Arsenal have arrived in Manchester for their massive top-of-the-table clash with Man City at the Etihad Stadium. Mikel Arteta will take on his former boss Pep Guardiola with the Premier League title advantage at stake.
The Gunners go into the game off the back of three straight draws, while City head into it with six straight wins under their belt and putting the pressure firmly on Arsenal.
Momentum is certainly with the Citizens and Arsenal know they have a tough task on their hands if they are to maintain their lead at the top of the table after the final whistle blows.
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Arsenal have not picked up a single point against City in the last 11 Premier League matches, losing all 11 on the bounce, scoring just four times in that sequence. However, this is a different Arsenal side now to the ones that were beaten 3-0 (three times) and 5-0, as shown by the league table.
In order to get anything from the game, Mikel Arteta will want to have his strongest side out against Pep Guardiola's machine. And the Gunners have been handed something of a boost in that regard.
William Saliba had already been ruled out by the boss ahead of kick-off, with Arteta saying in his pre-match press conference: "There’s not been a real improvement unfortunately on him, so we’re still waiting."
Granit Xhaka was another who was doubtful for the game due to illness, with Arteta saying: "Granit has been out. Hopefully, he’ll be able to train today (Tuesday) but he’s still a doubt - the rest [of the squad] are OK."
But in a boost to Arteta and the Arsenal team, Xhaka has travelled with the squad to Manchester for the big clash. In a video posted on social media, the Arsenal team were seen arriving at a hotel, with Xhaka the first off the coach (as far as the video was concerned).
It remains to be seen whether Xhaka is ready to start the match, but having been ill and travelling with the squad if a good sign in the first instance.
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