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Premier League
Dec 15, 2019 at 4.30pm UK
 
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De Bruyne (2', 40'), Sterling (15')

How Arsenal could line up against Manchester City

Sports Mole looks at how Arsenal could line up for Sunday's Premier League showdown with Manchester City as Nicolas Pepe faces a late fitness test.

Arsenal are bidding for back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since August when they welcome Manchester City to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Gunners finally ended their longest winless run for 42 years by coming from behind to beat West Ham United on Monday night, but a midweek Europa League draw in Belgium means that they have now won just one of their last 11 outings across all competitions.

Arsenal also have a poor recent record against Man City, although the champions have been in inconsistent form themselves and Arsenal may be hopeful of getting a priceless victory for their ailing top-four hopes.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how interim boss Freddie Ljungberg could set his side up for the showdown.



Possible ARS XI vs. MNC

Out: Kieran Tierney (shoulder), Granit Xhaka (concussion), Dani Ceballos (thigh), Rob Holding (knee)
Doubtful: Nicolas Pepe (knee), Hector Bellerin (hamstring)

> Click here for Arsenal's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Arsenal's main injury concern hangs over record signing Nicolas Pepe, who began to show signs of why the Gunners splashed so much money on him during their comeback against West Ham on Monday.

The winger was not able to build on that in midweek due to a bruised knee, but probably would have been rested anyway in the hope that he would be fully fit for the visit of the champions.

Ljungberg is set to give Pepe as much opportunity as possible to prove his fitness, and should he pass the late test then he is likely to start given Man City's troubles against pacy attacks in recent weeks.

Alexandre Lacazette had to watch on from the bench on Monday and may be forced to settle for the same role on Sunday despite scoring in midweek, with captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set to lead the line.

Gabriel Martinelli is looking to become only the fourth Arsenal player to score on his first two Premier League starts for the club, with his strike against the Hammers putting him on course to equal the feat achieved by Ian Wright, Davor Suker and Alex Iwobi.

Matteo Guendouzi is expected to come back into the starting lineup with former skipper Granit Xhaka ruled out with concussion, while Sead Kolasinac is also set for a recall after Kieran Tierney suffered a dislocated shoulder which could keep him sidelined for up to three months.

There are also injury concerns on the other side of the defence with Hector Bellerin set for a late fitness test after pulling out of the West Ham match in the warm-up due to a tight hamstring.

David Luiz sat out the trip to the London Stadium and Calum Chambers will be hopeful of keeping his spot in defence, but the Brazilian's experience and knowledge of compatriot Gabriel Jesus could be enough for him to earn the nod.

> Click here to see how Man City could line up for this match

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Written by
Barney Corkhill
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates scoring for Arsenal on December 1, 2019
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool18143145172845
2Arsenal19116238172139
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
4Chelsea19105438231535
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1995532211132
6Manchester CityMan City199463226631
7Bournemouth198652923630
8Fulham197842825329
9Aston Villa198562831-329
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton196942928127
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1973941281324
12Brentford197393335-224
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham196582335-1223
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd196492126-522
15Crystal Palace194872027-720
16Everton183871524-917
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Ipswich TownIpswich1936101833-1515
19Leicester CityLeicester1935112242-2014
20Southampton1913151239-276


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