Manchester City take on Arsenal on Saturday with the Citizens hoping to pick up just their second victory in the league since the start of this season.
Arsenal beat City in their last encounter with a strong performance in the FA Cup semi-finals back in July, but have lost all the previous seven meetings. A win against City on Saturday will take Arsenal to the top of the table while City are in desperate need of points to kick start their season and are languishing in 14th place, although they have played a game less.
The hosts are struggling with injuries in various areas but are expected to put out a strong lineup against the Gunners. With several league and Champions League games coming up in the next few weeks Guardiola will be unwilling to rush Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero back onto the field for the encounter and still has plenty of attacking options at his disposal.
Let’s have a look at how Pep Guardiola could lineup his side against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal:
GOALKEEPER
Brazilian international Ederson Moraes is expected to be the undisputed starter in net for Manchester City this season and will undoubtedly start against Arsenal.
DEFENDERS
City have managed to keep just one clean sheet in their last seven outings and have already conceded seven goals in just three league games this season, which included a heavy 5-2 defeat against Leicester City.
Kyle Walker will be expected to start from the right-back slot with Benjamin Mendy to start from the right.
The pairing of new signing Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte will make up the two center-backs in the four man backline.
MIDFIELDERS
Kevin de Bruyne picked up a muscle injury last week on international duty with Belgium but the midfielder is expected to fit for the game.
Spanish international Rodrigo Hernandez is expected to take his place in the middle of the park, who will hopefully provide some much needed protection to the leaky City defence.
Ilkay Gündogan will make up the final player of the three-man midfield and will take to the field just three weeks after he tested positive for coronavirus.
FORWARDS
Algerian international Riyad Mahrez is expected to get the nod from the right-wing while Bernardo Silva will start from the left.
With Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus both unlikely to be ready in time for the game, the hosts will be without a natural striker and Raheem Sterling is expected to lead the line in what is expected to be a fluid front three.
Predicted Formation: 4-3-3
Man City Predicted lineup: Ederson, Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Laporte, Mendy; De Bruyne, Rodrigo, Gundogan; Mahrez, Sterling, Silva.
