Manchester City face Arsenal for the second time in five days on Thursday and they will be without influential midfielder Fernandinho. NaijaBet.com
The Brazilian picked up an injury during Sunday’s Carabao Cup final and City boss Pep Guardiola expects to have a “big problem” trying to find a replacement for the upcoming matches.
City will be hoping to have Raheem Sterling available again after he missed Sunday’s game.
Man City injuries
Sterling was not fit enough even for the bench on Sunday, suggesting he could struggle to start on Thursday.
Fernandinho will miss out having picked up a hamstring injury during the victory at Wembley Stadium. NaijaBet.com
That leaves Benjamin Mendy as City’s only other injured senior player.
Man City suspensions
Fabian Delph will miss the game following his red card against Wigan.
Man City potential starting line-up
Ilkay Gundogan coud deputise for the injured Fernandinho, although Kevin De Bruyne was asked to fill the Brazilian’s boots at Wembley. Yaya Toure is out of the picture. NaijaBet.com
Ederson will return in goal after Claudio Bravo deputised well at Wembley, Danilo is in line to keep his place at left-back, and Vincent Kompany could yet start again following his fine performance at the weekend.
Arsenal team news
Alexandre Lacazette is out with a knee injury while Santi Cazorla is a long-term absentee. NaijaBet.com
Best Opta match facts
- Arsenal have won just two of their last 11 Premier League meetings with Manchester City, drawing five and losing four.
- Manchester City have won only one of their 20 Premier League away games against Arsenal (D7 L12) – winning 2-0 under Roberto Mancini in January 2013. NaijaBet.com
- Manchester City could become the first side to beat Arsenal three times in the same season since Chelsea in 2005-06 – those three defeats also all occurred at different grounds.
- Manchester City’s points total of 72 from 27 games is the most ever set by an English top-flight side at this stage of the season (3 pts for a win). If they win this game, it’ll match Arsenal’s Premier League tally from last season (75 points from 38 games).
- Arsenal have recorded just two victories in their last 16 Premier League matches against fellow ‘big six’ teams (D6 L8). They beat Spurs in November 2017 and Man Utd in May 2017.
- Sergio Aguero has scored in each of his last five appearances against Arsenal in all competitions – he’s never scored in six games in a row against a single opponent for Man City.
- Already Man City’s all-time top-scorer, Aguero can hit the 200-goal mark for the club in all competitions in this game (currently on 199). NaijaBet.com
TV channel & kick-off time
