The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
London, UK | THE INDEPENDENT | The Premier League title favourites, Manchester City and Arsenal, will renew their tense rivalry with a meeting at the Etihad Stadium on the late afternoon of Sunday 22 September 2024.
Match background.
With these teams taking the top two positions in the league in the past two seasons, this match is considered something of an early ‘title decider’ despite being so early in the campaign. Naturally, both City and Arsenal will push back against this notion, but this game is nonetheless a ‘six pointer’ that will help shape the upper portion of the table for at least the next few weeks.
Arsenal managed to go unbeaten against City in their league meetings last season, but it was still not enough to usurp Pep Guardiola’s charges from a title-winning position. Yet winning away in Manchester could be the statement result that galvanises Mikel Arteta’s team and pushes them to an even higher level.
What the teams are saying
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on the threat posed by Arsenal:
“Before it was Liverpool who pushed us to our limits. Now it’s been [Arsenal] in these last two seasons […]. We get the message, so I know [Arsenal] will be there for many years.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on trying to match Man City:
“They have raised the bar to levels not seen before in football. You have to keep up with that pace and that is what we are trying to do. We learned from the level, it’s the level we want to be at. We are getting closer in the past two or three years. We need to close that gap and try to be better than them.”
Players to watch.
Erling Haaland – Manchester City
Can anyone halt the ‘goal machine’ that is Erling Haaland? The Norwegian has been bursting nets across the Premier League with scary ease so far this season, but perhaps Arsenal’s class defence will provide a sterner challenge.
Raheem Sterling – Arsenal
A surprise signing for the Gunners on transfer deadline day, Raheem Sterling adds depth and experience to their attack – and will be hungry to prove something against his former team Man City come Sunday afternoon.
Head-to-head
In head-to-head stats, Man City and Arsenal have met in 211 matches dating back as far as 1893. The Gunners have claimed 100 wins compared to 65 for the Citizens, while 46 games have been drawn.
The teams met three times last season: a 1-1 draw in the Community Shield (which Arsenal won on penalties) in August 2023, a 1-0 home win for the Gunners in October 2023, and a goalless stalemate in Manchester in March 2024.
Match in details
Sunday 22 September
– 17:30: Manchester City v Arsenal
