Manchester City predicted lineup vs Arsenal - Premier League

Manchester City face a favourable foe in the form of Arsenal to begin 2022 in the Premier League on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola has won more games against Arsenal than any other club in his storied managerial career, overcoming the Gunners no fewer than 16 times - including each of the last nine Premier League meetings.

Here's the XI Guardiola may deploy to extend that particular winning run.

Manchester City predicted lineup vs Arsenal - Premier League

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Ederson (GK) - City's Brazilian number (thirty-)one has recorded more career victories against Arsenal than any other club in his career - shipping just four goals in ten games against the Gunners (nine wins).

Joao Cancelo (RB) - Playing for a side that spends the vast majority of matches camped in the opposition's defensive third, no Premier League player has fired the ball into this slice of the pitch more often than City's supposed 'right back'.

Ruben Dias (CB) - Already the talismanic leader of the division's best backline 18 months into his City career, no player has made more appearances for the club since Dias (75) was airlifted in at the end of September 2020.

Aymeric Laporte (CB) - Barely halfway into the current campaign, the French-born Spanish international has already made more Premier League starts (16) than he was afforded in either of the past two seasons (14).

Oleksandr Zinchenko (LB) - Unquestionably the weakest position in Manchester City's squad - despite the money frittered on full-backs by Guardiola - Zinchenko, as a natural midfielder, may be the latest player shoehorned into left-back this weekend.

2. Midfielders

Fernandinho (DM) - With Rodri still a doubt, Fernandinho may be poised to make a third consecutive Premier League start for the first time since February 2020.

Kevin De Bruyne (CM) - Despite admitting to labouring through the aftereffects of Covid-19, Guardiola insists that the 'unique' De Bruyne is returning to his best after four direct goal contributions (three goals, one assist) in his past four starts.

Bernardo Silva (CM) - The only outfield player that has appeared in all ten of City's consecutive Premier League victories hasn't missed a top-flight match since the opening day of the season - one of only two league defeats for the Citizens this term.

3. Forwards

Riyad Mahrez (RW) - With the Africa Cup of Nations looming, Guardiola may deploy his fleet-footed forward in the last game Mahrez is available for before defending Algeria's continental title.

Phil Foden (ST) - Averaging a ridiculous 0.84 non-penalty expected goals and assists per 90 minutes this season, Foden is receiving or creating chances worth more than four goals every five games at 21 years of age - the third best ratio in the Premier League (per FBref).

Raheem Sterling (LW) - With five goals in his past six Premier League starts against the Gunners, Sterling hasn't lost a league game to Arsenal in more than half a decade.

You can read a full preview of the match here.
You can find a predicted lineup for Arsenal here.