Manchester City v Arsenal

With little time between shifts at work, it's straight to a quick, pre-match blog posting…

v Arsenal

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 10/11).

Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-6-0:

_______________________________________________

____________________Sterling____________________

 

___Torres_____________________________Mahrez___

 

_____________Foden__________Silva______________

 

_____________________Rodri_____________________

Mendy___________________________________Walker

 

_____________Laporte________Dias_______________

 

 

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Steffen, Cancelo, Ake, Garcia, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Aguero.

Ed in net.

A strong-looking and exciting pairing of Aymeric & Ruben continue to build their partnership in the centre of defence, with Benny & Kyle either side of them, I think is the strong possibility.

Pep could go with a defensive pairing of Rodders & Fern in front of those but with the loss of such an attacking / creative influence in Kevin; I’m going for just one of those. Rodri is that man, I think.

Ahead of him, an attacking 4 or 5 – see that as you like – of Ferran, Phil, Bernardo, Riyad & Raheem; the latter as a “false” / makeshift striker.

Zack is the reserve stopper; a return to ‘the fold’ of Joao who makes up defensive replacement options form the side along with Nathan & Eric. Fernandinho, a returning Ilkay and possible, also returning, Sergio to make up the midfield / attacking options from ‘the 7’.

Notable absences:

-       Oleksandr Zinchenko – I dunno. Still injured? Just not selected for this one? No idea…

-       John Stones – For John, read Oleksandr…

-       Kevin De Bruyne – Came back from international duty with ‘an issue’. Apparently he might miss…”games” with it. Your guess is as good as mine as to how long that will be / what that means…

-       Gabriel Jesus – A muscle injury to the front of one of his legs appears to be more serious than, perhaps, first thought. If he is “risked” too soon, according to his manager, we could lose the Brazilian for a long time. Sounds like a good while on the side lines to me…

Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?

Yep.

Result? Is there any point in anyone predicting anymore? I’ll give it a go, of course...

I was leaning towards a draw; then a home win and then a draw again. With my hips & back now aching a little from all that movement, I’m going for a home win. A difficult, close game, I reckon...but 3 points to us.

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…

Prediction: Win.

Result: Won.

(Pre-match blog posting from that game)

Expected weather conditions during the game: Dull with a chance of some drizzle but nothing that will effect the game.