Arsenal will be aiming to beat Manchester City in the Premier League for the first time since December 2015 this afternoon. The Gunners are winless in their last 15 top-flight matches against today’s opponents, with City winning 13 of them. Arsenal ran City close last season and Express Sport picks a combined XI from the two clubs’ squads.
Goalkeeper – Ederson
Arsenal have two quality goalkeepers but neither David Raya nor Aaron Ramsdale make this XI. Ederson is one of the best in the world and has done it for a long period of time.
The Brazilian has only ever been on the losing side against the Gunners once, in the 2020 FA Cup semi-final. Raya and Ramsdale need years of work behind them at the top level to challenge Ederson for this spot.
Defence – Walker, Saliba, Dias, Zinchenko
A centre-back pairing of William Saliba and Ruben Dias looks pretty tasty. Saliba has taken the Premier League by storm and who knows what would have happened if he stayed fit at the end of last season?
City have so many quality defenders that not even Pep Guardiola knows his best back four at times. He changes who plays at left-back so often that it would be hard to pick who is City’s best player in that position.
Oleksandr Zinchenko is so vital for Arsenal and that alone earns him a spot in this team. Kyle Walker looks back to his best at right-back and is streets ahead of any competition.
Read more… Man City’s Erling Haaland ready to respond to critics after Wolves struggles
Midfield – Odegaard, Rodri, De Bruyne
If fit, Kevin De Bruyne gets into any team in the world. Injuries are catching up with the Belgium star but he is still the best in his position on his day.
Rodri will miss today’s match through suspension but that hasn’t lost him a place in this team. It was between him and Declan Rice for the No 6 role but the Spain star is currently ahead of his English counterpart.
Martin Odegaard has been one of the Premier League’s best players across the last 12 months. Eighteen league goals since the start of last season was just too good to leave out.
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Attack – Saka, Haaland, Foden
Erling Haaland is obviously the No 9 in this team. He has had a relatively quiet start to this season by his standards but still has eight goals to his name in seven games.
Bukayo Saka is Mr. Dependable on the right-hand side but also produces week in, week out. Arsenal would be lost without him.
On the other flank is Phil Foden. He had to get into this team somewhere and his versatility means Jack Grealish and Gabriel Martinelli are snubbed for the left-wing role.
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