Manchester City v Arsenal preview: Silva and Walker expected to return to starting XI

By Ric Turner, Fri 03 November 2017 15:52


Manchester City v Arsenal preview: Silva and Walker expected to return to starting XIGuardiola heaps praise on Aguero after breaking club goalscoring record

Manchester City vs Arsenal

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 2.15pm, Sunday 4th November 2017

Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester

Referee: Michael Oliver Assistants: S Bennett, S Burt Fourth Official: A Marriner

Odds: City 4/9, Draw 9/2, Arsenal 13/2

Tickets: Sold out

TV: Sky Sports

Manchester City

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Squad (from): Bravo, Ederson, Muric, Danilo, Mangala, Otamendi, Stones, Walker, De Bruyne, Delph, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Sane, B Silva, D Silva, Sterling, Toure, Aguero, Jesus

Injured: Mendy, Kompany

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Form guide: WWWWW

Arsenal

Manager: Arsene Wenger

Squad (from): Cech, Ospina, Debuchy, Kolasinac, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Holding, Monreal, Chambers, Bellerin, Ramsey, Wilshere, Ozil, Iwobi, Cazorla, Xhaka, Coquelin, El Neny, Sanchez, Giroud, Walcott, Lacazette

Injured: Welbeck, Mustafi, Cazorla

Doubtful: Ospina

Suspended: None

Form guide: DWWWW

Vincent Kompany and Benjamin Mendy miss out once again through injury, whilst David Silva and Kyle Walker are likely to be restored to the starting XI after being rested during the midweek win in Naples. Danilo and Ilkay Gundogan are likely to make way.

Sergio Aguero, who became the club's record goalscorer at the San Paolo stadium, will hope to retain his place in the side, and manager Pep Guardiola was quick to heap praise on the Argentine forwrad at Friday's press conference:

“I said many times sooner or later it would happen,” Guardiola said.

“He was focused on winning the game, what he had to do for his teammates, the club.

“He has to be so proud - for what he has done, for his family.”

City's last home game against the Gunners ended in a 2-1 win, with Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling netting for the Blues. Overall City have won 37 of the 161 games played against Arsenal, with 40 draws and 84 defeats.

Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Delph, Fernandinho, D Silva, De Bruyne, Sterling, Sane, Jesus

Score prediction: City 2 Arsenal 1