardless of how poorly he plays unfortunately. Reminds me of wenger and ozil. Heck wenger and any player who dropped form. (sorry to drag u into this monsieur Arsene) but it seemed like the criteria for you to get in the starting 11 under wenger was to lose form. Players who shot the ball from the 18 yard box seemed to get dropped the next game. Playing shots from outside the 18 yard box was a myth that rarely happened till xhaka came. I think we are still one of the teams with the least number of goals from outside the 18 yard box. Anyways, however slim our chances are tonight. I hope we can pull a miracle like we did against Liverpool. I won’t be mad if we lost too as city obviously have a better squad, but I would prefer we lost fighting and if we do win, that would be a cherry on top. So here’s to hoping we win.

    1. Who then do you suggest we replace him with because it’s glaring Saka isn’t doing great yet in that right and, also need rest. Are you suggesting we start Nelson instead? Because he scored in Liverpool match apparently

    2. I guess MA has chosen the team he thinks will win the game, unless he likes Pepe so much, he cannot give a damn about the result and is willing to play with ten men.

      Let’s hope MA is as good as AW when it comes to selecting out of form players in the fa cup – he actually made an art of it it seems.

      1. And let’s not forget pepes stats this season ,which compared to our last few wingers are pretty impressive,unless some our fans have their coaches badges.

  12. Maybe Arteta can continue with this 343 formation next season with the signing of Thomas Partey. Partey and Xhaka combination in midfield looks good.

  13. Giving niles a chance is great but he has always struggled with decision making,hope he has improved.
    COYG

  14. It’s a cup game so you just never know … Luiz mustafi is a slow and error prone combo … the question is whether this midfield can feed the attack … much will depend on ceballos … and whether aube has his scoring boots on

  17. Am not raising my hope today. The first time am not going to see our match this season, just because I have no confidence in our boys turning up.
    I hope they prove me wrong

    1. I bet you won’t we love this club most of us have tried but you find yourself checking be out how the game is faring. 😀😀😀 Ooooh how happy to be a Gunner

    1. He is playing out of position, don’t you think so???
      I might have consider him as RWB but he is playing as LWB

    1. No probs at the moment, Kedar. Although city do look scary, I am having one of those cup ties feeling. Maybe we edge it?🤔😅

      1. I hope so….
        Really hope so…
        I don’t have any problem of loosing but but we have to show fight and courage….

  29. Shame Auba didn’t take the first chance with fabulous pass from Luiz, but what a well taken second chance!!!!!!!!!

  31. I don’t like it how City are easily reaching our box at the moment. Should we hack down Silva?😂😂

      1. I know but we have to keep trying, we can’t keep booting the ball into the midfield. It’s wastefulness.

        1. At this level you can’t try…
          You can or you can’t that’s it…
          This is not Sunday league mate..

          1. Arsenal played 18 passes in the build-up to Aubameyang’s goal. Of those, eight were played within their penalty area. High risk, high reward…

    1. Too much effort perhaps?😂😂 Jokes aside, he is doing well today, I guess. What do you think, SueP?

  35. Aubameyang with his wasteful traits again… We need to be clinical against this team please

    2. Auba has always been a volume scorer not a really clinical one. Best quality is to create of chances with his positioning.

        1. True he usually goes for placement instead of power. He just smashed the shot into ederson.

    3. Sadly we know what usually happens
      when Arsenal refuse to take there
      chances.

      Love Auba but if your looking to nick
      a blockbuster extension those chances
      have to be converted.

  37. Looks like Bellerin is a little nervous. He looks uncomfortable when someone plays it to him. Glad Pepe doing better today. And Laca has been getting us out of trouble in that Midfield hell. Let’s win this please. COYG!

  38. High press vs high press this is a game that will be decided by who makes less mistakes and who convert most mistakes into goal.

    1. The only difference is they have lethal Midfield
      Ceballos has amazing in 1st half… Tierney too..

      1. Ceballos knows this is a very important game to showcase his abilities in front of Guardiola

        2. Hi Gotanidea,
          I think Arteta should stick to the 343 formation next season. It has brought about balance. If we get Thomas Partey to partner Xhaka in midfield, we will have a strong Squad next season.

  40. A decent half .. well organized and a couple of nice breaks .. but we need to rebuild midfield it doesn’t do anything leaving Luiz to do his aimless punts … no doubt that soares starts before bellerin next season

    3. Give the guybsome credits… Luiz has been solid so far in this game and what aimless punts are you talking about?
      You guys should learn to be fair please

      2. Wasn’t a criticism of Luiz Who’s had a decent half for a change but I counted about 6 Punts to no one but he has no one in the middle demanding ball from him

  42. Everyone did a good job, except Bellerin who had two brain farts. Could’ve been 2-0 if Aubameyang wasn’t so nice to Pepe

  43. Arsenal played 18 passes in the build-up to Aubameyang’s goal. Of those, eight were played within their penalty area. High risk, high reward…

  44. If only Auba passing as good as his scoring perhaps we would have been 2 goals up by now. Good effort from everyone so far.

  45. Lacazette is playing as a midfielder, Pepe seems to be occupying a free role.
    He’s all over the front even though he drifts back to his wing.
    I like Arteta’s game plan so far

  46. If we go on to win this game then,The boys have earned their salary for the week..
    I’m still rueing some of our missed chances though…Hope we don’t do another Leicester..

  47. Anybody notice Ainsley was passing forwards more than he was passing backwards, under pressure too? He was wasteful, but I hope Arteta sees him in a Midfield role. He seems to be someone who can progress play.

      1. City playing through him, Sue. I say let’s do a pincer on him with Xhaka and Cebs. He will have enough money from citeh to last him a lifetime, so ending his season doesn’t seem bad, does it?

  51. I’m not impressed with Nile’s forward play so far… He’s been too wasteful up front.

  55. If we can get a player half as good as de bruyne it would immediately improve our midfield and overall performance.

    1. Forget about him…
      Even if we get player of Cazorla caliber still we our midfield will be amazing..

  58. We need a hardworking and physical player in the mould of Adama Traore in place of Pepe. Pepe’s workrate sucks, he’s turning into another Ozil. Nelson needs to come on soon.

      2. He is a good signing. Very hardworking. We can stick to this 343 formation. I never imagined we could be leading Money City by 2 goals. Arteta is the man.

  68. Only Aubameyang (26) has been directly involved in more goals than Pepe (17) for Arsenal in all competitions this season.
    I thought I wouldn’t watch the match

  69. Thought Pepe looked decent today … needs to up his work rate but he has skills .. not 70m worth but improving … tiernay a bargain in comparison

  70. How good was that pass from Kieran though!😍😍
    And Luiz saved us with that block.. If we score at another we will completely reverse Dan’s prediction! COYG!

  71. One thing you cannot fault mustafi is lack of heart. Always trying to block shots with his body.

    1. I agree with you. Mustafi and Xhaka have improved a lot under Arteta. For real, Artery is a good coach. Few quality additions, and we have a chance to make top four and compete again

        1. 😂😂😂
          They’re yet to join in the spirit of positivty.
          Even Robert who watched his last game against Liverpool

  76. Que sera sera
    Whatever will be will be
    We’re going to Wembley (aka our 2nd home, again!!)
    Que sera sera

  77. Martinez has been a rock.
    They have all kept up an unbelievable inner strength
    Arteta has been brilliant to have turned a rabble into a fighting unit
    Fan blooming tastic!!
    BRILLIANT!!!!

  79. What a night!! (Apologies to my daughter) but get in there!!!!
    Liverpool ✔
    City ✔
    🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

  81. Watch people make excuses for citeh, the players loved Mikel and didn’t want to beat him, they were happy that LiVARpool couldn’t beat their record and were not serious, this was not enough to motivate them etc, etc.

    1. OT- Luiz was caught talking to Ainsley and it seemed he was reassuring him. Could be something there, what say?🤔🤔

    2. Sid, we didn’t need to hack Silva down so he can bow out in the CL!!!
      Fabulous display, fabulous result!

      1. Yeah Sue, so happy right now. Let’s hope he has a good game and hopefully citeh goes all the way in the final. That would be great for your daughter, though Madrid have come back stronger..

      2. What a result we failed outclassing pep with Wenger unai in 7 or so and Arteta has done it in two👌

        1. Arteta is the man, Kenya, without a doubt… and the smile on his face at the end was a beautiful sight!! They all played so well, a proper team performance – delighted!!!!

  82. Winning against Liverpool and now city to reach FA cup finals against all odds, MA is hereby forgiven for losing the derby match

  84. Wow….. Hard work, commitment, discipline and clinical finishing. That’s a performance.

  85. Injury gave Martinez a chance or else we would have let him leave post this season just like Gnabry only to regret later.

  86. Mikel Arteta is the right man. It is blatantly obvious. The club MUST support him!!!!! 10/10 for all the boys. That’s how you do it. Thats how you wear the shirt!

  87. Auba’s reaction at the final whistle personifies how we played. Still can’t believe we actually did that

  88. Deleted for trolling

    Peter, you are new here, we have already deleted almost every one of your comments, you are welcome to comment but it must be constructive and not just attacks on other site users for the sake of it

  89. As far as I’m concerned, Luiz just vindicated arteta giving him a new contract . I have nothing against him anymore.

      1. Can’t stop smiling . Beating Liverpool and city has not been our thing in a while. And people will still find excuses why city lost! .,.And not why Arsenal beat them

        1. Smiling is infectious, Kenya! I have a feeling (😉) we’ll be doing a lot of it for the foreseeable 😁

          1. I hope so sue . The board should support him💯 now . And yes the fans too howvi wish you could have been in the stadium…….

  93. Listening to Luiz on the post match interview, I can now understand why Arteta believed in him.

  94. Sorry Mr. Dan Smith, but I know your trick now. You pretended to predict a loss and then cursed citeh, didn’t you?😂😂😂

  95. Well, considering I said this was going to be the week from hell, it hasn’t been too bad at all 🤣🤣🤣
    Take a bow Arsenal (including you, Mikel) you were all fantastic!! I feel so proud right now 😍 Gushing with love for my team!!

  96. Brilliant, absolutely fantastic.
    Thank god I’m not a professional gambler, but just support my club and it’s players.

    Well done to all the dross, mentally frail can’t defend misfits who, once again have got us to Wembleeeeeey.

    You couldn’t make it up as one of the doom and gloom merchants loves to say 😁😁😁😁

Comments are closed

Top Blog Sponsors