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Sep

2024

Preview: Newcastle United vs. Manchester City

The true impact of Rodri’s knee ligament injury will be clearer after Saturday. Manchester City will travel to St. James’ Park to face Newcastle United without the Spanish midfielder who went down in last week’s thrilling draw against Arsenal and is expected to miss the rest of the season.

By Graham Ruthven

City have already proven their ability to cope without Rodri this season. Indeed, the 28-year-old’s start against Arsenal was his first of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign with Mateo Kovačić and Rico Lewis instead used as a deep-lying pairing in wins over Chelsea, Ipswich Town, West Ham, and Brentford.

Last season, though, Manchester City lost three straight games that Rodri missed through injury, highlighting the importance of the Spanish international to the defending Premier League champions. Pep Guardiola will have to find a way to reconstruct his midfield. City’s entire season could depend on it.

While City are unbeaten in their last 28 league matches, Newcastle come into Saturday’s game on the back of a disappointing defeat to Fulham. The Magpies had their mid-week Carabao Cup tie against AFC Wimbledon postponed and so have had extra time to prepare for the visit of the Premier League champions.

Harvey Barnes has been in excellent goalscoring form for Newcastle, notching in each of his last three games. Alexander Isak, on the other hand, has scored just one goal in five league matches and needs to improve his productivity in front of goal to come anywhere close to the tally of 21 goals he registered last term.

Erling Haaland is experiencing no such issues in front of goal having scored 10 times in just five league games. The Norwegian striker has reached new heights in the early part of the season and has been aided by the summer addition of Savinho who is doing a lot to stretch opposition defences on the right side and open up space in the attacking third. Newcastle will have to keep things tight at the back.

Kevin de Bruyne is a doubt to feature at St James’ Park after missing last weekend’s match against Arsenal while Nathan Aké and Oscar Bobb are also sidelined through injury. Newcastle, meanwhile, will be without Sven Botman and Callum Wilson, although neither player has featured for them this season anyway.

*Newcastle home and away points breakdown, 2023/24*

St James’ Park is one of the toughest away venues in the Premier League. Only Liverpool, City and Arsenal had a stronger home record than Newcastle last season while Eddie Howe’s team have won both of their matches in front of their own supporters this term. City will have to work hard to leave the North East with three points.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Sep

2024

Preview: Manchester City vs. Arsenal

It might be too early for a title decider, but Sunday’s clash between Manchester City and Arsenal could have a big bearing on the outcome of the 2023/24 Premier League season.

By Graham Ruthven

Having gone head-to-head for the title in each of the last two seasons, the two rivals could produce a memorable spectacle at the Etihad Stadium.

*Final Premier League standings, 2023/24*

However, the absence of Martin Ødegaard through injury could impact the dynamic of the game as it did Arsenal’s goalless draw against Atalanta in the Champions League on Thursday. The Gunners don’t have another player who can create like the Norwegian can and so Mikel Arteta might have no choice but to set his team to be more conservative.

Of course, this is something Arsenal did at the Etihad Stadium last season when they held Manchester City to a 0-0 draw. Ultimately, though, that result contributed to Arsenal losing the title race by just two points. An away win over the defending champions would electrify the Gunners’ entire season and grow belief they can go the full distance this time.

City also enter Sunday’s match on the back of a goalless draw in the Champions League, but Pep Guardiola’s team have the highest Expected Goals (xG) per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season (9.3) with Erling Haaland currently on a run of nine goals in his last four league appearances.

Haaland and co. will pose the biggest threat to Arsenal’s defence this season, but if any centre back pairing can handle the Norwegian striker, it’s likely Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba. The Gunners have conceded just once in four league games this season and that defensive resolution is largely due to the partnership of Gabriel and Saliba, although David Raya’s outstanding recent form has been a factor too.

Set pieces will be a key battleground on Sunday. No team has scored more Premier League goals from set pieces since the start of last season than Arsenal (22) and so with Ødegaard missing, this could be how the visitors to the Etihad Stadium pose a threat to the Manchester City goal. That is how they claimed three points against Spurs last weekend.

For two teams with so much attacking talent, Sunday’s clash could be a cagey affair. Arsenal will probably set up to limit City, like they did in the same fixture last season, while the importance of the match might also lead to a more cautionary approach from the hosts. Nonetheless, this has the potential to be a defining match in the 2024/24 campaign.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.