Manchester City vs Arsenal: Stats and Match preview .
Match Preview
This is the biggest game of the 2022-23 Premier League season theres no doubt about that. The match could end up deciding the Premier League title winners, with both Arsenal and Manchester City by far and away the most consistently strong sides in England across this campaign.
With that in mind, Arsenals terrible recent record versus Manchester City certainly damages their hopes of winning their first league title since 2003-04 under Arsene Wenger.
Arsenal have lost their last 11 Premier League matches against Man City their longest losing streak against a single opponent in their entire league history.
In their six Premier League trips to the Etihad Stadium during Pep Guardiolas reign as Man City manager, Arsenal have lost every time, with the aggregate score over these games at 17-3. In fact, Arsenal havent won away at Man City since January 2015 (2-0).
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was previously assistant to Guardiola at Man City. Hes lost all six of his Premier League games against Man City as Arsenal manager theyre the only side the Spaniard has faced but failed to beat as a manager in the competition.
Arsenal really need to win this match, with City currently only five points behind them and with two games in hand. To do that, they need to score something thats been tough for them in recent years at the Etihad Stadium. Theyve netted just three goals in their last 10 Premier League games against Man City, failing to score on seven occasions.
Arsenal will be once again missing influential central defender William Saliba through injury, while hes joined by Mohamed Elneny and Takehiro Tomiyasu on the treatment table. Midfielder Granit Xhaka is also a doubt after he missed Friday nights 3-3 draw at home to Southampton with illness, but Mikel Arteta will hope hes fit for kick-off. Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, who both won the Premier League title with Man City in 2020-21 and 2021-22, are both fit to face their former club. Manchester City only have one definite absentee in the pre-match team news, with Dutchman Nathan Ake missing out here with a hamstring injury which he picked up against Bayern Munich.
Last Meeting
Arsenal 1-3 Manchester City: 15 February 2023 (Premier League)
In February, Manchester City defeated Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium in a crucial Premier League match. At the time, City trailed Arsenal by three points in the standings but were able to level on points and surpass them on goal difference with this victory. Arsenal's mistakes were costly, with a poor backpass from Tomiyasu leading to de Bruyne's opener, and Gabriel's loss of possession leading to Grealish's goal. Despite a first-half equalizer from Saka, City dominated the second half and secured the win with goals from Grealish and Haaland, who tied Aguero's record of 26 Premier League goals in a single season for Man City. This win was City's second over Arsenal in the 2022-23 season, following their 1-0 FA Cup victory in January with Ake scoring the lone goal.
Recent Form
Manchester City have been in excellent form lately, winning eight of their last nine Premier League matches and remaining unbeaten in their last 16 games across all competitions. They have won 13 of these games, with three draws being the only games they have not won. However, City's recent record at home against London-based teams has been poor, losing their last four matches against Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Tottenham Hotspur, and Brentford at the Etihad Stadium. In their last match, City defeated Sheffield United 3-0 in the FA Cup semi-final, with Riyad Mahrez scoring a hat-trick, becoming the first player to do so in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium.
On the other hand, Arsenal's recent form has been frustrating, with three consecutive draws damaging their chances of winning the Premier League title. In their last two away league games, they had a two-goal lead before drawing 2-2 with Liverpool and West Ham United. They then drew 3-3 with bottom-of-the-league side Southampton at home, but managed to salvage a point with late goals from Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka. Despite this, Arsenal are currently on the longest unbeaten run in the Premier League, having not lost in their last ten matches. Their last defeat was against Manchester City in February.
Key Players
Manchester City: Erling Haaland
It is clear that Erling Haaland is the most likely player to lead Manchester City to victory. He has scored an impressive 48 goals in 42 games across all competitions during the 2022-23 season, setting a new record for a Premier League player. Haaland has contributed to 38% of City's 127 competitive goals this season, which is more than their next four highest scorers combined. In particular, he has scored 32 goals in the Premier League, equalling the most ever by a player in a 38-game season. He has also scored the most home goals in a season since 2007-08, with 20 of those goals coming at Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal: Gabriel Martinelli
Arsenal need to win this match and will need to find the firepower to do that. Their most likely source of goals in 2022-23 so far has been forward Gabriel Martinelli.
Martinelli has been involved in 11 goals in his last 10 Premier League games for Arsenal (eight goals, three assists). Overall, he has 15 Premier League goals this season, the joint-most by a Brazilian player in a single campaign, along with Roberto Firmino in 2017-18.
Not only is Martinelli a goal threat in this Arsenal side, but hes their most creative player in open play, too. Both his overall xG assisted (7.71) and xG assisted per 90 (0.27) from open play this season are the best of any Arsenal player to have played at least 1,000 minutes.
Martinelli should start ahead of January signing from Brighton, Leandro Trossard, as part of a three-pronged attack alongside Saka and Jesus.
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