Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Mesut Ozil could start for Arsenal following six weeks out but Petr Cech is unavailable due to a calf injury.
Alexis Sanchez is fit, but a thigh injury has sidelined Lucas Perez, while Santi Cazorla’s Achilles injury has ruled him out until next season.
Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling are both in contention for Manchester City despite picking up injuries while on international duty.
Gabriel Jesus and Ilkay Gundogan remain long-term absentees.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Arsenal have lost just one of their 19 previous Premier League home matches against Manchester City (W12, D6).
- City are looking to do a league double over Arsenal for the first time since 1975-76.
- The last seven league meetings have produced 27 goals – an average of 3.86 per game.
Arsenal
- The Gunners have lost four of their last five Premier League games for the first time since April 1995.
- However, they have won six of their last seven home matches.
- This is only the second time in Premier League history that Arsenal have been outside the top five in April. The other was in 2006.
- Arsenal have taken only five points out of a possible 24 in matches against teams currently in the top seven.
- Alexis Sanchez has been involved in an unrivalled 27 Premier League goals this season, scoring 18 and providing nine assists.
Manchester City
- City have gone seven league games without defeat, their longest streak under Pep Guardiola (W4, D3).
- They have won their last three away games without conceding – they have only managed four in a row on one occasion, in the old Division Two in 1903.
- Guardiola has suffered five league defeats as Manchester City boss this season – he’s never lost six in a single league campaign as a manager.
- The Blues have won just four of their last 15 Premier League matches played on a Sunday (W4, D6, L5).
- City have conceded a league-low six goals from set pieces this season.
