Arsenal team news: Expected 4-2-3-1 vs Man City as Mikel Arteta makes five changes

Arsenal v Man City: Premier League match preview

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is expected to rotate for the visit of Manchester City to the Emirates today. Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Benfica means the Europa League last-32 tie is still in the balance ahead of this week’s second leg, with that competition surely Arsenal’s best chance of gaining Champions League qualification. Arteta could therefore rest a number of stars against City and Express Sport have picked the Gunners XI we expect to see line up today.

Goalkeeper – Leno

Bernd Leno will likely have a busy day in goal against a free-scoring City side.

Arsenal need the German at his best to have hopes of pulling off an upset in north London.

Runar Alex Runarsson will miss the match due to a knee injury, though likely would not have been in the squad anyway after being usurped as the club’s No 2 by January arrival Mat Ryan.  

Ryan may find his chances be limited for the remainder of his loan from Brighton.

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Defence – Cedric, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney

Kieran Tierney’s return to fitness is welcome news for Arteta.

He will want the left-back at full match sharpness for the return leg against Benfica, so is likely to play him from the start today.

Cedric could switch sides and play on the right, a position he excelled in at the turn of the year.

Hector Bellerin could therefore miss out, with Rob Holding also coming into the team in place of David Luiz, who may not be able to play four full matches in the space of 10 days with an eye to Thursday’s match in Greece.

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Midfield – Elneny, Xhaka; Odegaard

Thomas Partey appeared to train alone on Saturday, which would suggest today’s match is too early for the Ghana star.

Mohamed Elneny could therefore come into the team in place of Dani Ceballos in an attempt to add a more defensive look to the midfield.

Emile Smith Rowe has started the last 10 Premier League matches and was not pictured in training on Saturday, so the 20-year-old may have been given a rest by Arteta.

Martin Odegaard has shown glimpses of his quality and should start as the No 10 again.

Attack – Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang

Bukayo Saka’s importance to the side could mean he is rested from the start, as he will be one of the first names on the team sheet on Thursday.

That means Nicolas Pepe could be given a chance from the start.

Alexandre Lacazette has not started either of the last two matches but could come into the middle of the attack.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a hat-trick in his last Premier League appearance and will be crucial in the hosts’ chances of stopping City’s winning run.

Expected Arsenal XI vs Man City in full: Leno; Cedric, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Elneny, Xhaka; Pepe, Odegaard, Aubameyang; Lacazette.

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