Arsenal welcome Manchester City to the Emirates Stadium for a crunch Premier League clash on February 1 that could have a telling impact on the fate of the title race.
The reigning champions fell by the wayside after a massive drop in form, allowing Liverpool to establish themselves as Premier League title favourites.
Pep Guardiola’s side have since switched their attention to securing a top-four finish, and this game could be a defining moment in their season.
Unlike their Manchester counterparts, Arsenal are still in the fight for the title. For the past two seasons, they’ve missed out on the coveted prize and are keen to avoid a third consecutive heartbreak.
Both sides have plenty riding on the outcome of this game, so expect tickets to be sold at a premium.
Fortunately, Seatsnet.com offers an alternative route for fans looking to get their hands on Arsenal vs Manchester City tickets.
Match Preview
Arsenal have been far from their sparkling best this season, but if they’re going to stand a chance of ending their title drought, the Gunners cannot afford any more slip-ups in the second half of the campaign.
At the time of writing, they sit four points off pacesetters Liverpool, although the Reds still have a game in hand – a tricky Merseyside derby clash against Everton at Goodison Park.
Arsenal have to stay alive in the title race as long as possible and must be ready to pounce if Liverpool drop points, but the upcoming clash against City will be far from straightforward.
The Cityzens seem to have recaptured their form, going five games across all competitions without defeat.
Although, they dropped two points against Brentford in their most recent outing, which suggests there are still chinks in their armour that Arsenal could exploit when they face off.
City have been active in the transfer market thus far, agreeing deals to sign two centre-backs and a forward. But they’re still in for a midfielder if reports are to be believed.
Reinforcements will be key to their plans of reclaiming a spot in the top four, and Arsenal must act soon if they want to salvage their dwindling Premier League title charge.
Anything other than a win against City could end Arsenal’s title bid, but they’ll take solace from their recent record against Guardiola’s side.
Head to Head
City will be keen to restart their winning streak against Arsenal at the Emirates when both sides renew hostilities on February 1.
The last time both sides locked horns in North London, the Gunners snatched a 1-0 win courtesy of a last-gasp strike from second-half substitute Gabriel Martinelli.
Before Arsenal’s liberating triumph, City had won the previous six meetings between both sides at the Emirates. The Gunners seem to have gotten the number of Guardiola’s side in recent meetings.
The narrow 1-0 win was the start of a three-game unbeaten streak against the reigning champions, although both sides have settled for a share of the spoils in the last two games.
A somewhat disappointing goalless draw preceded a pulsating, end-to-end 2-2 draw earlier this season when a last-gasp John Stones strike claimed a crucial point for the Premier League title holders.
Best XIs
Arsenal
Arteta’s Premier League title hopes took a massive blow when Bukayo Saka pulled up with an injury, but his Gunners troops have shown plenty of resilience to push on without their talisman.
They’ll need to claim another massive scalp against City as their title hopes could depend on it, and Arteta will be hoping his patched-up squad can rise to the occasion.
David Raya has been a mainstay in the Arsenal backline and will retain his spot as the Gunners’ last line of defence.
Arteta has been forced to tweak his backline one too many times this season due to injuries, and he was recently dealt another massive blow when William Saliba pulled up in the 2-1 victory over Tottenham.
The Spaniard has admitted the hamstring issue is “worrying”.
He’d undoubtedly be a huge miss for the City game, but Gabriel Magalhaes and Jakub Kiwior should hold down the fort, assuming Riccardo Calafiori is still committed to the hospital room.
Jurrien Timber and teenage sensation Myles Lewis-Skelly round up the potential makeshift back four.
Thomas Partey and Declan Rice should screen the defence while Martin Odegaard assumes creative control, although he’d also be desperate to end his goal drought.
Up front, a familiar trio of Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, and Leandro Trossard will be looking to cause plenty of problems for City’s backline.
(4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Kiwior, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Trossard, Havertz, Martinelli.
Man City
Like Arsenal, City also have injury worries of their own, but you’d fancy whatever team Guardiola puts out to get the job done regardless of whichever team stands in their way.
Ederson and Stefan Ortega have alternated shifts between the sticks this season, but the former should get the nod for the blockbuster clash against Arsenal.
Kyle Walker’s bombshell announcement about leaving City this month means he has been exiled from the squad, and without adequate cover, Guardiola has resorted to deploying Matheus Nunes at right-back.
The Portuguese midfielder should start alongside Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, and Josko Gvardiol in defence.
Mateo Kovacic and Ilkay Gundogan should anchor the midfield in the absence of long-term absentee Rodri, although Bernardo Silva can also slot in for his German counterpart if needed.
The forward line is where Guardiola is spoilt for choice. Given Phil Foden’s timely resurgence, he should start alongside Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku behind the irrepressible Erling Braut Haaland.
The Norwegian goal machine recently penned a staggering nine-and-a-half-year contract with City and has his eye set on a third successive Golden Boot.
He has already smashed the 20-goal mark this season (22 goals in 29 games). 17 of those have come in 22 Premier League games, just one behind Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah (18).
(4-2-3-1): Ederson; Nunes, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Gundogan; Doku, De Bruyne, Foden; Haaland.
Ticket Information
Fans eager to cheer on their favourite teams live can secure tickets through official club websites.
For those seeking great deals, Seatsnet.com offers a reliable marketplace to find subsidised tickets for every Premier League fixture, ensuring you don’t miss out on the action.
How to Watch
In the United Kingdom, Premier League matches are broadcast live on Sky Sports, TNT Sports, and Amazon Prime Video, offering extensive coverage of the 2024/25 football season.
Sky Sports leads with 128 live fixtures, TNT Sports airs 52 games, and Amazon Prime Video streams 20 matches, providing fans multiple options to catch their favourite teams in action.
