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Manchester City logo
Premier League | Gameweek 25
Feb 3, 2019 at 4.30pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

3-1

Aguero (1', 44', 61')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Koscielny (11')

Combined XI: Manchester City vs. Arsenal

Sports Mole selects a combined XI from those expected to be available for Sunday's Premier League clash between Manchester City and Arsenal.

Manchester City have a chance to make it four top-flight wins in a row against Arsenal for the first time since 1937 when the sides lock horns this weekend.

The Citizens' most recent victory against the Gunners came on the opening weekend of the season when cruising to a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal head into Sunday's match sitting fourth in the Premier League table, nine points adrift of their opponents, but they are in good form in the league thanks to back-to-back wins over Chelsea and Cardiff City.

Ahead of this latest high-profile tussle between the two clubs, Sports Mole selects the strongest combined XI from both teams using only the players expected to be available for selection.

Combined XI: MNCvARS

Out: Vincent Kompany (muscle), Claudio Bravo (Achilles), Sokratis Papastathopoulos (knee), Hector Bellerin (knee), Rob Holding (knee), Danny Welbeck (ankle)

Bernd Leno has taken time to adapt to English football, whereas Ederson - a slight fitness concern for this weekend - hit the ground running upon his arrival last summer. The Brazilian kept four clean sheets on the spin prior to Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Newcastle United, and only Liverpool stopper Alisson Becker has more clean sheets this term.

Arsenal have been hit by a number of injuries across their backline, including the loss of influential right-back Bellerin. While Kyle Walker has not always been at his best since the World Cup, seeing him recently left out of City's starting lineup, he is the best choice for this hybrid side, while Benjamin Mendy - in and out of the side because of a knee injury - has no real competition on the opposite flank.

Unai Emery has failed to settle on a preferred backline, not helped by a number of injury problems. Laurent Koscielny was out of the side as soon as he returned because of a fresh injury blow, but when he features the Gunners always look a little more solid. John Stones has been a regular presence at the back for Man City, meanwhile, starting 15 of their Premier League matches, but Aymeric Laporte offers more and gets the nod here alongside compatriot Koscielny.

Man City have a whole array of options in the middle of the park, but there is no doubt that the trio of Kevin De Bruyne, Fernandinho and David Silva is the holy grail of sorts for Pep Guardiola. Lucas Torreira has impressed in his maiden campaign at the Emirates Stadium, Aaron Ramsey always puts in a good shift when called upon and Granit Xhaka has also improved, but there is no dislodging City's title-winning trident.

Both teams boast prolific goalscorers in their forward lines, with Sergio Aguero netting 11 times this season and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finding the back of the net 15 times. Gabriel Jesus has done a good job of late and Alexandre Lacazette has thrived alongside Aubameyang, but it is difficult to find room for either player in this setup. One of Leroy Sane or Raheem Sterling simply has to be included, and it is the latter - who is on 99 goal involvements for City in the Premier League - who is included just off the front two, given licence to roam into the wide areas.

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Kevin De Bruyne in action for Manchester City on January 26, 2019
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal35255585285780
2Manchester CityMan City34247382325079
3Liverpool35229477364175
4Aston Villa35207873522167
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs341861067541360
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle341651374551953
8Chelsea34149116559651
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham351310125665-949
10Bournemouth35139135260-848
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves35137154855-746
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton341111125257-544
13Fulham35127165155-443
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton36129153849-1137
16Brentford3598185260-835
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3579194262-2026
18Luton TownLuton3668224978-2926
19Burnley3559213870-3224
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3537253497-6316


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