Arsenal vs Manchester City Predictions

• Arsenal have won five of their last seven Premier League games while City have lost four of their last eight on the road
• Arsenal have scored two or more goals in eight of their 11 home league games
• Man City have conceded at least two goals in six of their last eight away league matches

Arsenal face pivotal clash in the title race

Arsenal are capable of keeping their Premier League title hopes alive with a positive performance against Manchester City in what is likely to be a physical confrontation at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The Gunners are six points off the top, having played a game more than leaders Liverpool going into a pivotal weekend. Mikel Arteta’s side overcame a controversial red card to win 1-0 at Molineux last week and will have left-back Miles Lewis-Skelly available for this clash after his ban was overturned.

Arteta needs a huge performance from his players against a Jekyll and Hyde Citizens team that can be infuriatingly bad one minute and appear back to their best the next. That nature was on show on Wednesday when, needing to beat Club Brugge to stay in the Champions League, Pep Guardiola’s side came from a goal down at home to win 3-1.

City can’t control big games without Rodri

The return of John Stones after injury is a major boost for the Blues and Guardiola’s idea to play him in midfield looks wise given City have looked underwhelming in the middle since Rodri’s season-ending injury began to take its toll.

They cannot control big games like they used to and it is worth remembering they lost 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium last season when Rodri was suspended. Arsenal are strong in midfield but lack a reliable out-and-out striker.

Kai Havertz was rested from the starting XI against Girona in midweek and looks set to come back into the line-up alongside Declan Rice and Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian attacker looks a good anytime goalscorer shout here given he scored the winner against City last season and is well placed to exploit their weakness at right-back.

Pep scratching his head for right-back solution

Guardiola has been trying Matheus Nunes in an inverted full-back role of late and the Portuguese midfielder was caught out for Club Brugge’s goal on Wednesday. Arsenal used to favour the attacking lane on the left when Bukayo Saka was fit but the right might be their best avenue to goal now.

Although the odds suggest Arsenal may just sneak the win, it may be better to take the lesser price about the Gunners scoring two or more goals because City could click back into gear at some stage.

Guardiola’s defence remains out of kilter at the moment without Ruben Dias and they have conceded multiple goals in six of their last eight Premier League away trips.