Verdict: Manchester City win
Best Odds: 1/1
Bookmaker: Bet365
After picking up their first piece of silverware in the form of the Community Shield last weekend, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking champions will look to make the first defense of their crown when they travel to North London to face an Arsenal side now under the guidance of a new coach.
Arsenal
Although this will be the first time in 22 years Arsenal have not had Arsene Wenger in their dugout for a Premier League outing, many around The Emirates are excited about what could come in this new chapter. Now under the tutelage of Ligue 1 winning coach Unai Emery, The Reds have enjoyed an impressive pre-season tour and coming off the back of a 2-0 win over Serie A contenders Napoli, aside from a penalties defeat to Atletico Madrid in the ICC, The Gunners won all their other friendly outings. Most notably a 5-1 win over Emery’s former side PSG, Arsenal will be hoping that strikers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette can find a way to play together, the duo scored eight goals combined in pre-season.
Team News
Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey is back in training after suffering a calf problem, but left-back Nacho Monreal is doubtful with a knee issue.
Head coach Unai Emery could hand debuts to Bernd Leno, Lucas Torreira and Sokratis Papastathopoulos. Defenders Sead Kolasinac and Laurent Koscielny are long-term absentees with respective knee and Achilles injuries.
Manchester City
For Pep Guardiola’s defending champions, although they were missing the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva, in what was expected to be a tight battle against Chelsea in the Community Shield, The Sky Blues marched onto a 2-0 win and made it look more like a training ground routine. With Sergio Aguero scoring a brace and becoming a double centurion in City’s goalscoring charts, the mood couldn’t be better around the Etihad and many believe they could become the greatest side of the Premier League era. Unquestionably the odds-on favorites to defend their Premier League crown, City put three past Bundesliga kings Bayern Munich in their final pre-season matchup and appear to have not missed a beat.
Team News
Manchester City’s club record signing Riyad Mahrez is set to make his first Premier League appearance for the club. Left-back Benjamin Mendy could start his first league game since September 2017, when he suffered a cruciate ligament injury against Crystal Palace.
Key Factors to Consider
- Manchester City have won all three of the last meetings between the two sides, they have also scored three goals in each victory.
- Arsenal have just two wins in the last 12 meetings with Manchester City (D5, L5).
- Manchester City could win consecutive top-flight away games against Arsenal for the first time since 1936.
- The last time Arsenal played a competitive match without Arsene Wenger in charge was in September 1996, when Pat Rice was caretaker for a 2-0 Premier League win over Sunderland.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has 10 goals and four assists in 13 Premier League appearances.
Conclusion
Unquestionably the glamor matchup of this year’s Premier League opening weekend, on paper it has all the makings of a mouthwatering affair. While Arsenal have done well to adapt to life under Emery so fast and have shown glimpses of what could be in the International Champions Cup this summer, The Gunners new manager is untested against a side like City and given it is so early into his tenure at The Emirates, dethroning the defending Champions might be a step to far. With City putting on such a clinical display in the Community Shield last weekend, it is almost impossible to bet against The Sky Blues.
Verdict: Manchester City win
Best Odds: 1/1
Bookmaker: Bet365
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