Arsenal vs Man City lineups, starting 11s, team news for Premier League title showdown as Partey misses out

 

For a mid-February Premier League match, it's hard to imagine higher stakes than what Arsenal and Manchester City face as they clash at the Emirates Stadium in a midweek meeting.

The Gunners sit three points atop the Premier League table with a game in hand, but Man City can overtake the league leaders with victory in this match, thanks to their superior goal differential. Arsenal would still remain in the driver's seat, but the lead has shrunk from eight points to three, and any less of a gap would really turn up the heat.

 

 

Arsenal, meanwhile, could reverse their fortunes by securing what would be a landmark and memorable victory. The Gunners have lost six straight to Man City in all competitions and 13 of their last 14, while Mikel Arteta has not experienced early success against his former mentor Pep Guardiola, with just one win in six all-time meetings.

In a surprise bit of team news, in-form Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey was confirmed out for the match due to a muscular injury, a big blow to the Gunners just hours before kickoff. Below are the lineups for both teams.

 

Arsenal vs Man City lineups, team news

Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola could both be missing their talisman strikers in this match, but each club possesses the necessary depth to push through the absences.

Arsenal have been forced to live without Gabriel Jesus for months, and Eddie Nketiah has stepped up in a big way, scoring key goals for the club.

Man City, meanwhile, are sweating the fitness of breakout star Erling Haaland, who is on pace to shatter the Premier League single-season goalscoring record. Thankfully for Guardiola, Julian Alvarez is ready to step in if needed, as the Argentinian youngster was exceptional at the World Cup and has filled in admirably when necessary.

 

Arsenal starting 11: Thomas Partey out

Arsenal lineup (4-3-3): Aaron Ramsdale (GK) — Takehiro Tomiyasu, William Saliba, Gabriel, Oleksandr Zinchenko — Martin Odegaard, Jorginho, Granit Xhaka — Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Martinelli.

• Out: Gabriel Jesus, Mohamed Elneny, Emile Smith Rowe, Thomas Partey.
• Suspended: None.

Long-term absentees Gabriel Jesus and Mohamed Elneny remain out for this match, and Emile Smith Rowe is still working back from a thigh injury, but otherwise Arsenal have a fully fit squad. Reiss Nelson has returned to training in his recovery from a thigh problem, but this match may come just a tad early for the young winger.