Arsenal's title hopes face a crucial test this weekend as they host Manchester City with late fitness concerns over key players. Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed on Friday that a decision on captain Martin Odegaard and winger Bukayo Saka will be made after their final training session, as both players are still recovering from injuries. Saka has been sidelined with a hamstring issue, while Odegaard is dealing with a shoulder problem. Centre-back William Saliba also faces a late fitness test.
With the squad depth being eyed upon, Arteta praised the impact of his substitutes in their recent Champions League win, where Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard came off the bench to score. “You look historically at the top team, the team that has won a lot, the impact that the finishers had has always been really, really high,” he said, emphasizing his expectations of the substitutes. He added that the team is "very lucky" to have players who can make a difference.
Meanwhile, Manchester City plagued with cramped schedule, with only two full days to recover from their midweek Champions League match against Napoli. Coach Pep Guardiola made a joke about the tough schedule, saying his team would "go hiking in the mountains" to recover. However, data from the last five seasons suggests that a short turnaround might not be a disadvantage for City. In fact, they have not lost a single league game when playing with only two days' rest after a European fixture, winning 11 and drawing four.
This match has the capacity to dictate table standings, while Arsenal is looking to continue its strong defensive form, having kept three clean sheets in four matches. Their expected goals against (xGA) figure of 2.4 is one of the lowest in the league. City, on the other hand, is still finding its footing after an uncharacteristically slow start to the season but leads the league in expected goals (xG). The focus for City will be on their attack, led by Erling Haaland, but they'll also look for defensive stability from new signing Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The clash is also a personal battle between mentors. Arteta, a former assistant to Guardiola, has a strong recent record against his former boss, with Arsenal unbeaten in their last four league encounters with City. Guardiola himself acknowledged that Arteta is "an extraordinary manager." The match is an opportunity for Arsenal to prove they are Liverpool's primary title rivals and for City to show they are back for good after a rare trophyless season.