LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 25: Vincent Kompany of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the Carabao Cup Final between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on February 25, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
EPL: Arsenal vs Manchester City – team news, kick-off time and betting odds
Arsene Wenger’s Gunners confront their worst nightmare at the Emirates on Thursday: playing Pep Guardiola’s maestros for the second time this week.
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 25: Vincent Kompany of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the Carabao Cup Final between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on February 25, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Arsenal and Manchester City meet for the second time in four days in the Premier League on Thursday.
The Gunners would probably rather not, after being roundly thrashed on Sunday in the EFL Cup final.
Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and David Silva were all on target as Pep Guardiola lifted his first piece of English silverware at Wembley.
While on cup duty, City’s mammoth EPL lead was cut to a still-ridiculous 13 points by neighbours Manchester United.
They haven’t actually seen league action since February 10, when they swatted aside Leicester 5-1 at the Etihad.
Arsene Wenger’s men haven’t played in the league since the same date – which brought another unhappy trip to Wembley as they lost out to north London rivals Tottenham.
At least they’re keeping the travel bills down.
That result, coupled with a sneaky win at Crystal Palace on Sunday, has seen Spurs streak ahead in the race for the top four.
Arsenal are now ten points off the Champions League qualification places ahead of the questionable opportunity provided by this game in hand.
Three defeats in the last five has left veteran Wenger firmly back under the cosh.
And that’s without mentioning their wretched display on home turf while limping past Swedish minnows Ostersunds in the Europa League.
The optimist, then, will see a prize opportunity to avenge the cup calamity and lay down a marker for the Premier League run-in.
The realist will look at the 27-point gap between the sides in first and sixth and laugh heartily.
Arsenal team and injury news
Nacho Monreal is the only casualty for the Gunners, with the Spain international suffering from an inflamed disc in his back.
Manchester City team and injury news
Fernandinho will be absent for the first time in the EPL this season after picking up a hamstring strain, while Benjamin Mendy remains a long-term absentee.
Fabian Delph is banned, with Raheem Sterling also a doubt thanks to a thigh problem.
Kick-off time
21:45 (SAST) at the Emirates Stadium.
EPL form (most recent result first)
Arsenal: LWLWL
Manchester City: WDWWL
Premier League head-to-head record
Arsenal wins: 23
Manchester City wins: 8
Draws: 10
Betting Odds
Arsenal win: 26/10
Manchester City win: 17/20
Draw: 3/1
