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Confirmed line-ups: Man City vs Arsenal – Holding & Xhaka start for Gunners

By on April 26, 2023

gabriel martinelli arsenal

Arsenal can make a huge statement in the title race and put destiny back in their hands with a win over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium tonight.

We’ve been dealt a huge blow ahead of the game after Mikel Arteta confirmed that William Saliba is still out with a niggling back injury. He’s still not resumed full training amid fears he may not play again this season.

In Saliba’s absence, Rob Holding keeps his place alongside Gabriel in the heart of Arsenal’s back four. I must admit I fear for Holding up against Erling Haaland tonight. Let’s hope he proves me wrong!

Oleksandr Zinchenko faces-off against his old team as he continues at left-back while Ben White starts once again on the right side of defence with Takehiro Tomiyasu out for the rest of the campaign with a knee injury.

Thomas Partey hasn’t been at his best in recent weeks so let’s hope he returns to form this evening as he starts in the holding role for Arsenal. Martin Odegaard captains the side and we’ll need him at his imperious best if we’re to get a positive result.

Granit Xhaka missed the draw with Southampton due to illness but he returns tonight. Fabio Vieira drops to the subs bench.

This is a huge game for Arsenal’s young guns on the wings so let’s pray Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli can cause City all sorts of problems. Gabriel Jesus leads the line up front and he should have a point to prove against his old team.

These are the teams for the game:

Arsenal

Ramsdale, White, Gabriel, Holding, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.

Subs: Turner, Tierney, Kiwior, Jorginho, Smith Rowe, Vieira, Trossard, Nelson, Nketiah.

Man City

Ederson, Walker, Dias, Akanji, Stones, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan (C), Bernardo, Grealish, Haaland

Subs: Ortega Moreno, Phillips, Laporte, Alvarez, Gomez, Mahrez, Foden, Palmer, Lewis