Arsenal vs. Manchester City lineups: Predicted starting XI, team news, injuries as Guardiola waits on Rodri

Rwittika Chakraborty

Arsenal vs. Manchester City lineups: Predicted starting XI, team news, injuries as Guardiola waits on Rodri image

Arsenal are set to host Manchester City at Emirates Stadium in their next Premier League match on September 21.

The Gunners currently rank second in the top flight with nine points after three wins and a sole defeat.

City, meanwhile, are eighth in the Premier League table with six points having returned to winning ways in the Manchester derby last weekend.

Both clubs started their Champions League campaigns with wins over Athletic Club and Napoli this week.

Arsenal are on a solid run of form against the 10-time English champions. Including the 2023 Community Shield, the Gunners are unbeaten in their past five games with City, win each of the last two at the Emirates.

Arsenal vs. Manchester City lineups: Predicted starting XI, team news, injury latest

Arsenal remain without Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz due to their respective knee problems, while Bukayo Saka also remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Martin Odegaard’s availability against Man City remains uncertain after the Gunners’ captain picked up a shoulder injury earlier this month.

William Saliba is expected to start at centre-back, having returned to the matchday squad in Bilbao, but Ben White remains a doubt.

Arsenal predicted starting XI (4-3-3, right to left): Raya (GK) — Timber, Gabriel, Mosquera, Calafiori — Merino, Zubimendi, Rice — Madueke, Gyokeres, Eze

Injured: Jesus (knee), Havertz (knee), Saka (hamstring), Odegaard (shoulder, doubt), White (undisc, doubt)
Suspended: None

Pep Guardiola will make a late call on the fitness of key midfielder Rodri. The Spain star is still working his way back to his physical peak following ACL surgery a year ago. He started both of the wins against United and Napoli but was substituted during the latter, having experienced discomfort during training on the eve of the game.

Fellow midfielder Mateo Kovacic remains unavailable after undergoing Achilles tendon surgery in June, while Rayan Cherki is ruled out due to thigh problems.

Rayan Ait-Nouri has been sidelined with an ankle injury, along with Omar Marmoush, who suffered a knee injury while on international duty with Egypt earlier this month.

Man City predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Donnarumma (GK) — Khusanov, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol — Rodri, Nico — Savinho, Foden, Doku — Haaland

Injured: Kovacic (Achilles), Cherki (thigh), Ait-Nouri (ankle), Marmoush (knee), Rodri (knee, doubt)
Suspended: None

Arsenal vs. Manchester City match details

  • Date: Sunday, September 21, 2025
  • Kickoff time: 11.30 a.m. ET/ 9:30 a.m. PT / 2:30 a.m. AEST (Sunday)
  • Location: Emirates Stadium, London (England)
  • Competition: Premier League
  • Referee: Stuart Attwell
  • VAR: Jarred Gillett

LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS:

Rwittika Chakraborty

Rwittika Chakraborty is a content producer for The Sporting News. Based in India, she holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from SRM Institute of Science and Technology.