15 Sep, 2025
Arsenal vs Manchester City Predicted Lineups
Our Arsenal vs Manchester City predicted lineups with data & tactical insights.
Arsenal vs Manchester City Predicted Lineups
Lineups will be updated throughout the week in live time as and when injury and lineup news is announced.
Green Light: Confident the player will start.
Amber Light: A toss up on whether the player will start.
Red Light: Confident the player will not start.
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Arsenal Predicted Lineup:
Arsenal Team News:
Speaking to the media on Friday, Mikel Arteta revealed that Bukayo Saka is still out, recovering from a hamstring injury, whereas William Saliba and Ben White are back in team training and Saliba is in contention to start against Nottingham Forest. Arteta, speaking on Arsenal’s injuries revealed “Bukayo is out. He is still out and he is trying to get back as quick as possible. We need to respect that process… William Saliba trained today and Ben White too. We have a decision to make if we play (Saliba)or not. It’s very good news.”
With Saka having suffered two fairly serious hamstring injuries in the past 9 months, Arsenal and Arteta will air on the side of caution. I would expect Saka to return in GW6 in the best case scenario. Saliba, while potentially fit enough to start, may not need to be risked against Forest with how well Mosquera performed in his place against Liverpool. Arsenal can protect Saliba against re-injury and likely still get the win in this game against a Forest team reeling from a bad loss to West Ham and their Manager being fired. Ben White returning is good news for Arsenal, but I expect Timber to start this game at right-back.
Calafiori looks to have made the left-back role his own. However, with the signing of Piero Hincapie who has played left-back and left wing-back for Bayer Leverkusen, Calafiori’s starting place is less certain. Hincapie also played plenty of minutes as a centre-back, mostly in a back-5, and is likely Gabriel’s top deputy. Arteta, speaking on Arsenal’s new signing, stated “He is a player we have wanted for a few years. With the departure of Jakub Kiwior as well, we needed another player in that position… He’s ready to go. He’s trained two days with us…” which is revealing, as Kiwior was viewed as Gabriel and Saliba’s deputy, so that is clearly how Arteta sees him. Whether he becomes a real factor at left-back is also one to watch out for.
Odegaard came on in the second half against Liverpool after suffering a shoulder injury he picked up against Leeds. He started both of Norway’s games during the international break and will start against Forest. Madueke should retain the right-wing role for at least one more GW.
Eze has to be in-line to start at left-wing against Nottingham Forest after Martinelli’s poor display against Liverpool and the bad form he has been in the past 18 months. Eze started and played 80 minutes for England against Andorra in their first World Cup Qualifier and then did not feature at all against Serbia. There has been no more news on Havertz’s timeline, but it is safe to expect he will not be back until mid October at the earliest.
Arsenal Players to Watch:
Saliba:
File:Eo circle amber blank.svg - Wikimedia Commons
Saka:
Red circle icon - Free red shape icons
Mosquera:
File:Eo circle amber blank.svg - Wikimedia Commons
Eze:
Green circle Vector Images | Depositphotos
Odegaard:
Green circle Vector Images | Depositphotos
White:
File:Eo circle amber blank.svg - Wikimedia Commons
Hincapie:
Red circle icon - Free red shape icons
Manchester City Predicted Lineup:
Manchester City Team News:
Speaking on Friday, Pep Guardiola revealed that Omar Marmoush, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and John Stones will be out for the Manchester derby if not longer. Guardiola revealed “Omar is injured from Egypt. A few weeks I think (he will be out). Before the international break he will be ready… Ait-Nouri and Cherki. Stones as well is a doubt. Not a big issue but he’s a doubt for Sunday. The rest are fine”. Ait-Nouri’s injury is new, so we will see what the injury is and what the timeline is. Given Guardiola said “the rest are fine”, it is safe to assume Josko Gvardiol is now fit and ready to start, and he will likely start in Ait-Nouri’s place until he returns from his injury.
Speaking on new signing Donnarumma, Guardiola stated “I met him on Wednesday. We make a good chat. Thursday was training – I was in my office so I didn’t see him. We’ll see (if he starts on Sunday)”. It is difficult to know for sure who will start out of Trafford or Donnarumma given the Italian has just joined the team and had a limited number of training sessions with his new coaches and teammates. There are far less tactical details to drill down for a goalkeeper, it is easier to just start the most talented player. Pep and City signed Donnarumma for a reason; I think he starts. Ederson has left the club and joined Fenerbahce.
Khusanov picked up a knock against Brighton and had to be substituted off against Brighton, but Guardiola said he was fine and he proved to be just that, starting and playing 90 minutes for Uzbekistan in their World cup Qualifier against Qatar. With Dias and Khusanov being fit while Stones is out, they will be the starting centre-back pairing in GW4 against Manchester United.
Rayan Cherki has a quadriceps tear and has been ruled out for around 2 months. A big blow to City especially after a slow start to the season and back-to-back losses. Rodri now back and fully fit is a near every week starter, with rotation probably more of a factor for him than it used to be after his recent injuries. He featured off the bench for Spain in both of their World Cup Qualifiers and should be fit and ready to go for this Sunday. Foden has an ankle injury and is not in the England squad. We will likely find out more about his fitness throughout the week. Oscar Bobb had a scan while away with Norway, but put any concerns to rest by playing 90 minutes against Finland in a friendly. Bobb seems to be first choice for that right-wing spot this season and should start against United.
Marmoush has picked up a knee ligament injury that forced him off in Egypt’ second World Cup Qualifier. City then released a statement on Wednesday confirming Marmoush’s injury and that it will likely keep him sidelined for at least the Manchester Derby – it read as follows: “Initial results on a scan performed in Egypt indicate he (Marmoush) will not be available for the Manchester derby on Sunday, and he will now return to Manchester for more assessment and to begin his rehabilitation”.
Doku will start at left-wing in his place, and had a very good Club World Cup so let’s see if he is able to show growth and find good form if given a few starts on the bounce. Savinho should return to the matchday squad against Manchester United after an injury kept him out during reports of a move to Tottenham loomed large during the transfer window, but it failed to materialise and Spurs bought Xavi Simons instead. He could replace Bobb at right-wing but I think that is more likely to happen in GW5.
Manchester City Players to Watch:
Donnarumma:
Green circle Vector Images | Depositphotos
Gvardiol:
Green circle Vector Images | Depositphotos
Khusanov:
Green circle Vector Images | Depositphotos
Doku:
Green circle Vector Images | Depositphotos
Stones:
Red circle icon - Free red shape icons
Marmoush:
Red circle icon - Free red shape icons
Cherki:
Red circle icon - Free red shape icons
Foden:
Red circle icon - Free red shape icons
Savinho:
File:Eo circle amber blank.svg - Wikimedia Commons
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With years working in the FPL space and digital media. George now brings his knowledge and tips to the ingenuity audience through a fun and personable writing style.