Manchester City - Arsenal prediction
The FA Cup 4th round derby in England will be played on Friday night at the Etihad in Manchester, with City hosting Arsenal.
This is the first time the Citizens will face the Gunners this season.
As both teams are yet to play in the Premier League in the 2022/23 campaign.
After the first scheduled clash between them in October was postponed due to the Europa League.
This is an opportunity for Pep Guardiola's team to regain lost ground.
And to fire a warning shot at Mikel Arteta's men.
Manchester City will be determined to prove they are still the top team in English football.
There is also the small matter of the FA Cup.
A tournament that the Sky Blues probably didn't win as often as they should have under Guardiola.
With just one triumph in his tenure so far.
Arsenal's elimination would eliminate one of their biggest rivals for the trophy.
Although the Gunners are above them in the Premier League table, it makes sense that Man City are favorites in this game.
On the one hand, they have home advantage.
Second, they have more strength in depth.
If both managers make changes to their starting XIs, Manchester are likely to have more quality.
That's why I'm betting on the Citizens to win today.
But City and Arsenal are two attack oriented teams. Who seek to play forward whenever they can.
Both teams have an abundance of offensive quality in their ranks, and this leads to a high probability of goals.
The latest results of both teams prove it. As Over 2.5 goals were in:
- 4 of Man City's last 5 games
- 4 of Arsenal's last 6 games
I add to the prediction that Erling Braut Haaland will score a goal. Because he's back to his familiar form lately.
Having scored 4 goals in his last 2 matches. Including a hat-trick against Wolves last Sunday.
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Manchester City - statistics and info
Before the campaign, Manchester City and Liverpool were tipped to go head-to-head again for the title.
This was the opinion of both football commentators and the best online sports bookmakers .
As no one predicted the slump that left the Reds as low as ninth place midway through the season.
Although Man City are indeed in contention for the title, they are not the favorites at the end of January.
That honor goes to Arsenal. Who surpassed everyone's expectations to sit at the top of the rankings.
A team that was not even expected to make the top four this season now dares to dream of an incredible triumph.
For their part, the Citizens are far from what they showed in the last 2 seasons when they crushed everything in their path.
Although now they have a real jewel in their composition - Erling Haaland.
However, in the previous 2 rounds, Guardiola's men reminded of themselves after two convincing victories:
- 4-2 against Tottenham
- 3-0 against Wolves
But now Manchester City are on an FA Cup wave.
Arsenal - statistics and info
Arsenal are out of the League Cup but continue to challenge for the trophy on three different fronts.
The team from North London were handed the toughest possible draw for the fourth round of the FA Cup.
But a win on Friday would likely make the Gunners favorites to win the competition for a record 15th time.
Arsenal also qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League, which resumes next month.
And the winner of this tournament automatically qualifies for the group stage of next year's Champions League.
Which is one of the reasons Mikel Arteta originally planned to take it so seriously.
But the Gunners are doing very well in the Premier League.
So it will be interesting to see how Arteta takes to the minor leagues, starting at the Etihad on Friday.
The Arsenal boss must be at least partly tempted to put all his eggs in the Premier League basket.
They have taken 50 points from their first 19 league games this season.
So the Gunners have a fantastic chance of winning the title for the first time since Arsene Wenger's side went an entire season unbeaten in 2003/04.
Arsenal do not have the best squad in the division.
And many managers in Arteta's place would rest Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka for the FA Cup.
But the Gunners face a direct challenger for the title.
So defeat today could have ramifications for their Premier League campaign.
And there's something to be said for momentum.
So it would be a risk for Arsenal to write off this game when they are in such excellent form - 7 official games without a loss.
Squads and injured footballers
Manchester City
Lineup: Ortega; Walker, Diaz, Akanji, Ake; Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Haaland, Alvarez
Injured: Foden (questionable)
Arsenal
Lineup: Turner; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Jacka, Party; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Nketia
Injured: Jesus, Nelson, Elneny, Soares
Matches Man City - Arsenal
| League | Date | Match |
|---|---|---|
| VL | 01/01/22 | Arsenal 1:2 Man City |
| VL | 28/08/21 | Man City 5:0 Arsenal |
| VL | 02/21/21 | Arsenal 0:1 Man City |
| KL | 22/12/20 | Arsenal 1:4 Man City |
| VL | 17/10/20 | Man City 1:0 Arsenal |
| KA | 18/07/20 | Arsenal 2:0 Man City |
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