Arsenal predicted XI v Man City: Mikel Arteta to drop £110k-a-week ace and Hale End star

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Arsenal will hope to maintain their good run of form when they host Manchester City in Saturday’s Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners got back to winning ways last Sunday with a 4-2 win over Leeds and followed it up with a 1-1 draw against Benfica in their midweek Europa League clash.

However, City have won their last 17 games in all competitions, and will prove stern competition as Mikel Arteta looks to get the better of Pep Guardiola.

So, who could Arteta look to pick in his starting XI?

The boss needs to make a bold decision in terms of the back four, namely on the flanks.

Kieran Tierney’s return is a huge boost, so he’s likely to start on the left, but then Arteta needs to choose between Cedric Soares and Hector Bellerin on the right.

Given Cedric has been staking a major claim for a continued run in the starting XI, we feel the manager will start him instead of the £110,000-a-week regular.

At centre-back, Rob Holding could replace David Luiz, while Gabriel Magalhaes is likely to keep his place.

Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos will probably continue in front of the back four, with Thomas Partey potentially brought back against Benfica next week.

Emile Smith Rowe wasn’t effective on the left flank in midweek and could do with a rest, so we feel Arteta will drop the Hale End star from the XI and opt for Nicolas Pepe on the left.

Odegaard is likely to remain at No. 10, while Bukayo Saka has cemented his spot on the right, and Alexandre Lacazette could lead the line and drop into midfield to link up play.

The likes of Smith Rowe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Gabriel Martinelli would provide quality from the bench.

Arsenal predicted XI v Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Leno; Cedric, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Ceballos, Xhaka; Saka, Odegaard, Pepe; Lacazette