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Expected Arsenal line-up against Manchester City

By on April 18, 2026

David Raya Arsenal

Arsenal are set to travel to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City in a potentially Premier League title-deciding fixture on Sunday.

The Gunners are currently at the top of the table with 70 points from 32 matches, while the Citizens are second, six points behind, having played one game less.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been displaying inconsistent performances in recent weeks, winning only one out of the last five matches across all competitions and losing three.

As Man City were knocked out of the Champions League in the last-16 stage, they will be coming into this game off the back of a full week’s break. On the other hand, Arsenal played against Sporting CP in the quarter-final second leg on Wednesday.

Team news

Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka are set to remain sidelined due to their respective injury problems. On the other hand, Noni Madueke picked up a knock vs Sporting, so there is a question mark over his availability this weekend.

Riccardo Calafiori and Martin Odegaard have been out since featuring against the Lions in the Champions League quarter-final first leg last week, and they are in doubt for this game. Moreover, Jurrien Timber is in doubt as well.

Predicted line-up

David Raya is set to keep hold of his place between the sticks, while William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes would be the centre-back pairing for Arsenal in this crucial encounter.

Ben White and Piero Hincapié are likely to be the two fullbacks if Timber and Calafiori can’t recover in time. So, Cristhian Mosquera and Myles Lewis-Skelly would have to make do with a place on the bench.

Martin Zubimendi is expected to be the deep-lying playmaker, and Declan Rice should be in the No.8 position. Eberechi Eze might be the creative midfielder; in that case, Christian Norgaard would be among the substitutes.

If Madueke can’t feature, Gabriel Martinelli might commence on the right flank, and Max Dowman may feature as a substitute. Leandro Trossard should be on the opposite side.

Viktor Gyokeres has been displaying inconsistent performances; therefore, Kai Havertz could get the nod to start in the centre-forward position for Arsenal in this fixture. So, Gabriel Jesus would have to settle for a place on the bench.

Expected Arsenal line-up vs Man City

Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard

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