De Bruyne out: How Man City and Arsenal could line-up

1:48pm on Friday 16th October 2020
By Martin Macdonald

Manchester City take on Arsenal this weekend in Saturday's early evening kick-off in the Premier League.

The game presents a master versus apprentice scenario as Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta travels to the Etihad to try and get one over on his former boss at City, Pep Guardiola.

Man City started their Premier League season in decent enough fashion with a 3-2 away victory versus Wolves, but since then they have been demolished 5-2 at home to Leicester and draw away at Leeds.

Four points from their opening three games leaves them down in 14th for the moment.

Man City: Squad, FC Ratings, Matches, Formations

Arsenal: Squad, FC Ratings, Matches, Formations

Kevin De Bruyne withdrew from the Belgian squad due to injury during the week, and Guardiola confirmed on Friday that the midfield maestro would indeed miss the match against the Gunners.

Raheem Sterling pulled out the England squad before the international break, but he could be available to return too.

With every day that passes Sergio Aguero inches closer to a return, but this Saturday might just be one match too soon for the Argentine, who has returned to full training.

Gabriel Jesus will probably miss another game, but could be available for the fixture against West Ham.

For Arsenal, they are hoping to find a regulation loophole to allow Kieran Tierney to finish his coronavirus quarantine early after he was ordered to self-isolate following a positive test for Scotland international and close friend Stuart Armstrong.

Tierney has not tested positive for the virus.

Thomas Partey could make his debut for the Gunners after his £45m transfer from Atletico Madrid. Arteta said on Thursday he would assess whether he thinks the player is ready to be thrown into the mix by Friday.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pulled out of the Gabon squad for the international break after suffering an ankle injury versus Sheffield Utd, but he has trained fully this week and should be free to start against City.

Calum Chambers and Gabriel Martinelli are definite absentees.