Prediction: Arsenal vs Manchester City

Verdict: Manchester City win

Best Odds: 4/7

Bookmaker: Unibet

With a spot in the semi-final of this year’s EFL Cup up for grabs on Tuesday night, Manchester City will make the trip to a struggling Arsenal in midweek.

Arsenal

Starting with the hosts, while Mikel Arteta might have praised his side’s display away at Goodison Park over the weekend, it was another evening to forget for the Gunners. Firmly finding themselves at the heart of a growing crisis, the North London outfit were hit with a 2-1 defeat against Everton on Saturday and the pressure is firmly on Arteta’s shoulders. Remarkably looking over their shoulder at the drop zone and managing to collect just 14 Premier League points since opening the 2020/2021 campaign, Pep Guardiola’s former right-hand man finds his squad enduring their worst domestic start in 45 years. Despite managing to book their spot in the knockout stage of this year’s Europa League in routine fashion earlier in the month, Arsenal have managed to collect just a pair of points from their last six top-flight contests. There is no doubt that Arteta will have a real headache over his side’s continued issues on home soil. While they might have just about managed to snatch a 1-1 draw off of Southampton last time out at the Emirates, Tuesday’s hosts have not won a top-flight game in North London since October 4th.

Team News

Arsenal will once again be without attacking MVP Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in midweek due to a calf problem.

The Gunners will also once again be without the midfield duo of Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey on Tuesday night.

Manchester City

As for the visitors, while Manchester City would have been disappointed to have played out back-to-back stalemates against Manchester United and West Brom earlier in the month, the Sky Blues did manage to make a much-welcomed return to winning ways over the weekend. Despite facing a tough trip to a high-flying Southampton on Saturday afternoon, Pep Guardiola’s side picked up a 1-0 win away at St. Mary’s and they will be desperate to build off of that result in midweek. Managing to eventually cruise their way to the knockout stage of this year’s Champions League earlier in the month, the former Bayern Munich boss does find his side enjoying an eight-match unbeaten run across all formats. Rightfully smelling a real chance to cash in on what has been a woeful Arsenal outfit, the former Premier League champions should also be boosted by their most recent meeting against the Gunners. When Manchester City welcomed Arteta’s side to the Etihad on top-flight duties back in October, Tuesday’s hosts picked up a deserved 1-0 victory.

Team News

Manchester City look set to once again be without the defensive duo of Aymeric Laporte and Eric Garcia in midweek.

However, the likes of Sergio Aguero, Phil Foden, Benjamin Mendy and Fernandinho are expected for a recall on Tuesday night.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides faced off on Premier League duties back in October, Manchester City picked up a 1-0 win on home soil.
• Arsenal have managed to collect just 14 Premier League points so far this season, their worst domestic start in 45 years.
• Manchester City are unbeaten in each of their last eight matchups across all formats.
• The Sky Blues have recorded a clean sheet in each of their last four straight away fixtures across all competitions.
• Arsenal have managed to collect just a pair of points from their last six Premier League matchups.

Conclusion

Managing to pick up a resilient 1-0 win away at Southampton over the weekend, there is no doubt that Manchester City will be smelling a real chance in North London. Looking to book their spot in the semi-final of this year’s EFL Cup on Tuesday night, the Sky Blues are enjoying an eight-match unbeaten run across all formats and they should have too much for a struggling Arsenal outfit. With the Gunners slumping to a 2-1 defeat against Everton on Saturday evening and in the midst of their worst domestic start since 1975, it should also be noted that when the two sides faced off on Premier League duties back in October, City picked up a 1-0 win.

Verdict: Manchester City win

Best Odds: 4/7

Bookmaker: Unibet