Connect with us

Sports

6 Arsenal First Team Players To Miss Man City Clash Today

Published

on

6 Arsenal First Team Players To Miss Man City Clash Today

Arsenal put their Premier League title ambitions on hold this evening as they continue their FA Cup campaign against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium.

The fixture will be the first meeting between the top two teams in England and will present Mikel Arteta’s men an opportunity to test themselves.

The Gunners set up their fourth round with an emphasis 3-0 victory over Oxford United after Pep Guardiola’s men cruised past Chelsea. Tonight’s game also provides an opportunity for Arteta to rest a number of his players after a hectic start to 2023.

The Gunners head to the Etihad Stadium on the back of victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United in the past fortnight to ensure their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table remains intact and a win on Friday night would complete an almost perfect month in terms of results.

Advertisement

READ ALSO: David Seaman Aims Dig At Mykhailo Mudryk, Reveals The Only Reason He Joined Chelsea

And as tonight’s meeting is a cup tie, it will be intriguing to see how Arsenal line-up against City as there are cases to go as strong as possible or to give those aforementioned fringe players as well as Emile Smith Rowe some game time as they need to be sharp for the second half of the season.

One player in contention to start is Jakub Kiwior. The Poland international’s £21m move from Spezia was officially announced on Monday evening, thus becoming the club’s second signing of the January transfer window and increasing the depth in the defensive department.

Advertisement

“Jakub Kiwior has joined us from Spezia Calcio on a long-term contract,” a statement read via the club’s official website. “Jakub will wear the number 15 shirt and will immediately join up for training with his new teammates. Everyone at Arsenal welcomes Jakub to the club.”

Furthermore, Kiwior’s arrival means Arsenal now have 26 senior players listed and the majority are available for selection against Man City after Arteta, during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday afternoon, revealed there were no fresh injuries to report following last weekend’s 3-2 win over Man United.

READ ALSO: Arsenal Gabriel Jesus Splits From Girlfriend, Raiane Lima Months After Having Baby Together

Advertisement

Despite facing Pep Guardiola‘s side in an FA Cup tie under the lights at the Etihad Stadium, the rules regarding the matchday squad are the same as if it was a Premier League fixture; a starting 11 plus nine substitutes. As a result, there are six first-team stars Arteta must leave back in London.

Of course, with Gabriel Jesus, Reiss Nelson and Mohamed Elneny sidelined through injury, half of the absentees are already confirmed whilst Cedric Soares – who hasn’t made a matchday squad since last month’s 4-2 win over Brighton & Hove Albion – is unlikely to travel due to putting the finishing touches on his loan move to Fulham.

One of Turner, Aaron Ramsdale, or Karl Hein will miss out too as it’s rare that three goalkeepers are named on the bench for a domestic fixture. Interestingly, the Gunners’ number one was the odd man out for the Oxford game earlier in the month so it will be interesting to see what decision is made.

Advertisement

Lastly, if Arteta is planning to name Kiwior in the traveling party then the defender is guaranteed to replace one member from Arsenal’s matchday squad against Man United – whether that be at the expense of another defensive-minded player or an attacker remains to be seen.

Advertisement

Facebook Comments