Manchester City host Arsenal on Sunday looking to recover from their recent shock 2-1 defeat away to Newcastle.
The defeat to the Magpies means City are now five points behind Premier League title rivals Liverpool, who drew 1-1 with Leicester at Anfield on Wednesday.
Arsenal, meanwhile, beat Cardiff 2-1 on Tuesday and Chelsea’s 4-0 capitulation against Bournemouth saw the Gunners move into fourth-place in the Premier League on goals scored.
Read on for Manchester City vs Arsenal live stream options, team news, predicted XIs, stats and TV channel info.
When is Manchester City vs Arsenal?
Competition: Premier League
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Date: Sunday, 3 February
Kick-off: 4:30 PM GMT
Match preview
After spending the previous 18 months looking almost invincible, Manchester City have been incredibly inconsistent since the start of December, losing four Premier League games during that time.
That up-and-down form has seen Liverpool run five points clear of the Citizens at the top of the table, heaping pressure on Pep Guardiola’s side to cut out the defeats.
In Arsenal, they face opponents even more inconsistent than themselves, with the Gunners winning and losing five of their last 11 games.
However, their win over Cardiff on Tuesday – coupled with the fact that Chelsea have been terrible recently – has somehow seen Unai Emery’s side move into the top four on goals scored.
Guardiola will take solace in the fact that they have beaten Arsenal in their last four meetings, scoring 11 goals and conceding just once, and will be looking to Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and co. to make it five in a row.
Where can I watch live?
UK residents can watch Man City’s game against Arsenal on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, channels 401 and 402 respectively on Sky and channels 501 and 502 respectively for Virgin Media users.
Man City’s season will be defined in February
With City five points behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race, February looks like it will be a defining month for Guardiola’s side, with an unenviable fixture schedule during that time seeing Premier League, Champions and FA Cup games slotted around a League Cup final:
- 03/02/19: Arsenal (H)
- 06/02/19: Everton (A)
- 10/02/19: Chelsea (H)
- 16/02/19: Newport or Middlesbrough (A)
- 20/02/19: FC Schalke 04 (A)
- 24/02/19: Chelsea (N)
- 26/02/19: West Ham (H)
Has Emery helped Arsenal drop their big six whipping boys tag?
Arsenal have already won more points (8) against top-six opposition in Emery’s debut campaign than they managed during the whole of last season, winning just six points against those sides in Arsene Wenger’s final campaign.
One area where they are struggling, though, is away from home. The Gunners have failed to win their last 20 home games against their top-six rivals, losing 13 of those games in the process.
There’s no doubting Emery has Arsenal much more robust on their own patch, but they are in desperate need of a statement win away from home.
Head-to-head
Arsenal’s only win in their last eight meetings with Man City came in their 2-1 FA Cup semi-final victory in April 2017.
However, the Gunners still hold a far superior historical record between these two, winning 96 times compared to just 54 for the reigning Premier League champions.
Manchester City wins: 54 Draws: 45 Arsenal wins: 96
Team news
Man City will be without captain Vincent Kompany for the visit of Arsenal, while Claudio Bravo remains a long-term absentee.
The Citizens will also be sweating over the fitness of Benjamin Mendy, with the left-back missing the defeat to Newcastle United on Tuesday.
Arsenal lost Laurent Koscielny and Sokratis to injury in their FA Cup tie against Man Utd, with both missing the recent win over Cardiff City as a result.
Both are highly unlikely to be fit in time for the clash with City, while the Gunners also remain without long-term absentees Danny Welbeck, Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Manchester City predicted XI: Ederson; Danilo, Laporte, Stones, Walker; Fernandinho, D. Silva, De Bruyne; Sane, Aguero, Sterling.
Arsenal predicted XI: Leno; Lichtsteiner, Mustafi, Monreal, Kolasinac; Torreira, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Ramsey; Lacazette, Aubameyang.
Squawka prediction
Manchester City have scored a league-high 63 goals this season, with the likes of Aguero and Sterling on fire in front of goal.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have the second-highest scorer in the Premier League at the moment in the form of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Both sides are less than convincing at the back, especially given Arsenal’s defensive injuries, so expect goals and Man City win.
Manchester City 3-1 Arsenal.
Predictions & Betting Tips with BetBull
1. Both teams to score @ 4/6
City rarely fail to hit the back of the net on home turf and have scored 24 goals in their last four appearances at the Etihad Stadium. The hosts will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing an Arsenal defence that will be without the injured Bellerin, although Guardiola’s defence can have their own moments of madness as well.
Tip: Both teams to score YES @ 4/6 with BetBull – bet here
Odds correct at time of publishing (31/01/2019, 18:00)
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
2. Aguero and Aubameyang both to score @ 4.4/1
Aguero has scored in his last three appearances and is expected to have done enough to start ahead of Gabriel Jesus for the visit of the Gunners. The Argentine has the pace, power and movement to give a world of problems to Emery’s defence.
Meanwhile, Aubameyang has hit the net in his last two games and, with goals against Spurs and United to his name this term – is capable of delivering against the division’s big boys.
Tip: Aguero and Aubameyang both score @ 4.4/1 with BetBull – bet here
Odds correct at time of publishing (31/01/2019, 18:00)
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
3. Man City to win and over 3.5 goals @ 11/5
Guardiola’s side are having huge questions asked of them after falling five points behind Liverpool. City need to make a statement this weekend and will be fired up to put their rivals to the sword. City won last season’s corresponding fixture 3-0 and you can expect the hosts to help themselves to a hatful at the expense of the Gunners’ porous defence.
Tip: Man City to win and over 3.5 goals YES @ 11/5 with BetBull – bet here
Odds correct at time of publishing (31/01/2019, 18:00)
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
The post Manchester City vs Arsenal predictions and match preview appeared first on Squawka News.
From Squawka NewsSquawka News http://bit.ly/2MISx6D
No comments:
Post a Comment