MX23RW : Tuesday, February 5 12:15:32

Combined XI: Manchester City vs. Arsenal

Sports Mole selects a combined XI from those expected to be available for Sunday's Premier League clash between Manchester City and Arsenal.

Manchester City have a chance to make it four top-flight wins in a row against Arsenal for the first time since 1937 when the sides lock horns this weekend.

The Citizens' most recent victory against the Gunners came on the opening weekend of the season when cruising to a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal head into Sunday's match sitting fourth in the Premier League table, nine points adrift of their opponents, but they are in good form in the league thanks to back-to-back wins over Chelsea and Cardiff City.

Ahead of this latest high-profile tussle between the two clubs, Sports Mole selects the strongest combined XI from both teams using only the players expected to be available for selection.

Combined XI: MNCvARS

Out: Vincent Kompany (muscle), Claudio Bravo (Achilles), Sokratis Papastathopoulos (knee), Hector Bellerin (knee), Rob Holding (knee), Danny Welbeck (ankle)

Bernd Leno has taken time to adapt to English football, whereas Ederson - a slight fitness concern for this weekend - hit the ground running upon his arrival last summer. The Brazilian kept four clean sheets on the spin prior to Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Newcastle United, and only Liverpool stopper Alisson Becker has more clean sheets this term.

Arsenal have been hit by a number of injuries across their backline, including the loss of influential right-back Bellerin. While Kyle Walker has not always been at his best since the World Cup, seeing him recently left out of City's starting lineup, he is the best choice for this hybrid side, while Benjamin Mendy - in and out of the side because of a knee injury - has no real competition on the opposite flank.

Unai Emery has failed to settle on a preferred backline, not helped by a number of injury problems. Laurent Koscielny was out of the side as soon as he returned because of a fresh injury blow, but when he features the Gunners always look a little more solid. John Stones has been a regular presence at the back for Man City, meanwhile, starting 15 of their Premier League matches, but Aymeric Laporte offers more and gets the nod here alongside compatriot Koscielny.

Man City have a whole array of options in the middle of the park, but there is no doubt that the trio of Kevin De Bruyne, Fernandinho and David Silva is the holy grail of sorts for Pep Guardiola. Lucas Torreira has impressed in his maiden campaign at the Emirates Stadium, Aaron Ramsey always puts in a good shift when called upon and Granit Xhaka has also improved, but there is no dislodging City's title-winning trident.

Both teams boast prolific goalscorers in their forward lines, with Sergio Aguero netting 11 times this season and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finding the back of the net 15 times. Gabriel Jesus has done a good job of late and Alexandre Lacazette has thrived alongside Aubameyang, but it is difficult to find room for either player in this setup. One of Leroy Sane or Raheem Sterling simply has to be included, and it is the latter - who is on 99 goal involvements for City in the Premier League - who is included just off the front two, given licence to roam into the wide areas.

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Who will win Sunday's Premier League meeting between Manchester City and Arsenal?

Manchester City
Draw
Arsenal
Manchester City
44.9%
Draw
12.2%
Arsenal
42.9%
Kevin De Bruyne in action for Manchester City on January 26, 2019
Read Next:
How Man City could line up against Arsenal
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool25195156154162
2Manchester CityMan City25192466204659
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs25190651242757
4Chelsea25155545232250
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd25146549351448
6Arsenal25145651361547
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2511593332138
8Watford259793334-134
9Everton2596103636033
10Bournemouth25103123744-733
11Leicester CityLeicester2595113031-132
12West Ham UnitedWest Ham2595113138-732
13Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2576122736-927
14Crystal Palace2575132633-726
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2566132133-1224
16Southampton2559112742-1524
17Burnley2566132646-2024
18Cardiff CityCardiff2564152246-2422
19Fulham2545162555-3017
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2525181346-3311

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