Arsenal gifted double-injury boost before Man City after Mikel Arteta update
da leao： Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been gifted a double-injury boost before their crunch Premier League clash with Man City on Sunday.
Arsenal prepare to host Man City in vital Premier League face-off
da poker： For the second time in three top flight games, Arteta’s side face off against fellow title contenders in what is set to be yet another potentially season-defining afternoon.
It is still very early days, but given the sheer investment in Liverpool’s squad and City’s own ambitions to become champions of England once again, the race for Premier League glory will come down to very tight margins.
Arsenal vs Man City – tale of the Premier League season so far
Man United 0-1 Arsenal
Wolves 0-4 Man City
Arsenal 5-0 Leeds United
Man City 0-2 Tottenham
Liverpool 1-0 Arsenal
Brighton 2-1 Man City
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Man City 3-0 Man United
The head-to-heads between City, Liverpool, Arsenal or even Chelsea could be vital in determining who will be crowned at the end of 2025/2026, and nothing but a win against Pep Guardiola’s side will satisfy supporters as Arteta seeks to end the Gunners’ two-decade-long wait for a title.
The Citizens are on a very mixed run of form, having lost 50 per cent of their Premier League matches already, while Arsenal were handed their first defeat of the campaign against Liverpool just prior to the international break.
Arsenal, partly owing to Cristhian Mosquera’s exceptional displays in place of William Saliba, have conceded just one goal in all competitions this season, so City superstar Erling Haaland is set for a tough afternoon at the Emirates Stadium.
In terms of team news, City will be without Omar Marmoush, Rayan Cherki, Mateo Kovacic — who are all absent with long-term injuries — with John Stones and Rayan Ait-Nouri also doubts for the trip to north London.
Guardiola will also make a late fitness call on Rodri, as the 29-year-old hasn’t started three big games of this magnitude in a row since before his season-ending ACL injury last season.
Arsenal gifted double-injury boost before Man City after Mikel Arteta update
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Arteta has now shared team news out of Arsenal.
Despite head-injury worries surrounding both Mikel Merino and Viktor Gyokeres, following their win over Athletic Bilbao midweek, Arteta has now confirmed that the duo are fine and available to play on Sunday in a four-word update.
Elsewhere, Arteta also confirmed that Ben White, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka are subject to late fitness tests, which will determine whether the trio can also feature against Guardiola’s men.
When asked if Saliba could start his first game back from injury, relegating the in-form Mosquera to Arsenal’s bench, says the Frenchman is “really pushing” to be given the nod against City.
Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are still out with long-term problems, with some reports previously suggesting that the latter may not be back until 2026.
If White, Odegaard and Saka are indeed past fit, Arsenal will have a near-fully fit squad to take on City, but the confirmed presence of Merino and Gyokeres undoubtedly comes as a major boost.