Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal take on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, March 31, 2024. With a victory, the Gunners will create a four-point gap between them and the hosts. Kick-off is at 4:30 PM GMT. Last Word on Football brings you our Arsenal predicted lineup as they prepare to take on the title holders Manchester City.
Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs Manchester City
How Arsenal have Lined up Recently
Mikel Arteta has used a 4-3-3 in all of their latest games in all competitions, including the Champions League. David Raya remains Arteta’s number-one choice goalkeeper, with Raya expected to start his first league game since the Gunners 6-0 win away to Sheffield United. Aaron Ramsdale started against Brentford due to Raya being on loan from the Bees – yet he returned to the starting lineup against Porto in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 match, saving two penalties in the shootout to advance into the quarter-finals. Raya has kept five clean sheets in his last ten games.
The back four has also been consistent. Jacob Kiwior has replaced Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back. Kiwior and Zinchenko qualified for UEFA Euro 2024 last week in the playoffs, with Poland beating Wales on penalties and Ukraine beating Iceland 2-1. Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba make up the centre-back pairing. Gabriel has scored four times this season, with Saliba having three goal contributions. Ben White has recently started at right back.
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As for the midfield, Declan Rice plays alongside Jorginho and captain Martin Ødegaard. Rice has had three goal contributions in his last four Arsenal games. He also started as captain of England against Belgium at Wembley on Tuesday. Ødegaard was captain of Norway as he is for the Gunners. He got the assist in Arsenal’s last match against FC Porto and converted his penalty.
Leandro Trossard has started the last two matches on the left wing, replacing the injured Gabriel Martinelli. Trossard scored the goal in the win over FC Porto.
Bukayo Saka as per usual starts at right wing. He has scored 13 goals this season in the Premier League already. Kai Havertz starts up front for Arteta’s side. In his last three Premier League games, he has had five goal contributions and was awarded the Man of the Match award against both Newcastle United and Sheffield United. Havertz also scored in pre-season in Germany’s 2-0 win over France in Lyon.
Recent Form
Arteta’s side have gone unbeaten since the start of the year in the Premier League and unbeaten in all competitions since mid-January.
Their first Premier League match of the year resulted in a 5-0 at home to Crystal Palace and beat Nottingham Forest 2-1. Arsenal then beat then league leaders Liverpool 3-1 before thrashing Europa Conference League winners West Ham 6-0 at the London Stadium. Afterwards, they beat Burnley 5-0 away at Turf Moor and Newcastle 4-1 in the league at home.
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They also navigated their way past FC Porto on penalties at home to advance into the quarter-finals while previously defeating Sheffield United and Brentford in the Premier League.
So far this season, the Gunners have averaged 2.50 goals per match, greater than any other team in the league. Moreover, they concede an average of 0.86 goals per match, giving them the best defensive record in the league this season. The Gunners are the only team in the league to win all their last five matches.
As for the visitors, City has also qualified for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, where they will face Real Madrid. If both Arsenal and Manchester City win their respective games in the competition, then both sides will face each other in the semi-finals, with Arsenal having the home leg first.
Injury News
Arteta is hindered by just one injury currently. Jurrien Timber has been injured since the start of the season when he picked up an injury in a 2-1 home win against Nottingham Forest in August. His return date is currently unknown.
Takehiro Tomiyasu has regained full fitness. He was on the bench for Arsenal’s Champions League second-leg matchup against FC Porto.
Gabriel Martinelli is a doubt for the match, along with Saka, with Arteta saying: “Yeah there is a chance. They haven’t trained. Tomorrow [Saturday] we have another session, so there is a chance they can be available.”
Arsenal’s Predicted Lineup vs Brentford
GK: David Raya
LB: Jakub Kiwior
CB: Gabriel
CB: William Saliba
RB: Ben White
CM: Declan Rice
CM: Jorginho
CM: Martin Ødegaard
LW: Leandro Trossard
ST: Kai Havertz
RW: Bukayo Saka
