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Match preview
FA Cup fourth round weekend gets underway with a bang, as the Premier League’s top two sides go head-to-head in this Friday night fixture.
Arsenal have won their last four FA Cup ties against Manchester City, including semi-finals in 2017 and 2020, with the Citizens’ sole cup victory over the Gunners coming in 1904.
With this the first meeting between these two clubs this season, who will land a psychological blow in the title race, and book their place in round five?
Right now, Arsenal are five points clear of the champions, having played a game less, accumulating a remarkable 50 points in the first half of the season.
Last Sunday, Mikel Arteta’s team enjoyed yet another statement victory, this time beating Manchester United 3-2.
Bukayo Saka scoring a rocket, before Eddie Nketiah, acrobatically, poked home a stoppage time winner.
The record 14-times winners began their latest cup run with a comfortable 3-0 victory at Oxford United; Mohamed Elneny heading home, before Ntetiah bagged a brace.
This though will be an infinitely tougher task, so will Arsenal end their six-game losing streak at the Etihad?
Manchester City meantime last endured a trophyless campaign in 2016/17, picking up 11 pieces of silverware since then.
In round three, Pep Guardiola’s team swatted aside a hapless Chelsea, with both Riyāḍ Maḥrez and Julián Álvarez bagging braces.
The Sky Blues have reached, at least, the FA Cup semi-finals in each of the last four seasons, so do not want that streak to end here.
Having come from 2-0 down to beat Tottenham 4-2, and then smashed Wolves 3-0 in the last week, Man City could be getting back to their best.
Who will win, what promises to be, a thrilling Friday night cup tie?
Manchester City team news
Pep Guardiola may well rotate his XI for this clash, but, given the squad he has, it’s impossible for him to put out a weakened team.
Julián Álvarez started in the previous round and could do so once again, with Erling Braut Håland left in reserve.
Elsewhere, back-up goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, Sergio Gómez and Kalvin Phillips could be rotated in.
18 year old Rico Lewis has impressed at right-back, so is likely to be chosen over Kyle Walker and João Cancelo once again.
Kevin De Bruyne has scored five goals against Arsenal, the joint-most against any single opponent.
Midfielder Máximo Perrone could make his debut, probably as a substitute, after arriving from Vélez Sarsfield this week.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Ortega; Lewis, Akanji, Stones, Gómez; Phillips, Gündoğan, Silva; Maḥrez, Foden, Álvarez.
Arsenal team news
Mikel Arteta has a vastly less complete squad at his disposal, so faces some tough decisions.
Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney will be rotated in at full-back, whilst Matt Turner is set to return in goal.
Mohamed Elneny’s injury means Thomas Partey may start at the base of midfield, as Arteta does not trust Albert Sambi Lokonga.
Leandro Trossard could be in from the off, after making his debut off the bench against Manchester United.
Fellow January recruit Jakub Kiwior, who joined from Spezia on Monday, could well be thrown straight in.
Fábio Vieira is set to come in for Martin Ødegaard, but Emile Smith Rowe has not traveled with the squad due to injury, which is another set-back for him.
Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Turner; Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Xhaka, Fábio Vieira, Saka, Trossard; Nketiah.
