As is often the case when Manchester City and Arsenal face off in the Premier League, the upcoming clash will feature reunions between familiar faces, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the match.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, began his coaching career as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City before taking over at the Emirates. After finishing as runners-up to City in the past two seasons, Arteta, who recently signed a new three-year contract, is determined to finally surpass his former mentor and lead Arsenal to glory by 2025.
Unfortunately for Arsenal, Oleksandr Zinchenko, another former Manchester City player, will miss out on this reunion due to injury. Zinchenko, who has been a key player for the Gunners, will be joined on the sidelines by captain Martin Odegaard, who is also unavailable.
However, Gabriel Jesus, a player City brought to the Premier League from Brazilian club Palmeiras, could feature in the match. Jesus played a pivotal role during his time at City, and now he has the chance to face his former team as a crucial part of Arsenal’s attack.
Additionally, Raheem Sterling, who is currently on loan at Arsenal from Chelsea, may play a role in the match. Sterling had a significant impact during his six seasons at Manchester City, scoring 121 goals and helping to build the foundations of the club’s current success. His arrival at Arsenal was something of a surprise, as even Arteta admitted in an ESPN interview.
Sterling has now played for several top Premier League clubs, including City, Chelsea, and Liverpool. With his move to Arsenal, he is just one club away from completing a stint with all of the Premier League’s traditional “Big Six,” leaving only Manchester United to round out his journey.