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How Manchester City could line up against Arsenal

Sports Mole looks at how Manchester City could line up for Sunday's Premier League showdown with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Manchester City will be looking to make it 18 wins in a row across all competitions when they take on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The runaway leaders have surged 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League table during that winning streak, with 12 of their 17 victories coming in the top flight.

More history awaits them if they win again here as they go in search of a club-record-equalling 11th successive away triumph, and they will be firm favourites against an Arsenal side they have dominated in recent Premier League meetings.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Pep Guardiola could set his side up for the contest.



Possible MNC XI vs. ARS

Out: Nathan Ake (muscle)
Doubtful: Ilkay Gundogan (groin)

> Click here for Man City's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Man City's strength in depth was already frightening without the return of some world-class players for this match, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero and Ilkay Gundogan all expected to be in contention.

De Bruyne returned off the bench after almost a month out during the midweek win over Everton, and he could go back into the starting XI for this one.

Aguero was also among the substitutes at Goodison Park, but he is less likely to start this weekend given how cautious Guardiola has been with the club-record goalscorer's fitness so far this season.

Gundogan was missing in midweek due to a groin injury, but Man City are hopeful of having him back available and, if fit, he will be one of the first names on Guardiola's team sheet.

The German midfielder is Man City's leading goalscorer in the Premier League this season following his brace last weekend, with all of his 11 goals coming in his last 12 appearances.

The returns of Gundogan and De Bruyne create an enviable headache for Guardiola, whose main problem at the moment seems to be how to fit so many in-form players into his team and keep them all happy.

Such are the options at his disposal that at least one - and possibly all three - of the scorers in midweek could be dropped for this one, with the positions of Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez among those most under threat from the returning players.

Guardiola could opt for a false nine again, with Foden or Raheem Sterling in line to carry out that role, the latter having scored four and created two more in his last five league appearances against Arsenal.

Man City even have an embarrassment of riches in defence, where John Stones and Oleksandr Zinchenko could return should Guardiola look to give Kyle Walker and Aymeric Laporte a rest.

Nathan Ake is the only player definitely ruled out of this match, but Guardiola is spoilt for choice even without his summer signing.

> Click here to see how Arsenal could line up for this contest


Video prediction

Watch the Sports Mole Football Shorts prediction for this game below:


ID:435982:cQx:QQ:

How you voted: Arsenal vs Man City

Arsenal
21.6%
Draw
9.5%
Manchester City
68.8%
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Ilkay Gundogan celebrates scoring for Manchester City against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on February 13, 2021
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A closer look at Man City's phenomenal 16-game winning run
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City25185250153559
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd25147453322149
3Leicester CityLeicester25154644271749
4West Ham UnitedWest Ham25136639291045
5Chelsea25127641251643
6Liverpool25117745341140
7Everton2412483733440
8Aston Villa23113937261136
9Tottenham HotspurSpurs24106837271036
10Arsenal25104113126534
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2596102632-633
12Leeds UnitedLeeds24102124043-332
13Crystal Palace2595112943-1432
14Southampton2486103140-930
15Burnley2577111830-1228
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2551192632-626
17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2574142643-1725
18Fulham25410112132-1122
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2528151955-3614
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2532201541-2611

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