Arsenal vs Manchester City: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

This game will be extremely difficult to call, with this fixture now playing a different narrative than the fixture did in the previous campaign.

Arsenal’s attacking options have been severely depleted following the season, curtailing injuries to the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus and seemingly, the Gunners won’t have time in the transfer market to address their issues in the striking department.

Manchester City’s form has improved recently, with Pep Guardiola’s side unbeaten in their last six Premier League matches. Defensively, the current Premier League Champions have been susceptible, with only one clean sheet in their last six league matches and no clean sheets in their previous three games in all competitions.

Arsenal have a good record in this fixture, remaining unbeaten in the last three league meetings, with two clean sheets against Manchester City from those three matches.

We predict an Arsenal win in this fixture. Defensively, we feel they will have enough to keep out a Manchester City side who are struggling towards the back end of the pitch.

Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City

Nothing more than a win would suffice for Arsenal, as they take on Manchester City in the biggest game of the weekend on Sunday.

Date: 02/02/2025
Location: Emirates Stadium, London.
Kick-Off: 4.30 pm

Arsenal and Manchester City meet on Sunday, with this fixture now playing a different importance compared to the respective seasons of both teams.

For Arsenal, nothing else is required than a win, as the Gunners are still chasing league leaders Liverpool, who are six points clear of Mikel Arteta’s side. Liverpool also has the advantage of having a game in hand against Arsenal. The home side have accumulated 47 points from 23 matches this season, scoring 44 and conceding 21. One of the main frustrations and constant weak points for the home side is the lack of a goalscorer and vocal point in the attacking positions. The Gunners have looked to rectify this, by registering their interest in Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, however a deal is highly unlikely with the lateness of the interest in the transfer window.

Manchester City have had a fall from grace this season, mirroring the campaign from 2019/20, where Pep Guardiola’s side faced the same situation. The Citizens are now in a race for the top four, having found themselves 12 points adrift of Liverpool and clinging on to a fourth spot in the Premier League. The visitors for this game are only ahead of Newcastle United on goal difference, knowing a defeat will more than likely drop them down from the Champions League places. Bournemouth and Chelsea could also move ahead of the visitors should they win their respective games against Nottingham Forest and West Ham United.

The game will be available to watch on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.

Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus will continue to be unavailable for Mikel Arteta. William Saliba is expected to make a return to the eleven, as the Frenchman was on the bench for the midweek for the Champions League game against Girona.

Rico Lewis could prioritise at full-back for this game, with Kevin de Bruyne and Mateo Kovacic holding down the midfield area. John Stones’ continuous fitness doubts and reliance could lead Pep Guardiola to field Abdukodir Khusanov at centre-back. Omar Marmoush is expected to return to the side, with the Egyptian not registered as of yet for the UEFA Champions League.

The recent history between the two teams would suggest that Manchester City would be the slight favourites for this game, despite the apparent league standings. Arsenal as mentioned, are unbeaten in the last three meetings between the two teams in the Premier League, with only one win and two draws in the previous two league meetings. At the Emirates, Manchester City have a tremendous record, having won four of the last five trips to North London, including a season-defining 3-1 win back in 2023, which gave Manchester City the edge in the title race against the Gunners. Interestingly, Manchester City have been the first to score in five of the last seven meetings between the two clubs.

Since the 1-0 defeat away to Newcastle United in November, Arsenal have been excellent in the Premier League, remaining unbeaten in their previous 13 league matches - winning eight and drawing five. In their previous five league matches, the Gunners have won three against Brentford (1-3), Tottenham Hotspur (2-1) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (0-1). Mikel Arteta’s side has faltered against the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion (1-1) and in particular, Aston Villa (2-2), where the Gunners squandered a two-goal lead.

The home form for Arsenal has been their consistent strength, with the Gunners possessing the second-best home record in the division behind Liverpool. The home side are unbeaten at home in the Premier League this season, with seven wins and four draws in 11 home matches. Arsenal have won three of their previous five home league matches, including the win against Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United (2-0) and Ipswich Town (1-0).

Manchester City have begun the New Year in a far better state for the Premier League Champions than the way they finished. The Citizens had lost six of nine Premier League matches before the turn of the year, and now Pep Guardiola’s side are unbeaten in their previous six league games, with four wins and two draws. During this sequence, Manchester City have recorded notable victories against Chelsea (3-1) and West Ham United (4-1).

Away from home, Manchester City’s record needs slight improvement, with the visitors gaining 18 points from 36 on their travels. Manchester City are unbeaten in their last three league matches away from home, with two wins against Ipswich Town (0-6) and Leicester City (0-2). Before the victory against Leicester City, Pep Guardiola’s side were winless away from home in five attempts, suffering four defeats against Liverpool (2-0), Aston Villa (2-1), Brighton & Hove Albion (2-1) and Bournemouth (2-1).

Throughout the 2024/25 season, you can find our Prediction content here with expert analysis via our team at Footy Accumulators. On top of this, we provide free exclusive betting tips and markets that run throughout the week that could also be of interest:

• Accumulator Tips
• Bet of the Day
• Both Teams to Score Tips
• Treble Tips
• RequestABets
• BuildABet Tips
• Smart Acca Tips
• Other Tips