When Arsenal host Manchester City at home on Sunday in an epic Premier League clash, the spotlight will be firmly on the legendary Pep Guardiola and his once-protégé Mikel Arteta. The evolution of the rivalry between the master and the student has taken an interesting turn in the last few meetings. From being pushovers to not losing once in five games and even thrashing City 5-1 at home, both Arsenal and Arteta have come a long way.
Arteta looks settled in the hot seat and has the experience and maturity to go all the way this time. He shaped the squad to his liking this summer and wasn't afraid to double down on defensive reinforcements and quality backups. The results are there for everyone to see as Arsenal are cruising in the league and the Champions League without key cogs like Bukayo Saka and William Saliba. Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi and Ebrechi Eze all made good starts to life in North London as Arsenal bounced back from the loss to Liverpool very swiftly. Of course, the questions of intent and attacking flair in big games still remain. If Arteta can produce a perfect response against City, many would start believing around the Emirates that this might finally be their year after three years of heartbreak.
Guardiola was lost for words when they lost 5-1 to Arsenal last season. It was another terrible low in a season of lows for the most decorated coach. However, he has recruited since and is confident of turning things around. The Manchester Derby performance and result were a step in the right direction for his side. Pep needs to carefully manage his squad now, given the incredibly short turnaround between the Thursday night Champions League and the Arsenal game on Sunday. With the injury list showing no signs of shortening anytime soon, he has to trust his thin squad to get the job done. Can the master get one over his student and record a first win in six games? Can Pep make a title statement again to the rest of the league? The blockbuster clash will provide all the answers.
As the intense battle between Arsenal and Manchester City approaches, fans are eager to preview the teams' lineups and strategies. Those wagering on this Premier League classic can benefit from exploring the best betting sites with welcome bonus, providing a unique chance to boost their bets with attractive offers that can leverage their predictions for better payouts.
Arsenal vs Manchester City last-minute tickets: How to buy
Emirates Stadium is the place to be on Sunday as the two rivals go swinging at each other. Official resellers like Ticombo and StubHub help you find the best seats in the house, even at the last minute.
Read More: Arsenal 2025-26 tickets: prices, premium packages & season ticket information
How to watch Arsenal vs Manchester City online - TV channels & live streams
The game will be shown on the TV as the Sky Sports Main Event in the UK. Fans can stream it on Sky Sports' official streaming apps. For fans in the US, Peacock is the official streaming home of this high-voltage clash.
How to watch anywhere with a VPN
If you are abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as NordVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming. If you are not sure which VPN to use, check out GOAL's guide to the best VPNs for streaming sports.
Arsenal vs Manchester City kick-off time
Arsenal will take on Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, September 21, at 16:30 BST / 17:30 CET / 11:30 ET.
Team news & squads
Arsenal team news
- Arteta would have been overjoyed to welcome Saliba back into training. However, Cristhian Mosquera, who impressed massively in his previous outings, will feel hard done by to drop to the bench.
- Martin Odegaard is a doubt for the game as he nurses his shoulder injury that has relapsed. Ethan Nwaneri will be hoping for a start if Arteta chooses to attack from the start.
- Gabriel Martinelli scored off the bench midweek and would push for a start, and the manager has a tough call to make. Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are all ruled out.
- Probable Lineup: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Zubimendi, Nwaneri; Madueke, Gyokeres, Eze
Manchester City team news
- Guardiola is without John Stones and plenty of newcomers like Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and January purchase Omar Marmoush.
- He would be buoyed by the return and strong performances of Josko Gavrdiol. Abdukodir Khusanov might edge Matheus Nunes to the right-back spot to keep up with Arsenal's fluid left side.
- In the attack, Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku's timely performances will boost Erling Haaland's numbers tenfold as the Norwegian gunman in scorching form eyes another Golden Boot.
- Probable lineup: Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; Rodri; Silva, Reijnders, Foden, Doku; Haaland
Odds & Prediction
The clash might be tough to call as things stand, but Arsenal's squad depth and form might edge the Cityzens. They are priced at 1.85 to win the game. The odds of Manchester City getting a win and the game ending as a draw are almost identical. City's win is priced at 3.80, as a draw is priced at 3.90.


