Match Day Live: 🛑Man City vs Arsenal High-Stakes Clash at Etihad Stadium

Match Day Live: 🛑Man City vs Arsenal High-Stakes Clash at Etihad Stadium

The Premier League’s highly anticipated match of the weekend takes place on Sunday evening as Manchester City host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.

Both teams vie for early-season dominance, with high stakes on the line.

Manchester City enter the match after:

2-1 Premier League win over Brentford

Goalless Champions League draw against Inter during the midweek

Recent head-to-head record:

Man City: 3 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss in last 6 meetings with Arsenal

Team news: Manchester City face potential challenges with key absentees.

Man City vs. Arsenal: Injury Updates and Team News

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola confirmed:

“Kevin De Bruyne remains a doubt” after being forced off against Inter Milan.

Defender Nathan Ake is ruled out due to an injury sustained while on international duty.

However, midfielder Rodri is expected to contend for a starting spot after returning against Brentford.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said:

“[Martin Odegaard] will be out for a while” due to a significant ankle injury.

But Declan Rice returns from suspension and is available for selection.

Premier League standings:

Manchester City: 2nd (12 points)

Arsenal: 5th (10 points)

Kick-off: 4:30 p.m. Nigerian time.

Ismael Bennacer moved to the Gunners in 2015 but made just one senior appearance for the club before moving to Italy, where his career took off
Former Arsenal midfielder Ismael Bennacer
Former Arsenal midfielder Ismael Bennacer in action during his brief time at the club (Image: GETTY)
Former Arsenal starlet Ismael Bennacer has revealed that he had the opportunity to sign for Manchester City, but declined their offer as they wanted him to sleep at their academy.

The Algerian international joined the Gunners in 2015, but only made a single appearance before moving to Italy in 2017. He then found great success with Empoli, and later, AC Milan.

The 26-year-old spoke about his chance to join City, stating that he “wasn’t feeling it” upon visiting their facilities. He recounted a conversation with Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira, who was then the the Blues’ academy chief.

Speaking to Instant Foot, Bennacer explained how both clubs were interested in him and what ultimately influenced his decision. The Milan ace said: “(City) called me and told me ‘We want you to be with the reserves’ and everything. It’s City, man. I was ready. They told me ‘Come see the facilities’ – so I did. I got there, I don’t know, I wasn’t feeling it.”

Bennacer admitted being impressed by City’s state-of-the-art facilities but expressed concerns over the club’s plans for him. He also mentioned that City were hesitant to allow him his own living arrangements, reports the Mirror.

“Their facilities were crazy. Amazing. I spoke with Vieira and everything,” he said. “I liked the talk we had, but the fact they wanted me at the academy to sleep there… I wanted a flat. I wanted my sister to come with me. That’s why I dropped City. Then there was Arsenal towards the end of July.”

The midfielder later cashed in on his early promise by winning titles in Italy. After winning Serie B with Empoli, he then clinched the coveted Serie A title with AC Milan in May 2022 after signing for the club in a €16million deal.

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Bennacer was awarded the player of the tournament at AFCON in 2019 (Image: REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham)
Bennacer also triumphed in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019 and was even named Player of the Tournament. Although his time at Arsenal didn’t yield a first-team breakthrough, he told Sport Bible in December 2023 how it laid the foundations for his success.

“At Arsenal, my goal wasn’t to play in the reserve team but the first team,” he said. “I wasn’t given that opportunity but it was a positive experience that helped me in my career.”

Sharing his thoughts that both clubs share an ethos, Bennacer claims he has unfinished business with Milan. However he also hinted at the possibility of rejoining the Gunners some day.

“It’s ‘true’ that Arsenal are among the clubs close to my heart,” he said. “Arsenal and Milan have many similarities in terms of the organisation and the fact they are family clubs.

“The Premier League is a very big competition and anyone would want to play there. But Milan is also a massive club and I feel very, very happy here. I’m someone who always likes to have targets for the future, but there are lots of things I still want to achieve with Milan. We’ll see.”