Kevin De Bruyne news means Manchester City will experiment with lineups as Arsenal will be without their captain for the title clash

Manchester City's clash with Arsenal will force two of the most tactically-minded managers to make bold team selections this weekend.

Pep GuardiolaThe recent battles with his former protégé Mikel Arteta I've seen them cancel each other out, but this time will be different.

Both Spanish managers head into the Premier League title clash with six points to play for and key absences threatening to derail their game plans.

Arteta seemed to have finally discovered the key to beating Guardiola after 10 Premier League games without a win.

The Gunners boss, who also won the 2023 Community Shield between the two, finished unbeaten home and away against City last season.

Arsenal's four points from six games were double the number the club had picked up in their previous 15 meetings with the champions.

However, further errors saw Guardiola retain the title, and their first meeting of the new campaign came at a crucial time for both.

City of man

The hosts are sweating over the talisman's fitness. Kevin De Bruynewho suffered a groin injury against Inter Milan On Wednesday.

The Belgian was substituted at half-time during the goalless clash, with Guardiola is evasive about his physical condition.

The 33-year-old's mounting injury problems have forced City to adapt to being without him in recent years, but Arsenal are a different beast.

De Bruyne relishes facing the Gunnerswinning 14 and losing just four of their 21 games against them, with only one of those defeats coming in the Premier League.

Individually, he also scored eight goals and provided five assists, the most he recorded against a single opponent.

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It was no surprise that Arteta's first Premier League win over City and Guardiola came while De Bruyne was injured in October 2023.

If he misses out on this opportunity again, Guardiola could turn to his former captain. Ilkay Gündogan to cover one of their advanced roles in midfield.

The retired German international played the full 90 minutes of City's 2-1 win over Brentford and replaced De Bruyne in midweek.

He could be joined Bernardo Silva In the middle, with both supporting. Rodri by imposing Guardiola's possession plan.

Mateo Kovacic He remains an alternative option, with Silva on the right, but The Croatian struggled in the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal last semester.

Savinho's inexperience, however, will likely play against him in a match of this magnitude, Phil Foden Ownership could finally be obtained.

PFA Player of the Year He has had a frustrating campaign so far after scoring 19 Premier League goals last season.

Foden missed most of pre-season after starting all seven of England's games on their way to the Euro 2024 end.

The 24-year-old missed three of City's first four games through illness. Which also forced him to retire from international service..

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After being an unused substitute against Brentford, Foden came on with something to prove in the draw with Inter Milan.

Despite only coming on at half-time, no player attempted more shots than Foden's four, and his three chances created were only bettered by Jack Grealish – WHO He has fond memories of facing Arsenal.

The English duo will flank Erling HaalandWHO He has one more chance to reach 100 goals and equal Cristiano Ronaldo's record time.

Norwegian has He has gone blank in his last three games with Arsenal Amid criticism that he struggles to perform in the most important matches.

In defence, Guardiola's thinking will be much more direct, with Ederson on goal and three of his defenders almost scored.

Nathan Ake is out through injury, with Juan Piedras in disgrace, that's why Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanjiand Josko Gvardiol They are all ready to begin.

Rico Lewis It has been given the go-ahead Kyle Walker This season, the 19-year-old is preferred for his ability to play in midfield.

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Arsenal

The visitors were accused of playing to draw following their last trip to the Etihad in March, with fans and pundits citing their failure to beat Man City as a key obstacle to claiming their first title in two decades.

Emmanuel Petit He told talkSPORT that Arsenal must play with a winning mentality – and they may have no other choice in their current situation.

The Gunners are now two points behind City after four games and They will be without their captain for Sunday's showdown.

Arteta needed to have his starting XI at his disposal to avoid defeat at the Etihad last time out, but Martin Odegaard's injury It has forced us to rethink.

The 25-year-old is a permanent starter on the right side of Arsenal's midfield in their preferred 4-3-3 formation when fit.

However, now it is ready for a prolonged period on the sidelines after Suffering an ankle injury on international mission with Norway.

Odegaard already missed the 1-0 win over Tottenham in the north London derby, along with another of Arteta's regular midfield stars.

Crucially, Declan Rice is available again after suspension after he He was controversially sent off against Brighton Join Thomas Partey.

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This could allow Arteta to maintain his 4-3-3 formation but with a focus on his rigid structure by deploying two defensive-minded No. 8s and Jorginho in the holding midfield, to avoid getting caught in transition.

Alternatively, the Arsenal manager can continue to play in a versatile manner. Leandro Trossard in Odegaard's free agent role, as he did against Spurs.

The defensive line is one of the most established in England, with David RayaBen White, Gabriel Magalhaes and Guillermo Saliba Playing every minute this season.

The only other Arsenal player to have achieved this so far is Kai Havertzwho will once again lead the line as number 9.

Bukayo Saka limped out of the win over Tottenham but has now returned to training and will take his place on the right wing.

The two remaining dilemmas for Arteta are at left back, with Ricardo Calafiori He is now an option again after suffering an injury while with Italy.

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But the summer signing is unlikely to replace Jurrien Timber, who impressed at Spurs, in what would be his first start for Arsenal.

With Trossard featured as the central cover, the Brazilian couple Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli will fight for the left position.

Raheem Sterling He will be hoping to challenge for his former side but Arsenal's final-day signing has played just 10 competitive minutes since May, having missed out on Euro 2024 early on. being exiled by Chelsea.

Jesus was tasked with flying the flag for Arsenal's former City contingent in March and will also push for a starting spot.

Martinelli's defensive work off the ball may mean he is a place to lose, as although he has not scored or assisted this season, his The winner's deflected goal made the difference at the start of the last campaign.

Kieran Tierneysummer signing Mikel Merino, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu They are all absent due to injuries.

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