September 19th 2024.
Saka played 73 minutes on Thursday night as Arsenal faced Atalanta in a crucial match. Despite the loss of their club captain Martin Odegaard due to injury, the Gunners were determined to put up a strong performance against their opponents. However, they will now have to face another challenge as they head to Manchester City this weekend.
Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, has some tough decisions to make in midfield. With Odegaard out until mid-November, he will have to look for alternative options to fill the void. In addition, midfielder Mikel Merino is still recovering from a shoulder injury and will not be available for the upcoming match against City.
On a positive note, Declan Rice will be back in action after serving his suspension, and is expected to join Thomas Partey and Jorginho in midfield. Meanwhile, Kai Havertz, who played in a deeper midfield role against Atalanta, will return to his usual position as striker against the reigning champions.
Another player to watch out for is Raheem Sterling, who made his debut off the bench in the previous match and will be pushing for a starting role against his former club. However, Arsenal will also have to deal with the absence of Bukayo Saka, who was substituted due to cramps in the match against Tottenham but returned to the starting lineup against Atalanta.
Just like Arsenal, Manchester City also have some concerns in midfield with Kevin de Bruyne expected to miss the match due to injury. The Belgian international was forced off in their last match against Inter Milan with a hamstring issue. This will be a huge blow for City, but they are not taking any risks with the 33-year-old.
In their previous match, City saw the return of midfielder Rodri, who made his first start of the season. Phil Foden, who has not featured since the opening game of the season, is also expected to play a crucial role against Arsenal. Despite his lack of game time, City manager Pep Guardiola is confident in Foden's abilities and believes he will perform well against the Gunners.
As for Arsenal's lineup, Arteta may opt for a strong defensive approach with the likes of White, Saliba, and Gabriel in the backline. Jorginho and Partey are expected to control the midfield, while Rice and Saka will provide support in attack alongside Havertz and Sterling.
For those looking to catch the match, it will be aired live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event. Fans can also watch the game through the Sky Go app or NOW TV. It is expected to be an intense and thrilling match between two top Premier League teams, and fans are eagerly anticipating the outcome.
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