Arsenal host Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
The Gunners sit second in the English top flight, six points behind league leaders Liverpool and six points above City.
Mikel Arteta’s team cannot afford to slip up against Pep Guardiola’s side, otherwise, they risk being cut adrift from the title race.
Arsenal eased past Girona in midweek, rotating heavily in the process, which could give them a fitness advantage this weekend.
Tensions with City are high after September’s feisty reverse fixture at the Etihad, and there’s no doubt that the Emirates crowd will be up for the fight.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Man City
David Raya is in contention for Arsenal ahead of this game, although he faces a late fitness test to assess his availability.
Meanwhile, Ben White remains out, alongside long-term absentees Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Four of the Arsenal back five should pick itself, with Raya starting if passed fit, and Jurrien Timber, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes completing three quarters of the back four in front of the Spaniard.
At left-back, Arteta will have a decision to make.
Both Myles Lewis-Skelly and Riccardo Calafiori are deserving of a starting birth in such an important match, with the former impressing in recent weeks and the latter scoring the winner against Wolves last week.
The Italian delivered an exceptional performance against Girona on Wednesday and may get the nod due to his greater experience.
Thomas Partey played just 45 minutes in midweek, while Declan Rice was limited to a short cameo off the bench.
This likely means the pair will start against City, with Martin Odegaard accompanying them in the middle of the park.
Raheem Sterling divided fans with his display against Girona, and likely won’t be entrusted by Arteta to start in a game of this magnitude.
Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli were rested in the Champions League, so we expect both players to be selected in Arsenal’s front three.
This means the final spot will be between Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri, with the former the more likely, given his experience.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Man City: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard.
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Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly should start against City
While Arteta will likely veer on the side of caution, the Gunners’ two Hale End Academy graduates ought to be under consideration to start.
Calafiori hasn’t looked physically durable during his time in North London, and may not be capable of playing in a high-intensity game just days after completing 70 minutes in Spain.
This should mean Lewis-Skelly retains his place at left-back, with the former Bologna man replacing him later in the match.
Meanwhile, Nwaneri has looked like Arsenal’s most accomplished option on the right in Saka’s absence and should retain his place there.
The 17-year-old scored a stunning goal on Wednesday night, and has the ability to unlock City’s stubborn defence with a moment of quality from the edge of the box.
He’s also capable of exploiting the space Josko Gvardiol will likely leave in behind on City’s left.
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