Pep Guardiola has named the identical XI in opposition to Arsenal that began the video games in opposition to Manchester United and Napoli.
The boss is clearly proud of what he has seen in these two video games so retains religion together with his gamers for immediately’s journey to the Emirates.
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It is the primary time in additional than 4 years that Pep has named an unchanged beginning XI for 3 video games in a row when, in August 2021, the identical facet began in opposition to Norwich, Arsenal and Leicester.
The one different event was in 2017, when Pep began the identical XI in opposition to Chelsea, Stoke and Napoli.
Workforce Information
CITY: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Rodrigo, Bernardo (C), Reijnders, Foden, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Trafford, Stones, Ake, Nico, Savinho, Nunes, Bobb, Mukasa, Lewis
ARSENAL XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Merino, Madueke, Trossard, Gyökeres
Subs: Kepa, Mosquera, White, Saka, Eze, Martinelli, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly
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Ways/doable formation
With an unchanged crew it is simpler to foretell how we line-up in opposition to Arsenal.
Gianluigi Donnarumma – who was excellent for PSG in opposition to Arsenal on the Emirates final season – may have Abdukodir Khusanov and Nico O’Reilly as his full-backs, with Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol (making his a centesimal look for Metropolis) in central defence.
Rodri may have Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden alongside him in midfield, with Bernardo and Jeremey Doku on the wings and Erling Haaland as our striker.
Blues’ robust project
Make no mistake, final season’s 5-1 defeat on the Emirates was a chastening afternoon for Metropolis.
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It is in all probability honest to say that Arsenal have held the Blues as a the crew they most wished to emulate – and surpass – of their quest to finish an extended anticipate Premier League glory.
That has led to an depth within the conferences over the previous 4 seasons or so, the place the video games have often been tight and cagey.
The Gunners caught Metropolis at a fragile time and although we might gone to North London unbeaten in six, we have been nonetheless removed from the facet that had dominated home soccer over the earlier seven years.
Going behind inside two minutes did not assist however the Blues steadied the ship and levelled on 55 minutes by Erling Haaland – however thereafter, we fell aside.
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Arsenal scored 4 objectives within the time that remained and Miles Lewis-Skelly’s lotus celebration felt like a really public mocking that Mikel Arteta was reported to be not significantly happy with.
All in all, it was a day to overlook.
In the present day, Metropolis face a Gunners facet which have strengthened considerably in the summertime as they bid to lastly go one higher than their three successive runners-up finishes.
This will likely be a tricky 90 minutes for the Blues, however not one we won’t take one thing from.
There might be as much as 12 completely different gamers on this recreation from the 18 in our matchday squad from final season – an enormous shift in personnel – as Pep Guardiola’s new-look facet evolve and gel collectively.
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So immediately will likely be an early barometer of the place this new Metropolis facet presently are.
Undoubtedly, it can even be one in every of our hardest away checks of the marketing campaign, however will little doubt be fascinating nonetheless.
Stats, info & Milestones
Arsenal have gained two of their final 4 league conferences with Metropolis (D2), as many as their earlier 22 beforehand (D5 L15). The Gunners may win back-to-back league video games in opposition to the Blues for the primary time since December 2015.
Metropolis have misplaced each of their final two Premier League visits to Arsenal, as many as their earlier 14 beforehand (W7 D5 L2). It’s their longest shedding run away to the Gunners since April 2009 (4 in a row).
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Arsenal have gained their final three Premier League dwelling video games by an combination rating of 9-0. They final gained 4 in a row with out conceding in December 2021, whereas they final gained their first three at dwelling in a season with out conceding in 1960-61.
Metropolis have misplaced 5 of their final seven Premier League video games instantly following a European recreation in midweek (W2), together with a 5-1 loss at Arsenal in February. Their earlier 5 such defeats came visiting a interval of 46 video games in 5 years (W27 D14).
Solely Bournemouth (9) have had extra direct assaults than Arsenal within the Premier League this season (8, a mean of two per recreation). Final season, the Gunners ranked eleventh for direct assaults (1.7 per recreation).
With Metropolis winless in 4 Premier League video games in opposition to Arsenal, Pep Guardiola may go 5 video games and not using a top-flight league win in opposition to an opponent for the very first time. Mikel Arteta may additionally develop into the primary supervisor ever to go 5 league video games unbeaten in opposition to Guardiola.
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Erling Haaland has scored 4 objectives in six Premier League appearances in opposition to Arsenal, whereas he has 19 objectives in 20 league video games in London. Amongst gamers to play 1,000+ minutes in away Premier League video games within the capital, Haaland has one of the best minutes per aim ratio (one each 93 minutes).
Viktor Gyökeres has scored in each of his two Premier League dwelling video games for Arsenal (3 objectives in whole).
The one participant to attain in every of his first three for the membership within the competitors was Alexandre Lacazette in 2017.
Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres has utilized extra pressures within the closing third than another participant within the Premier League this season (166). In the meantime, Man Metropolis’s #9 Erling Haaland has utilized extra pressures within the opponent’s penalty space than anybody else (65).
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Gianluigi Donnarumma made two saves and saved a clear sheet on his Premier League debut in Metropolis’s 3-0 win in opposition to Man Utd final weekend. The one keepers to document a clear sheet of their first two begins for the Blues are Kasper Schmeichel (August 2007) and Stefan Ortega (Might 2023).