Team news with four Gunners in line to return in major Premier League title race clash

Arsenal have not won at the Etihad in 11 years but a victory would mean the title race is ‘over’, according to Pep Guardiola
The Premier League title is on the line as Manchester City host leaders Arsenal in what could be an epic showdown at the Etihad.

Pep Guardiola warned that the title race would be “over” if City lose to Arsenal and the Gunners take a nine-point lead at the top of the table.

But a victory for City would put the title race in their hands , cutting the gap to three points with a game in hand to come.

Arsenal are bidding to end their 22-year wait to win the Premier League and Mikel Arteta wants his players to be “fired up” for the challenge of ending their Etihad hoodoo , having failed to win at Manchester City in their last 11 attempts.

Follow live updates from Man City v Arsenal, below
Nico O’Reilly injury latest as Pep Guardiola issues update on Man City full-back
Manchester City ’s Nico O’Reilly is “fine” and will be available to face Arsenal on Sunday, Pep Guardiola has confirmed.

The 21-year-old has scored three goals in his last three appearances for City, including a double in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal last month and the opening goal in the 3-0 win at Chelsea last weekend.

However, O’Reilly was forced off on 63 minutes against Chelsea after appearing to hold his hamstring.

He chatted and laughed with Guardiola before heading down the tunnel, although he returned to the pitch at full-time to celebrate victory in front of the away supporters.

Possible Man City v Arsenal line-ups
Man City XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rodri, Silva; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland
Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Gabriel, Saliba, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Madueke, Gyokeres, Trossard
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is “hopeful” winger Noni Madueke could be fit and added that Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori could be “quite close” to a return.

Bukayo Saka has been ruled out, however, with Mikel Merino still unavailable.

What is the Man City team news?

Just over a couple of hours until kick-off now, so here’s a reminder of the early team news for City...

Pep Guardiola said Nico O’Reilly is “fine” after the full-back was brought off during last weekend’s 3-0 win at Chelsea, but Ruben Dias remains out and Josko Gvardiol is still sidelined.

City could therefore name an unchanged team from the win at Stamford Bridge, and just two changes from the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal last month with Gianluigi Donnarumma and Marc Guehi coming into that side.

Declan Rice issues rallying cry for Arsenal’s ‘title-defining’ clash with Man City
Declan Rice has issued a rallying cry for Arsenal to significantly improve their performance ahead of Sunday’s pivotal Premier League clash against Manchester City , a match he has branded "title-defining".

The midfielder also vowed to erase the "hurt" of last month’s Carabao Cup final defeat.

The Gunners are set to face City in a monumental top-of-the-table encounter at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.

Mikel Arteta ’s side currently hold a six-point advantage over their rivals, though City, buoyed by an impressive 3-0 victory over Chelsea, have a game in hand.

Arsenal’s recent form has been less convincing, including a disappointing loss to Bournemouth and only one win in their last five outings.

Though the crunch game at the top of the table will take all the headlines, it’s one of two huge games in the Premeir League today, with Everton hosting Liverpool in the Merseyside derby .

It’s the first derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and you can follow all the latest action in our dedicated live blog here .

Elsewhere, there’s a big clash at the bottom of the table as Nottingham Forest take on Burnley , while Aston Villa host Sunderland , with both of those also kicking off at 2pm BST.

Pep Guardiola warns Man City’s title dream will be over if they lose to Arsenal
Pep Guardiola has conceded that Manchester City ’s Premier League title aspirations will be over should they suffer defeat against Arsenal in Sunday’s pivotal encounter between the league’s top two sides.

City previously overcame Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final last month, though Guardiola stressed that the Gunners, who have reached the Champions League semi-finals without a single defeat, cannot be underestimated.

Most fans want Man City to beat Arsenal to the title.

Why?

Manchester City have won six of the last eight Premier League titles and have become, for some, the ‘default champions’.

But what does it say about the modern game that many neutrals would prefer to see a ‘sportswashing project’ edge out Mikel Arteta’s team in the title race?

However, the Gunners are also unbeaten in their last five league games against City.

Previous meetings: Arsenal 1-1 Man City, September 2025
The first game between these two sides this season was a strange affair for several reasons, not least because Pep Guardiola seemed to abandon his usual tactics after an early goal from Erling Haaland had given his side a lead within 10 minutes.

City were happy to sit back for much of the rest of the match and it almost paid off too, but for a late equaliser from Gabriel Martinelli.

The Brazilian lifted an accomplish finish over Gianluigi Donnarumma to secure a point in the 93rd minute, and you get the sense Arsenal would take a similar result this afternoon.

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