---
title: "Arsenal: Predicted XI to face Manchester City"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-predicted-xi-to-face-manchester-city/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Luke Seychell"
section: "Arsenal Football Club"
published: "2020-06-17T06:30:49Z"
modified: "2020-06-17T06:30:49Z"
---

# Arsenal: Predicted XI to face Manchester City

**Arsenal won their last Premier League fixture three months ago [1-0 against West Ham](https://www.premierleague.com/match/46885), and the break has given manager Mikel Arteta some time to get to grips with the squad he took over in [December](https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/mikel-arteta-arsenal-manager-news-appointed-1346732#:~:text=Mikel%20Arteta%20has%20been%20appointed,This%20is%20a%20huge%20honour.).**

They now face one of the toughest games of their season, with supporters across the globe very excited at the tie which sees them face Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the [Etihad](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/06/15/man-city-vs-arsenal-premier-league-time-kick-off-tv-channel/) in what will be Arteta’s [first game back](https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/mikel-arteta-arsenal-manager-news-appointed-1346732#:~:text=Mikel%20Arteta%20has%20been%20appointed,This%20is%20a%20huge%20honour.) at the ground since he left his role as Pep’s assistant manager to take charge of Arsenal.

Victory is needed for both sides, as the Gunners look to push further up the league as soon as possible if they want to play in Europe next season as they currently sit ninth, per [BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/table). Meanwhile if City lose, it gives Liverpool the chance to win the title against Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday.

Here is the Transfer Tavern predicted Arsenal starting XI, which sees Arteta make three changes for the huge fixture.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Arsenal-starting-11-vs-City-400x500.png)

Arsenal’s back four could see the most change, as Bellerin is fully fit and playing in the recent [friendlies,](https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/06/11/arsenal-3-takeaways-brenftord-friendly-defeat/) it will be very likely that he comes in as he is the only ‘proper’ right-back who is favoured at the club and Sokratis who is normally a centre-back, had to fill in for him against West Ham.

Meanwhile Bukayo Saka could see himself unluckily not involved in the starting eleven as he was just [filling in out of position](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/bukayo-saka/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/433177/verein/5679) at left-back for Kieran Tierney, and even though he massively impressed, with Tierney now fit and being selected by Arteta in the recent [friendlies](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kieran-tierney-makes-arsenal-return-22149782), it looks likely that the Scotsman will return to the side.

\[freshpress-poll id=”304546″\]

With five subs [allowed](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52914350#:~:text=Premier%20League%20teams%20will%20be,instead%20of%20the%20usual%20seven.) as well, Arteta might bring Saka on during the game as play him in his preferred position in his [favoured](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/bukayo-saka/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/433177/verein/5679) role on the wing.

Meanwhile youngster Eddie Nketiah impressed as he started against West Ham but Alexandre Lacazette has impressed massively in the [friendlies](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/arsenal-beaten-by-brentford-in-behind-closed-doors-friendly/jeiuthmky3an1kwxklslq3kvm) scoring a couple of goals and it looks likely he will lead the line.

***Gunners fans, would this be a good starting eleven? Comment below!***