2018-19 Premier League: Week 25 – Manchester City vs Arsenal

Super Sunday climaxes at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City meet Arsenal in a blockbuster Premier League clash. 

After suffering a shock defeat at Newcastle in midweek, Man City enter a massive week which could prove decisive in the title race with Everton and Chelsea to come in next eight days, making victory here imperative for momentum.

Arsenal meanwhile are currently locked in a three way fight for fourth and if Manchester United beat Leicester, a win here will be critical to keeping pace with the Red Devils and Chelsea. 

Team news

Embed from Getty Images

Manchester City have no new injury concerns as captain, Vincent Kompany remains out with an issue. 

Benjamin Mendy is a doubt after sitting out City’s last two games with a slight knee injury but Ederson is fit to start after suffering a knock in midweek. 

Claudio Bravo is City’s only long-term absentee with a ruptured Achilles Tendon. 

Arsenal will hand Laurent Koscielny (facial bruising and swelling), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (knee) and Henrikh Mkhitaryan (foot) late fitness tests.

Sokratis Papastathopoulos is unavailable for the next month with an ankle injury.  

Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding are both out for foreseeable future with knee injuries alongside Danny Welbeck, who is still recovering from an ankle issue.  

 

Form

Manchester City saw an eight match unbeaten run ended in midweek when Newcastle overturned an early deflict to win 2-1. 

At home, the Citizens have lost just one of their last ten but conceded in six of last seven matches at the Etihad. 

Arsenal have won three of their last six matches in all competitions although all three victories have come at home. 

On their travels, Arsenal have failed to win any of their last four league games with three defeats plus a draw at Brighton. 

 

Stat Attack 

  • Manchester City have won their last four meetings with Arsenal by an aggregate score of 11-1. 
  • In Premier League alone, the Citizens are unbeaten in last six against Arsenal with two clean sheets which came in last two league clashes (W4, D2). 
  • Bernardo Silva has scored in his last two appearances against Arsenal. 
  • Arsenal have managed only three clean sheets in the league this season with Bernd Leno achieving two of those shutouts to Petr Cech’s one. 
  • Should Arsenal concede five goals here then they will become the eighth club to concede 1000 Premier League goals, joining likes of Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle who have already surpassed that feat.

 

Prediction

With Liverpool not playing until Monday, this is a huge chance for Manchester City to cut the gap down to two points. 

Arsenal however are a dangerous side despite their dip in away form but City will have too much for them here. 

Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal

Jake predicts: Manchester City 2-0 Arsenal

Result: Manchester City 3-1 Arsenal

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.