Arsenal will welcome a number of additions from the defeat to Chelsea last week when they travel to face Manchester City at the Etihad on Saturday.
The Gunners have lost their first two games of the season without scoring a goal but will have some key attacking options to call upon for the first time in the league.
For Manchester City, this could be the final time in the Premier League that this squad takes shape as it is, with Cristiano Ronaldo heavily linked with a move to Pep Guardiola’s side, as well as a number of potential outgoings from the club.
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City comfortably handled Norwich City last week and will likely go with the same back five that had very little to do against the Canaries, with Aymeric Laporte keeping his place ahead of John Stones.
Rodri should keep his place at the base of midfield behind Ilkay Gundogan and Jack Grealish, who could drop deeper in the side to allow for changes up front. Phil Foden remains out of action, while Kevin De Bruyne is still short of fitness.
Gabriel Jesus impressed in a right-wing role against Norwich but should return to the centre forward position against Arsenal, allowing Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez to return to the starting XI on the left and right wing respectively.
Mikel Arteta named a strong Arsenal side in the League Cup during midweek but did manage to rest most of his first-choice defence.
New signing Aaron Ramsdale was in goal for the 6-0 win over West Brom, but Bernd Leno should resume his place between the sticks on Saturday.
Kieran Tierney has been cleared to play after hobbling off in the Chelsea defeat, as has Hector Bellerin, while Ben White remains absent with a bout of COVID-19. That should mean Pablo Mari and Rob Holding continue at centre-back.
Albert Sambi Lokonga has shown promise in his opening two appearances and should return to the midfield alongside Granit Xhaka, and Arteta has options to choose in front of them.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returned to the pitch by scoring a hat-trick at the Hawthorns, while Martin Odegaard was thrust straight into the XI after his permanent signing was confirmed last week.
Both of them should start again this weekend, along with the now fully match fit and Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe. Alexandre Lacazette came off the bench to score in the cup, but could be made to wait a little longer for a first start of the season.
Arsenal will be desperate to pick up their first Premier League points of the new season, but will come up against a side they have not scored against since 2019, or beaten since 2015.
Predicted XIs: Manchester City vs Arsenal
