Arsenal vs. Man City lineups: Confirmed starting XI, team news, injuries as Guardiola makes Rodri call

Rwittika Chakraborty

Arsenal vs. Man City lineups: Confirmed starting XI, team news, injuries as Guardiola makes Rodri call 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: Confirmed starting XI, team news, injury latest

Arsenal remain without Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz due to their respective knee problems, although Bukayo Saka is back among the substitutes following his hamstring injury.

Martin Odegaard remains sidelined with a shoulder complaint. Gabriel captains the side in his absence and has his regular centre-back partner William Saliba ​​​​​​back for company.

Leandro Trossard scored in Bilbao in midweek and is rewarded with a start, meaning Eberechi Eze drops to the bench.

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

Injured: Jesus (knee), Havertz (knee), Odegaard (shoulder)
Suspended: None

Pep Guardiola made 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.

Nevertheless, Guardiola has stuck with an unchanged side for the third successive match.

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 starting XI (4-1-4-1, right to left): Donnarumma (GK) — Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly — Rodri — Silva, Foden, Reijnders, Doku — Haaland

Injured: Kovacic (Achilles), Cherki (thigh), Ait-Nouri (ankle), Marmoush (knee)
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 
  • Location: Emirates Stadium, London (England)
  • Competition: Premier League
  • Referee: Stuart Attwell
  • VAR: Jarred Gillett

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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.