Date: Sunday, 21 September 2025
Kick-off: 18:30
Venue: Emirates Stadium
The Premier League spotlight falls on North London this weekend as Arsenal square off with defending champions Manchester City. Matches between these two sides rarely disappoint, and bettors will find no shortage of angles to consider in what looks like one of the standout fixtures of gameweek five.
Betting Odds & Probabilities
- Arsenal win: 9/4 (3.25) – 40.5% implied chance
- Draw: 5/2 (3.50) – 30.6%
- Man City win: 23/20 (2.15) – 25.9%
Head-to-Head Snapshot
- 02/02/25 – Arsenal 5-1 Man City
- 22/09/24 – Man City 2-2 Arsenal
- 31/03/24 – Man City 0-0 Arsenal
- 08/10/23 – Arsenal 1-0 Man City
- 26/04/23 – Man City 4-1 Arsenal
Arsenal Form (Last 4: W W L W)
Mikel Arteta’s men sit on 9 points from a possible 12. They opened with a gritty 1-0 win at Old Trafford, then dismantled Leeds and Forest before falling narrowly to Liverpool.
Key Men
- Eberechi Eze: The ex-Palace winger brings flair and creativity down the left.
- Viktor Gyökeres: A fast start with 3 goals in 4 league games makes him Arsenal’s main striker threat.
- Martín Zubimendi: Has added control in midfield and already shown his scoring touch.
Team news: Ødegaard is doubtful (shoulder), Saka is sidelined (hamstring), Saliba faces a late fitness test, while Jesus and Havertz remain long-term absentees.
Manchester City Form (Last 4: W L L W)
Pep Guardiola’s team began with a dominant 4-0 win over Wolves but slipped up against Brighton and Spurs before bouncing back with a derby win over United.
Key Men
- Erling Haaland: 5 goals in 4 games — the obvious danger man.
- Rodri: Sets the rhythm in midfield and shields the back line.
- Phil Foden: Creative spark who will look to stretch Arsenal’s defence.
Team news: Marmoush is out long-term. Kovacic (Achilles) and Cherki (thigh) are sidelined, while Stones and Aït-Nouri face late tests.
Projected Line-Ups
Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Nwaneri; Madueke, Eze, Gyökeres
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Rodri, Silva; Reijnders, Foden, Doku; Haaland