Arsenal take on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium tonight in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Mikel Arteta's side currently sit top of the Premier League table, five points ahead of second-placed City, who have also played one more league match this term. However, the two sides are yet to play this season and their first matchup comes on Friday evening in a highly-anticipated FA Cup clash, with a win having the potential to be a huge psychological booster for the aforementioned title race.
It remains to be seen just how strong the Gunners will go in terms of their starting XI considering their next match doesn't come for another eight days, when they take on Everton at Goodison Park next Saturday. The likes of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney and Fabio Vieira will all be hoping to start this one, as well as new signings Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior who have arrived from Brighton and Spezia respectively over the last week.
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However, one player who may not be in contention for minutes is playmaker Emile Smith Rowe, who was not spotted getting off the Arsenal team bus on Thursday, as per The Mirror. Smith Rowe spent nearly four months on the sidelines following groin surgery back in September before making his return earlier this month, playing 15 minutes off the bench during the 3-0 win over Oxford United in the third round of the cup.
It remains to be seen whether or not the Hale End academy graduate is fully fit for Friday's clash and the fact that he wasn't seen on the team bus doesn't necessarily mean he isn't available, although it is certainly one situation to keep an eye on for Arsenal supporters. The 22-year-old enjoyed a thoroughly impressive 2021/22 campaign, netting ten goals in the league and he could be a vital squad player as the Gunners look to end their 19-year title drought.
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