Manchester City will entertain Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in a top-of-the-table Premier League clash on Sunday. City have a 100% record in the league and are at the top of the standings. The Gunners have won three of their four games and are second, trailing the defending champions by two points.
City resumed their league campaign following the international break with a 2-1 home win over Brentford last week. Yoane Wissa scored just seconds after the kickoff to put Brentford in the lead but Erling Haaland's first-half brace sealed a comeback win for the hosts.
The Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion before the international break. They resumed their league campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 away win over north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Gabriel Magalhães scored the match-winner in the second half, thanks to Bukayo Saka's assist.
Both teams began their UEFA Champions League campaigns earlier this week and were held to goalless draws. City drew at home to Inter Milan while the visitors played out an away draw at Atalanta.
Manchester City vs Arsenal Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- The two teams have a long-standing rivalry and have crossed paths 211 times in all competitions. The visitors have the upper hand in these meetings with 99 wins. City have 65 wins and 47 games have ended in draws.
- The Gunners were unbeaten in their two league meetings against City last season, recording a 1-0 home win while the reverse fixture ended in a goalless draw.
- Manchester City are on a 13-game winning streak in the Premier League and last dropped points at home in March against Arsenal.
- The Gunners are unbeaten in Premier League away games in 2024, recording 10 wins in 11 games. They have also kept nine clean sheets in these games.
- The reigning champions are unbeaten in their last nine home games in the Premier League against the visitors.
Manchester City vs Arsenal Prediction
The Cityzens dropped points for the first time this term in their Champions League campaign opener on Wednesday. They also failed to score for the first time in a competitive game since March and will look to return to goalscoring ways. They are unbeaten in their last 32 Premier League home games and are strong favorites.
Nathan Ake and Oscar Bobb are the two confirmed absentees for the hosts in this match. Kevin De Bruyne was subbed off at halftime against Inter in the Champions League and faces a race against time to prove his fitness. Pep Guardiola might opt to field Phil Foden or Ilkay Gundogan in the lineup if De Bruyne is not fit to start.
The Gunners have also enjoyed an unbeaten run across all competitions this season and will look to keep this intact. They are on a six-game winning streak in away games in the Premier League, scoring 12 goals while conceding just twice.
Mikel Arteta has a few absentees for the trip to Manchester. Mikel Merino, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney, and Oleksandr Zinchenko are confirmed absentees alongside Martin Odegaard, who was injured on international duty earlier this month.
Considering City's home form and injury list for Arsenal, we back the hosts to eke out a narrow win.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal
Manchester City vs Arsenal Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result - Manchester City to win
Tip 2: Goals - Over/Under 2.5 Goals - Over 2.5 goals
Tip 3: At least one goal to be scored in the second half - Yes
Tip 4: Erling Haaland to score or assist any time - Yes