Arsenal vs Manchester City Predictions

• Man City have lost their last four games against Premier League opposition when Rodri has not featured
• Arsenal have won eight of their last 12 home league games
• Man City have conceded at least once in their last three away league games

Rodri ban gives Gunners a glorious chance

Arsenal’s prospects of improving their awful recent record against Manchester City have been significantly boosted by Rodri’s suspension for this Sunday’s clash at Emirates Stadium.

The Spaniard has been the first name on Pep Guardiola’s teamsheet for at least the last two seasons and was a key cog in their Treble success last term which included defeating their nearest challengers both home and away.

It is now over three years since Mikel Arteta’s team beat City in any game, although there were signs that the tide was turning when Arsenal ended a run of seven straight losses to Pep Guardiola’s side in the Community Shield in August.

Missing midfielder will be hard to replace

Bernardo Silva or Rico Lewis could be tasked with replacing Rodri, who serves the third game of a domestic ban, in this season-defining clash, but John Stones and Kevin De Bruyne will be missing again.

City appear to miss Rodri’s influence in their attack than they do in defence, having failed to score in three of their last four games against Premier League opposition that they played without him and all were defeats.

Arsenal could also be without a key player in Bukayo Saka, although Arteta is optimistic the right-sided attacker can shake off the knocks he has sustained in the last week to play some part.

Saka can outgun Haaland if he makes it

The England star has scored in two of Arsenal’s last three games against City and, if he makes it, should be the biggest goalscoring threat on the pitch again.

Erling Haaland is missing his telepathic link-up with De Bruyne and still adapting to the service from Jeremy Doku, who does things differently to Riyad Mahrez.

It would take a brave soul to back an Arsenal win to nil against the champions, especially as Arteta’s side have leaked goals against Spurs, Nottingham Forest and Fulham at home this season.

But it is not wholly out of the question if they get their noses in front as City’s expected goals (xG) of 0.9 against Wolves last weekend was their lowest such figure in a league game since January.