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Ed Aarons assesses the new, improved Arsenal
There were rumours that [Gabriel] Martinelli and [Leandro] Trossard could be allowed to depart in the summer but it is understood [Mikel] Arteta was keen to keep both despite the arrivals of Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze. Martinelli and Trossard scored 10 goals each last season and made regular contributions, even if the former has struggled to hit the heights of the 2022-23 campaign when he managed 15. But the Brazilian’s pace provides a very different option on the left to Eze, who prefers to drift inside.
Read Barney Ronay on Erling Haaland 2.0
Pep Guardiola’s eyes boggled with pleasure as he spoke about the relentlessness of his players. “Erling is a machine,” was Jérémy Doku’s verdict after Erling Haaland had scored two fine goals and in between spent much of the game running over the various portions of sullen human flesh acting as the United defence.
Team news: Saliba starts, City unchanged
William Saliba returns from injury for Arsenal, one of two changes from the midweek win in Bilbao. Leandro Trossard is preferred to Eberechi Eze on the left wing; Cristhian Mosquera maeks way for Saliba. Oh, and Bukayo Saka is fit enough to be on the bench.
Manchester City are unchanged for the third game in a row. Pep Guardiola can’t have done that too many times during his career.
Arsenal (4-1-2-3ish) Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi; Merino, Rice; Madueke, Gyokeres, Trossard.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, White, Saka, Eze, Martinelli, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly.
Manchester City (4-1-2-3ish) Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiola, O’Reilly; Rodri; Foden, Reijnders; Bernardo, Haaland, Doku.
Subs: Trafford, Stones, Ake, Nico, Savinho, Nunes, Bobb, Mukasa, Lewis.
Referee Stuart Attwell.
Preamble
Arsenal v Manchester City was supposed to be the Premier League’s next great rivalry, a sprawling epic to compare with Liverpool v Manchester City (2018-22) – maybe even Arsenal v Manchester United (1996-2005; shameless plug alert).
City and Arsenal were the top two in successive seasons from 2022-24, with City pipping their emerging challengers on both occasions. Then, ayear ago this weekend, they drew 2-2 in a thrilling, humble and spiteful game at the Etihad. Even in late September, the match felt hugely significant to the title race.
At the final whistle, the Guardian minute-by-minute reporter concluded, “I think we can now say that Man City v Arsenal is a proper rivalry.”
The rivalry has been frozen in time because of Liverpool’s spectacular success under Arne Slot. A year ago they were the best of the rest; now they are the reigning champions. Liverpool have also spent £450m and – by hook, crook or fairytale winners from 16-year-olds – won their first five Premier League games of the season.
Arsenal (who are six points behind with today’s game in hand) and City (nine points) need a win to maintain their proximity to Liverpool’s tail lights. That, more than the rivalry between the sides or City’s desire to avenge their 5-1 pasting in February, is why today’s game feels so significant – even in late September.
Kick off 4.30pm.
