Every international break is extremely boring, but at least we head into this next one on the back off a very exciting and enthralling fixture. Arsenal hosts Manchester City on Sunday, in what is the first of two massive matches that will almost certainly have a lot of consequence towards determining the Premier League title.
Pep Guardiola has pretty much owned his pupil, Mikel Arteta, since he left the Etihad for the Emirates. (After all, like Ted Lasso said, the key to being a successful European football club is to be sponsored by a Middle Eastern airline).
Arsenal vs Manchester City FYIs
Kickoff: Sun. Oct. 8, 4:30pm, Emirates Stadium
Transatlantic Passage: How the Premier League Redefined Soccer in America: LINK
Team News: Arsenal Manchester City
Starting XI Predictions: Arsenal Manchester City
Google Result Probability: Arsenal 33% Manchester City 39% Draw 28%
PL Standing: Arsenal 3rd, 17 pts Manchester City 1st, 18 pts
PL Form: Arsenal WDWWD Manchester City LWWWW
City could be ripe for the plucking here and they will be without the services of their two midfield maestros: Rodri and Kevin de Bruyne. However, Arteta might have to soldier on without Bukayo Saka, so I guess it’s a wash on that front.
Anyway, here is what we think the winning hand to play will be, for Arteta. Maybe he can finally get a league win over his mentor.
Arsenal FC Starting XI Prediction vs Manchester City
David Raya; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, Fabio Vieira, Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He’s written for numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. He regularly appears on NTD News and WGN News Now. Follow the website on Twitter and Instagram.