If Pep Guardiola’s team wins at the Emirates, they will overtake Mikel Arteta’s men on goal difference.
Ian Wright believes Arsenal will be ready for Manchester City’s crucial Premier League clash, regardless of whether Erling Haaland plays.
The Gunners’ title hopes were harmed over the weekend after they were held to a controversial draw with Brentford on Saturday, and the Citizens defeated Aston Villa 3-1 on Sunday.
The gap between the two clubs is not just three points, despite the fact that City has played one more game, and the title rivals will meet in the league for the first time on Wednesday.
If Pep Guardiola’s team wins at the Emirates, they will overtake Mikel Arteta’s men on goal difference.
However, City have been dealt a potentially devastating injury blow after star striker Haaland was substituted at half-time against Villa with what appeared to be a thigh injury, having earlier set up Ilkay Gundogan for the game’s second goal.
Post-match, Guardiola could not provide a clear answer as to whether the 22-year-old would be available to face Arsenal, saying: ‘Right now I don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see over the next few days.
‘He got a knock and was uncomfortable so at 3-0 up we didn’t want to take the risk. We’ll evaluate him, and if he’s not ready, we’ll play someone else. Hopefully, he is prepared.’
Even if the Norway international, who has 31 goals in 29 games this season, is fit, Wright believes his former club can win.
‘We saw what he [Haaland] can do with his stretching of the team, which can cause problems, but it was always going to be a difficult game for Arsenal,’ said the Gunners legend on Match of the Day 2.
‘We’ve seen what City can do without Haaland. It’s a game that Arsenal needs to win; they need to win their home games, and City knows that if they win, they’ll go top.
‘Pep’s talking about how it’s still early, but they know the terrain and what they need to do. But I believe Arsenal will be ready.
‘This is a game that Arsenal will be looking forward to. It was unfortunate how that turned out against Brentford, but I believe the point was made. This is the type of game that will get you going again.’
Wright, along with fellow pundit Jermaine Jenas, predicted that Guardiola will revert to a back-four formation on Wednesday, despite his recent success with a three.
‘As lovely as today was, they can’t play three against Arsenal. ‘Not with [Gabriel] Martinelli and [Bukayo] Saka and what they’re capable of,’ Jenas stated.
‘It will be a more conventional four, with Nathan Ake at left-back to shore things up on that side,’ says the manager.