Club Football is finally back and the Premier League is back with some mouthwatering fixtures. This week it is the Master vs the Apprentice, Pep Guardiola vs Mikel Arteta, as Manchester City host Arsenal at Etihad this Saturday. Both teams will not look to drop points in this fixture as the battle at the top looks intense.
City have not had the best of starts this season, with 4 points from 3 matches, which includes a win, a draw and one loss. Pep will not be happy at all with this form and will look to get the three points as this not only pushes him up in the table but they also beat a potential top four contender.
But the game is not going to be an easy affair against the Gunners as Arteta’s side who have won 3 games out of the four matches in the league with the only loss coming at the hands of defending champions, Liverpool, in the third gameweek. The Gunners look stronger with the deadline day signing of Thomas Partey. Also the ideologies of Arteta look well incorporated in the squad as they sit in fourth position and would love to get all points to prove a point in the league.
Here we look how will Pep lineup against his former colleague:
Formation 4-3-3
Defense
Ederson is likely to be starting between the sticks but will hope to not concede much after already getting scored past seven times in three matches. He will be guarded by a likely back four of Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and Benjamin Mendy. They will look forward to keeping their first clean sheet this season and the fans will surely have an eye on the center back partnership of Laporte and newly signed Ruben Dias.
Midfield
The PFA Player of the Year, Kevin De Bruyne has been ruled out for the clash after a muscle injury during the international break as he was on duty for Belgium. This will be a huge loss as they already have injury problems up front. Pep will look now at his other options to get some goals for his team. With the return of IkayGundogan, he will look to directly take his place in the midfield and is likely to partner Rodri and Phil Foden.
Attack
With Gabriel Jesus already out and Sergio Aguero not confirmed to start, Pep will expect Raheem Sterling to lead the line and hope for a better news as he withdrew from the England squad with a hamstring problem but only on precautionary basis. He will be expected to start along with fully recovered Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez up front. Aguero could also start possibly as he has been training well this week but there has been no surety if he is match fit or not. A start for Ferran Torres is also possible.
Manchester City Predicted Lineup – Ederson; Walker, Laporte, Dias, Mendy; Gundogan, Rodri, Foden; Bernado, Mahrez, Sterling
