Arsenal vs Manchester City

Emirates Stadium is the venue as Arsenal and Manchester City go head-to-head in a blockbuster Premier League fixture.

Arsenal shockingly slumped to a 2-1 loss at Lens in midweek Champions League action, relinquishing the feel-good factor following a 4-0 demolition of Premier League strugglers Bournemouth last weekend. If it’s any consolation, Mikel Arteta’s men head into proceedings as one of only two clubs in England’s elite division yet to lose this season (W5, D2). But there’s a catch. Both times the ‘Gunners’ have dropped points in 2023/24 came on home turf, courtesy of identical 2-2 draws against fellow London rivals Fulham and Tottenham. Given Arteta’s embarrassing record of seven defeats from as many Premier League encounters against Manchester City, the Spaniard would probably sign up for a point before the kick-off. Those losses form part of a larger pattern, with Arsenal enduring the club’s longest winless run against a single opposition in their Premier League history (12).

On the other hand, Manchester City kept hold of their 100% Champions League start with a 3-1 triumph at RB Leipzig in midweek, providing a perfect response to last weekend’s frustrating 2-1 defeat at Wolverhampton. That result knocked Pep Guardiola’s side down from a flawless six-match start to their Premier League title defense (W6), putting them at risk of losing back-to-back away league games for the first time since February. But since you’d need to go back to December 2016 for the last time Man City lost a Premier League outing at the Emirates (W6, D1 since), the ‘Citizens’ have no reason to panic. Yet, they’ve lost on their two most recent domestic travels, suggesting they shouldn’t take anything for granted.