Manchester City vs Arsenal preview: De Bruyne misses out but Aguero available again after injury

By Ric Turner, Fri 16 October 2020 16:20


Manchester City vs Arsenal preview: De Bruyne misses out but Aguero available again after injuryMidfielder sustained injury whilst playing for Belgium

Manchester City vs Arsenal

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 5.30pm, Saturday 17th October 2020

Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester

Referee: Chris Kavanagh Assistants: S Massey-Ellis, C Hatzidakis Fourth Official: A Taylor

Odds: City 1/2, Draw 7/2, Arsenal 5/1

TV: Sky Sports

Manchester City

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Squad (from): Ederson, Steffen, Carson, Walker, Stones, Ake, Mendy, Cancelo, Laporte, Dias, Garcia, Rodrigo, Gundogan, Fernandinho, Foden, Silva, Sterling, Torres, Mahrez, Aguero

Injured: De Bruyne, Jesus

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Form guide: WWLWD

Arsenal

Manager: Mikel Arteta

Squad (from): Leno, Runarsson, Macey, Bellerin, Tierney, Sliba, Sokratis, Gabriel, Holding, Soares, Luiz, Kolasinac, Saka, Ceballos, Ozil, Maitland-Niles, Partey, Elneny, Willock, Xhaka, Lacazette, Willian, Aubameyang, Pepe, Nelson, Nketiah

Injured: Mustafi, Mari, Martinelli, Chambers

Doubtful: Tierney

Suspended: None

Form guide: WWLDW

Kevin De Bruyne misses out after picking up an injury whilst playing for Belgium, but Joao Cancelo, Ilkay Gundogan, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero are all available for the vist of the Gunners.

"Everyone came back [from the international break] a little bit better than the previous time because then Cancelo, Bernardo [Silva] and others were injured and couldn’t play at the beginning of the season," said the City boss at his pre-match press conference.

"Unfortunately, Kevin is out, but the rest of the players came back well. I don't think it is much, but the next games I think he will be out."

Gabriel Jesus remains sidelined with a muscular problem sustained during the opening day win at WOolves.

"There are injuries to some muscles where you can take a risk, but there are others where you cannot," added the boss.

"He has an injury in the part of his leg where if he injured it more he could be out for a long time. I don’t know if he’ll be back for the Champions League."

City won their last home game against the Gunners 3-0, courtesy of goals from Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden. Overall City have won 44 of the 169 games played against Arsenal, with 40 draws and 85 defeats.

Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Laporte, Dias, Mendy, Rodri, Gundogan, Silva, Foden, Mahrez, Sterling

Score prediction: City 2 Arsenal 1