Man City XI vs Arsenal: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Premier League

A midweek Champions League outing could complicate Pep Guardiola’s selection

Fit and firing: Erling Haaland

Your matchday briefing on Arsenal, featuring team news and expert analysis from Simon Collings

Pep Guardiola may be forced to rotate his Manchester City side for their visit to Arsenal this weekend.

City have found form of late, and come into the tie off the back of a 3-0 win in the Manchester derby and a comfortable defeat of Napoli in their Champions League opener.

That match came just three days before the trip to Arsenal, and will complicate Guardiola’s selection as he looks to manage his players’ workload.

He seemed to be considering the weekend as he made his substitutions against Napoli. Rodri was withdrawn shortly after half-time, as was Jeremy Doku. Erling Haaland, Tijjani Reijnders, and Josko Gvardiol were also taken off late on and handed brief rests.

Guardiola is continuing to manage Rodri’s minutes after he ruptured his ACL last season, but he should be in line for another start in a crucial fixture, leaving Nico Gonzalez on the bench.

Speaking pre-match, though, Guardiola said he “did not know” if Rodri would be available, and the player would likely face a fitness test the day of the game.

Nathan Ake is yet to start a Premier League match this season, but could come into the lineup in place of Ruben Dias, who has played 90 minutes twice in the past week.

Guardiola will struggle to accommodate much rotation in the forward line, though, as Rayan Cherki and Omar Marmoush remain sidelined.

Doku impressed in midweek, but Savinho could lay claim to his starting spot. He has returned from injury with a pair of cameos against United and Napoli, and may be called upon to split the Belgian’s workload.

Gianluigi Donnarumma has slipped seamlessly into the City lineup after completing a Deadline Day transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, and his presence will keep fellow summer signing James Trafford on the bench.

Haaland remains undroppable with 12 goals in seven appearances for club and country this season, while Phil Foden’s recent return to form should see him keep his place.

Rayan Ait-Nouri and Mateo Kovacic both remain unavailable for City.

Predicted Man City XI (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Khusanov, Ake, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Gonzalez; Silva, Foden, Reijnders, Savinho; Haaland

Doubts: Stones

Injured: Marmoush, Cherki, Ait-Nouri, Kovacic

Time and date: 4.30pm BST on Sunday, September 21, 2025

How to watch: Sky Sports

Venue: Emirates Stadium