No doubt what the headliner fixture in all of world football is this weekend- Arsenal vs Manchester City. Mikel Arteta will hope to have both Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard back in the lineup on Sunday, the pair will face a race against time in order to do so.
Let’s cover the duo, starting with Saka, who has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury.
Arsenal vs Manchester City FYIs
Kickoff: Sun. Sept. 22, 4:30pm, Emirates Stadium
Team News: Arsenal FC Manchester City
Starting XI Predictions: Arsenal FC Manchester City
Google Result Probability: Arsenal FC 49% Manchester City 25% Draw 26%
PL Standing: Arsenal FC 2nd, 9 pts Manchester City 8th, 6 pts
Gunners Team News
Saka suffered the setback in against Leeds United, but the problem is not thought to be serious, and this match has been the targeted date for potential return all along. As for Odegaard he missed training on Monday, and the midweek win over Athletic Club, due to the shoulder injury that he sustained against Nottingham Forest.
Elsewhere Ben White has been in and out of the matchday squads, alternating between available and unavailable due to an unspecified, undisclosed issue.
And then finally, Kai Havertz remains sidelined until November or thereabouts while Gabriel Jesus remains out until 2026.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the Washington Post and ESPN. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter