FA Cup 4th Round, Friday 8:00pm
The FA Cup has thrown up a real gem of a game in the fourth round on Friday night as Manchester City host Arsenal.
The two best teams in the Premier League, both to watch and statistically, will battle for a place in the fifth round.
City have the best home record in terms of points gained (9-1-1), while Arsenal have the division’s best away record (8-1-1). And with a combined 88 goals scored in the league, we can expect a thrilling encounter in M11.
It looks like the pair will battle it out for the Premier League title with Arsenal holding a five-point lead over the champions. And The Etihad clash may well give an indication as to where the title may go, with the two sides yet to meet in the league this season.
Mikel Arteta made changes in the previous round, as Oxford were brushed aside, but he is likely to put out a strong XI against City. The Gunners boss will not want to give his mentor Pep Guardiola the psychological advantage in the race for the title.
Guardiola’s rotation means it’s difficult to put your finger on their best XI, but after seven goals in their last two games coming on the back of two defeats, they will be full of confidence.
Arsenal’s last visit ended in a 5-0 defeat, but the Gunners are a much-changed outfit since the summer of 2021.
Granit Xhaka, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka all started that day and the trio are likely to get the nod again on Friday. But Arsenal have a much firmer base this season, with William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhes, Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko making up their back four.
The Gunners have conceded only six goals away from home, but three of those were at Old Trafford to Manchester United, while sixth-placed Brighton also scored twice in a 4-2 defeat.
But Arsenal’s strength, like City, is in their attacking play. Arteta’s men average two goals a game away from The Emirates, while City have blasted 38 goals in just 11 games at home.
Both teams have been vulnerable defensively against better opposition and expect attacks to get on top Friday night.
Erling Haaland hit the goal trail with a hat-trick against Wolves last time out, while Riyad Mahrez is at the top of his form. And a closer look at City’s recent home form tells you that they have been quietly slipping into the groove.
Two away defeats at Southampton and Manchester United may have been the headlines, but at home City have scored 15 in their last five games and brushed aside Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs.
Arsenal have also beaten Spurs and Man Utd in their last two and will arrive hungry to add to their growing belief.
Scoring the first goal will only add to that and City have been susceptible, with Spurs and Brentford doing exactly that. Whether Arsenal can go on to win remains to be seen, but keeping it simple and backing goals looks the obvious way to go in this titanic clash.
Key stats
- Arsenal have won six of their last seven games in all competitions
- Man City have won 12 of their last 13 matches against Arsenal in all competitions
- Man City have been winning at both half-time and full-time in their last five home matches against Arsenal in all competitions
- Man City have kept a clean sheet in their last three home matches against Arsenal in all competitions
- Man City have seen over 2.5 goals in six of their last seven home matches against Arsenal in all competitions
