Arsenal hosts Manchester City in the opening weekend’s headliner fixture. This is the only clash of two sides from the top six on curtain raising weekend, but these are also two clubs that oceans apart right now. City are coming off a season in which they set Premier League records for points, wins, goals, goal differential and title winning margin.
Arsenal are in a rebuild, having seen their side look very shambolic at times during the waning days of the Arsene Wenger era. Wenger himself admits that he stayed on too long, and now it’s up to Unai Emery to take a team that stagnated and begin the makeover, and with it ambitions of reaching the top four.
For City, it’s all about trying to establish a dynasty, as they are heavily favored to repeat as champions. Just ask Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who labeled his side Rocky, and City Ivan Drago in his “Rocky IV” analogy. The title defense begins here, so let’s take a look at the injury and match fitness reports for both teams.
First for Arsenal, Aaron Ramsey has a calf issue, but he should be ready to go. Nacho Monreal is a doubt, due to a knee issue. Laurent Koscielny (achilles) and Sead Kolasinac (leg) are out due to injuries.
For City, they have a clean bill of heath. The only concern is match fitness for a couple of guys, and one should not expect to see anybody who made a deep run with their national side in the World Cup this summer in the first team.
Arsenal FC Summer Transfer Window Analysis, Grade: go to this link
Arsenal FC Season Preview: go to this link
Manchester City Season Preview: go to this link
Manchester City Summer Transfer Window Analysis, Grade: go to this link
Starting XI Predictions for both teams: go to this link
The weekly manager press conference videos from yesterday are embedded below:
City boss Pep Guardiola:
Gunners boss Unai Emery:
Odds via Betway: Arsenal FC 3/1, Draw 29/10, Man City 10/11
Prediction: Manchester City 4, Arsenal FC 3
Feel free to post your own City and/or Arsenal FC starting XI predictions, as well as your best guess as to what the final score will be. Enjoy the match!
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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