Verdict: Manchester City win
Best Odds: 1/1
Bookmaker: Dachbet
In what looks set to be a season-defining showdown from the Etihad on Sunday afternoon, Manchester City will host a struggling Arsenal.
Manchester City
Starting with the hosts, while Manchester City might still have a major job on their hands in the race to recapture their Premier League crown over the coming weeks, Pep Guardiola’s men are enjoying what has become quite the purple patch. Despite watching their Champions League adventure come to a frustrating end at the hands of Real Madrid last month, the former Barcelona boss has seen his squad come roaring back in some style. Knowing that they can officially move within touching distance of the Gunners this weekend, Man City have won each of their previous three appearances across all competitions by an aggregate score of 9-0. Crowned EFL Cup champions at Wembley prior to March’s international break as they secured a 2-0 victory against Arsenal, the Sky Blues will be dreaming of a repeat performance on Sunday afternoon.
Manchester City Team News
Still sidelined since undergoing surgery on a leg fracture back in January, Manchester City will once again be without Croatian international Josko Gvardiol. Expected to leave the Etihad this summer, fellow defender John Stones will also miss out through a calf issue.
Notching 22 Premier League goals in his 30 appearances this season and leading the chase to claim another domestic Golden Boot, striking superstar Erling Haaland will spearhead City’s charge. Making an immediate impact since arriving from Bournemouth during the January transfer window, Antoine Semenyo will partner Haaland in the final third.
Arsenal
As for the visitors, while Arsenal might travel to Manchester this weekend holding a six-point advantage over their bitter title rivals, Mikel Arteta’s men find themselves at the heart of what has become an extended blip. Despite eventually punching their Champions League semi-final ticket earlier in the week as they clung to a hard-fought 1-0 aggregate victory against Sporting Lisbon, the Gunners have shown plenty of cause for concern on either side of March’s international break. Suffering public EFL Cup final heartbreak at Wembley last month as they fell to that 2-0 defeat against City, Arsenal have remarkably now clinched just a sole win from any of their previous five appearances across all competitions. Enduring what has been their worst rut of the 2025/26 campaign, Arteta’s squad have a huge amount of pressure on their shoulders.
Arsenal Team News
Once again missing out against Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday night and dealing with a recent muscle issue, Arsenal are sweating over the fitness of attacking talisman Bukayo Saka. Likewise, the Gunners have confirmed that Spanish international Mikel Merino will miss the remainder of the campaign with a foot injury.
Starting to find his feet in north London and registering 12 Premier League goals during his maiden campaign at the Emirates, Viktor Gyokeres will spearhead Arsenal’s attack. Limping off in midweek with a suspected knee injury, England international Noni Madueke is seen as a doubt on Sunday afternoon.
Manchester City vs Arsenal Key Factors to Consider
- When Manchester City and Arsenal met at Wembley on March 22nd for this season’s EFL Cup final, Guardiola’s side claimed a shock 2-0 victory in the capital.
- Man City have won their last three domestic appearances across all competitions by an aggregate score of 9-0.
- Arsenal have remarkably picked up just a single point from any of their last five appearances across all competitions.
- The Gunners have failed to register more than a single strike in any of those five consecutive outings.
- Manchester City have not suffered a single domestic defeat at the Etihad since the end of August.
Conclusion
In what looks set to be a season-defining showdown from the blue half of Manchester this weekend, all eyes will fall on the Etihad. With Man City knowing that they can move within striking distance, Guardiola’s side are certainly meeting Arsenal at an ideal time. While the Gunners might have punched their Champions League semi-final ticket earlier in the week, they have remarkably secured just a sole win from their last five appearances across all fronts. Watching City storm their way to this season’s EFL Cup crown on March 22nd as they claimed that 2-0 victory against their arch-rivals, we are expecting a similar outcome here.
Verdict: Manchester City win
Best Odds: 1/1
Bookmaker: Dachbet
