Riccardo Calafiori scored a wonder-goal to level the game between Arsenal and Manchester City, marking his full debut for the Gunners in sensational style.
The Italian fullback was handed his first Arsenal start after it had been revealed that Ben White had suffered a minor knee issue, causing Jurrien Timber to be moved to play at right-back, while Calafiori started on the opposite side.
Arsenal went behind in the ninth minute, after Erling Haaland broke away from William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães with electrifying speed but, in the 22nd minute, Calafiori drew the Gunners level with a magnificent strike from distance.
Bukayo Saka has fired back at Manchester City’s Rodri by insisting Arsenal always aim for victory ahead of their upcoming clash.
The Gunners winger was quick to refute claims from last season that Arsenal were content with a draw against City at the Etihad, stating: “Only we know the truth
City’s Rodri had previously suggested that Arsenal didn’t play for the win in their pivotal match last March, which saw the Gunners miss out on the title by a mere two points as City clinched the championship.
The Spanish midfielder said: “When they came here, they faced us at the Etihad, I saw them and said: ‘Ah, these guys, they don’t want to beat us, they just want a draw’. And that mentality, I don’t think we would do it the same way.
t was always going to be a tough week for Arsenal. The Gunners saw off Tottenham in gritty fashion last Sunday before securing an underwhelming, but professional 0-0 draw with Atalanta. Now, though, comes their biggest test.
Mikel Arteta’s side travel to Manchester City in a game that could well impact the outcome of this season’s Premier League title. They have some questions to answer in the process.
Martin Odegaard faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines, and in both matches since the Norwegian was ruled out Arsenal have struggled to gain any dominance of the ball. Now against arguably the best possession team on the planet they must find a way.
Arsenal face Manchester City in today’s much-anticipated Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium.
The Gunners have picked up 10 points from their opening four games and they are currently two points behind the Cityzens.
The club have not beaten City at the Etihad Stadium since 2015, but can make a statement with a win to claim the top position.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Predicted Line-up:
David Raya has been in exemplary form between the sticks. He made a stellar double penalty save in midweek to help the Gunners pick up a point against Atalanta in the Champions League. The Spaniard is a nailed-on starter in goal.
In front of him, it should be a familiar-looking backline. Ben White and Jurrien Timber are expected to start in the right and left-back positions with William Saliba partnering Gabriel Magalhaes in the heart of the defence once more.
There could be a change in midfield based on Mikel Arteta’s early substitution of Thomas Partey. The Ghanaian was guilty of losing cheap possession in Bergamo on Thursday night and he also conceded a penalty in the game.
We anticipate Jorginho to return in midfield alongside Declan Rice and Kai Havertz. Further forward, Bukayo Saka is a guaranteed starter from the right wing, but there could be a change on the opposite flank with Gabriel Martinelli’s finishing woes.
How Arsenal could line up vs Man City
Martinelli missed a clear-cut chance in the north London derby and he squandered another two scoring opportunities against Atalanta. He could be axed from the starting line-up with Leandro Trossard taking up the left wing position today.
Gabriel Jesus looks likely to continue as the main striker to compensate for Havertz in midfield. The Brazilian is the only other recognised centre-forward in the role after the departure of Eddie Nketiah to Crystal Palace this summer.
Jesus was not at his regular best during his first start of the campaign in midweek, but he managed to create three key chances. The Brazilian looks the club’s best option up front with his pace and dribbling skills on the counter-attack.
Pep Guardiola has made it clear that he would only settle for a goalless draw if Manchester City were playing poorly. The City boss is preparing for another intense battle as Arsenal visit the Etihad, the stadium where Manchester City have lifted the Premier League trophy four times in a row.
Last season, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal briefly gained an edge in the title race after a 0-0 draw at the Etihad in March, a match where they rarely left their own half. Arsenal returned to London still ahead of City in the table, but Guardiola’s men then surged to the top, winning nine consecutive matches to clinch the title.
The Italian international, who has made a strong impression since arriving from Bologna, insists the team’s mentality and togetherness are the driving forces behind their confidence in challenging for the Premier League title.
Despite joining only a few months ago, Calafiori has settled in quickly at Arsenal and has embraced manager Mikel Arteta‘s coaching methods. He expressed his readiness to contribute, saying, “I am already settled in. The team has been amazing with me and now it’s time to play. The training has been different but everybody is ready to help me. I’m learning quickly so now I can stay on the pitch.”
Calafiori also acknowledged the intensity of Premier League football, noting, “The intensity is so high and in the game you can see that because the level is amazing in the Premier League and Champions League.”
Arsenal will travel to the North-west to face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday in a Premier League top-of-the-table battle. Although winning that game gives the Gunners a better chance of winning the league, William Saliba has warned the Gooners not to get ahead of themselves; winning the league will require more than just beating City.
rsenal and the reigning champions drew 0-0 in their away game against City during the PL run-in last season. Arsenal’s critics (after that stalemate with City) claimed that they lost the title fight, because they played for a draw instead of a win, which would have given them three points and won them the league by one point.
Well, on Sunday, the Gunners have a chance to defy the sceptics and defeat City at the Etihad Stadium, something they haven’t done in nine years.
Even with the absences of Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta should have a stronger squad for this weekend’s heavyweight match. Hopefully the Citizens will be without Kevin De Bruyne due to injury.
Bukayo Saka has insisted that Arsenal will be on the front foot against Manchester City in their Premier League showdown this weekend, declaring that his team are “going there to win”.
Arsenal faced criticism for their approach to playing City away last season, when they secured a single point with a goalless draw. Rodri, the City midfielder, later said that Arsenal “just wanted to draw” and questioned the mentality of Mikel Arteta’s side.
Saka has started the campaign in excellent form for Arsenal, scoring one goal and registering four assists in his first five appearances, and has revealed his “hunger” to succeed this season after back-to-back second-place finishes behind City.
Before Saturday’s action, the two teams were once again together at the top of the table, with Arsenal knowing that victory at the Etihad would give them a significant early advantage over Pep Guardiola’s side.
Ben White’s decision to turn down England in favour of his well-being should not be held against him, according to Arsenal great Lee Dixon.
White has been noticeably missing from the England setup since March 2022, after choosing to depart the World Cup squad that year for personal reasons. That choice also saw him excluded from Gareth Southgate’s plans for Euro 2024 – not out of oversight but rather preference.
As Southgate’s tenure concluded post-Euro competition, many speculated whether White might seize the opportunity for an England comeback. It was interim manager Lee Carsley, though, who cleared the air by sharing that White personally requested to remain out of reach – signalling no imminent desire for a return to international play, an attitude Dixon thinks warrants no negative judgement.
Confronted with questions about White ahead of his first round of competitions as the temporary England manager, Carsley said: “As far as I’m aware, he [White] wasn’t available for selection. Nothing’s changed in my two weeks of being here.” On whether there were any efforts to persuade White to reconsider, Carsley stated firmly: “I’ve not planned to, no. As far as I’m aware, he has asked to be not contacted.
Arsenal fans are eagerly anticipating seeing summer signing Mikel Merino in action after his move from Real Sociedad. The Spanish international is yet to make his debut after picking up an unfortunate injury in his first Gunners’ training session following a £32.67m move.
“Yesterday he had a collision and he has a shoulder injury,” Mikel Arteta said back in August. “It looks like he’s going to be out for a few weeks. “He was really excited and everything was looking really good. He landed on the floor and Gabi landed on top of him and it looks like he has a small fracture, probably.”
The original diagnosis for Merino was six weeks and Arteta has already revealed his plan to keep him close to the squad alongside his recovery. The 28-year-old appears to be settling in well with his Gunners’ teammates and was captured in public at David Raya’s birthday without his arm sling as well as the first-term photoshoot.
Merino won’t be involved for Arsenal’s trip to the Etihad this weekend with mid-October a more plausible return date with a November return the worst-case scenario. It means the Spaniard will miss games against Bolton, Leicester City, PSG and Southampton with the international break a sensible target.
