Guardiola urges Blues to "focus on what we have to do"
Manchester City vs Arsenal
Competition: F.A. Premier League
Date: 8.00pm, Wednesday 26th March 2023
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Referee: Michael Oliver Assistants: S Burt, I Hussin Fourth Official: C Pawson VAR: D Coote
Odds: City 8/15, Draw 7/2, Arsenal 9/2
Tickets: Sold out
TV: BT Sport
Manchester City
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Squad (from): Ederson, Ortega, Carson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Ake, Laporte, Akanji, Gomez, Lewis, Phillips, Gundogan, Grealish, Rodri, De Bruyne, Silva, Perrone, Foden, Palmer, Haaland, Alvarez, Mahrez
Injured: None
Doubtful: Ake
Suspended: None
Form guide: WDWWW
Arsenal
Manager: Mikel Arteta
Squad (from): Ramsdale, Turner, Hein, Tierney, White, Gabriel, Kiwior, Holding, Partey, Odegaard, Smith-Rowe, Jorginho, Vieira, Xhaka, Zinchenko, Saka, Martinelli, Nketiah, Trossard, Nelson
Injured: Saliba, Tomiyasu, Saliba
Doubtful: Xhaka
Suspended: None
Form guide: DDDWW
Nathan Ake is a doubt for the top-of-the-table clash with Arsenal, after being substituted at the Allianz Arena last week. He missed the FA Cup semi-final at the weekend, although the extent of his injury remains unclear.
A win for the Blues would put them two points behind the Gunners, with two games in hand, and could be a telling moment in the title race.
“It’s an important game, we can get points and our biggest opponent cannot,” he said at Tuesday's press conference.
“But we have to focus on what we have to do.
“We’ve played two times this season and in the FA Cup and there (away at Arsenal in the league) they were really tight games and really difficult.
“When you play against these teams they can control everything.
"I’ve said from a long time ago with Arsenal when with Arsene Wenger they always have the incredible details and care of the ball and who they select to play with the biggest quality and biggest skills.
“But Mikel has brought a new dimension. They are huge competitors in all senses, so aggressive.
“They went to Anfield a few weeks ago against a team who are maybe the second balls, long balls, Arsenal were better.
“In terms of winning duels they were better, especially that part of the game.
"They controlled all aspects and we felt it, I don’t say anything new.
“In the two games we played this season we felt it and we need to challenge them in those terms otherwise with the speed they have up front and the intensity they have in the long balls and second balls and quality they have in the build-up, always it’s difficult.”
City won their last home game against Arsenal, with Nathan Ake netting the only goal in the FA Cup Fourth Round earlier in the season. Overall City have won 51 of the 176 games played against the Gunners, with 40 draws and 85 defeats.
Predicted line-up: Ederson, Stones, Akanji, Dias, Laporte, Rodri, Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne, Grealish, Haaland
Score prediction: City 2 Arsenal 1