Manchester City host Arsenal in a Premier League showdown that has major implications for the destiny of this season’s title.
City and Arsenal are locked in a titanic battle with Liverpool to be champions in what is shaping up to the be one of the great title races, and this is the last match between of the three protagonists.
It sees Mikel Arteta come up against the manager who taught him so much during his time coaching at City before leaving for the Arsenal job. Arteta has transformed the Gunners into contenders and a run of eight wins in a row propelled them to the top of the table.
But City have beaten Arsenal at home for the past eight years in a row, and a ninth successive victory at the Etihad would be a major blow to Arteta’s dream of bringing a first league crown to north London for two decades.
Follow all the action from Manchester City vs Arsenal below, and get the latest tips, betting odds and free bets here.
Man City team news
So the home side make two changes from their FA Cup win over Newcastle. Kyle Walker, who was injured on England duty, is replaced by Nathan Ake, and Kevin de Bruyne comes in for fellow countryman Jeremy Doku.
John Stones, who was injured in England’s second game of the international break, is fit enough to make the bench, while Ederson remains out altogether.
Chris Wilson31 March 2024 15:39
Line-ups announced
And we have the official line-ups!
MANCHESTER CITY XI: Ortega; Akanji, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Foden, De Bruyne, Silva; Halaand.
SUBS: Carson, Stones, Grealish, Doku, Alvarez, Gomez, Nunez, Bobb, Lewis.
ARSENAL XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Jesus, Havertz.
SUBS: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, Zinchenko, Partey, Vieira, Smith-Rowe, Trossard, Martinelli, Nketiah.
Chris Wilson31 March 2024 15:33
Team news
Official confirmation of the squads and line-ups is imminent.
Chris Wilson31 March 2024 15:26
Follow Liverpool vs Brighton LIVE
Liverpool are still being held by Brighton in the day’s other title-related fixture, though the home side are applying a lot of pressure as we enter 60 minutes.
You can follow that game by clicking on the link below.
Chris Wilson31 March 2024 15:20
Odegaard speaks to Sky
Odegaard briefly speaks to Sky before the game, and he says that Arsenal arrive “with confidence and a lot of belief, and we’re going to go for it”.
“What we have done the last period gives us a lot of confidence.
“We have grown a lot as a team. What happened last season has given us a lot of lessons. I’m excited.
“Everyone enjoys playing these games. It’s a beautiful thing to be involved.”
In other news, Saka has arrived at the Etihad on the Arsenal team bus. Remember, he was an injury doubt after withdrawing from the England squad last week. It remains unknown whether he’ll be involved though.
Chris Wilson31 March 2024 15:11
The title run-in
Aside from their remaining Premier League games, all three sides in the title run-in also have European competition to consider.
Liverpool have the admittedly far easier task of progressing in the Europa League against Serie A side Atalanta.
City have a potentially enthralling tie against Real Madrid coming up in the Champions League quarter-final, in what is a repeat of their semi-final tie from last season.
Arsenal will face Bayern Munich in another of the UCL quarter-final ties, giving them a chance to avenge their now-famous 10-2 aggregate loss from 2016/17.
If both City and Arsenal progress, they’ll face each other in the next round as they bid to reach the final at Wembley on 1 June.
The story between these two sides may not end after today – will their European journeys affect the outcome of the league too?
Chris Wilson31 March 2024 15:05
With Liverpool currently at half-time in their game against Brighton, here’s a rundown of the remaining games in the Premier League title race.
After that, as the Premier League title race enters April, the run-in can truly begin. But which team has the best fixtures and who has the hardest run of games to end the season? Here’s where the title could be won and lost.
Chris Wilson31 March 2024 14:57
Follow Liverpool vs Brighton LIVE
We’re closing in on half-time in the day’s other game, where Liverpool are drawing 1-1 with Brighton. Remember you can follow that by clicking on the link below.
Chris Wilson31 March 2024 14:47
Chris Wilson31 March 2024 14:37
Predicted line-ups
A reminder of our predicted line-ups as we approach an hour before the official confirmation.
Here’s how we think Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta will set up their teams this afternoon.
Manchester City XI: Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Rodri, Bernardo; Foden, De Bruyne, Doku; Haaland
Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Trossard
Chris Wilson31 March 2024 14:30
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
