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Everything to Know about Manchester City vs. Arsenal: Schedule, How to Watch
The two top teams in the Premier League are primed to add another classic chapter to their rivalry.
Just five fixtures into the young Premier League season, the showdown between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad on Sunday already feels like a tilt for the title.
Undefeated Man City is on an unprecedented run, having won four league titles in a row – for the first time in the 135-year history of the top-tier English football – and six of the last seven. The club also won its first ever Champions League title in 2023. Aside from continuing to pad the record books, there is added incentive to continue this historic tear, as speculation swirls that it could be legendary manager Pep Guardiola’s final season with the club.
Pep’s squad has plenty of firepower – led by Erling Haaland. The 24-year-old Norwegian has scored nine goals in the first four fixtures, more than the entire team totals for the other 19 clubs in the league.
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Arsenal, though, isn’t ready to cede the crown to their rivals from Manchester – again. The Gunners have finished second to the Citizens in the standings for the last two seasons, losing by just two points in a race for the ages to end the 2023-24 season, a duel that went down to the final day. There isn’t much of a talent gap between the two teams.
Led by tactician extraordinaire Mikel Arteta, a former Pep disciple who recently signed a three-year extension to continuing managing Arsenal, the Gunners are coming off an impressive 1-0 away win against Tottenham Hotspur in the always difficult North London Derby.
That win is even more impressive considering the long list of injuries that Arsenal is nursing. Hardest hit has been the midfield with captain Martin Odegaard and star summer acquisition Mikel Merino unable to play.
Where and When to Watch Manchester City vs. Arsenal
The match kicks off Sunday, September 22 at 11:30 a.m. ET at Etihad Stadium, and will be broadcast on USA Network and Telemundo.
Manchester City News: Rules Violation Probe Looms Off Pitch
Manchester City is coming off a hard-fought 0-0 tie against Italy’s Inter Milan in Wednesday’s opening match of the new Champion’s League season, a rematch of the final in City's victorious 2023 campaign.
The one place Citizens may be most vulnerable is not on the pitch, but in an office building in the London financial district. There, in the International Dispute Centre, hearings officially began into the 115 charges of financial violations that the Premier League has leveled against City for allegedly fudging the books to supplement salaries of players and managers dating back to 2009.
Beyond the potential damage to Manchester City’s reputation, there is the threat of fines, points deduction, and even the forfeiture of past trophies. The club has vehemently maintained innocence.
Arsenal News: Odegaard Injury Leaves ‘Significant’ Void
Arteta revealed on Wednesday that the Odegaard’s injury to his ankle during Norway’s Nations League victory over Austria during the recent international break is “quite significant” and involves ligament damage. That means the Gunners captain will continue to be out of the lineup well beyond Sunday’s match.
There was some positive news coming from this week’s trainer report as Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori, one of Arsenal’s big acquisitions of the summer, returned to practice after injuring his calf during international duty. Even more importantly, the team gets star midfielder Declan Rice back from a one-game suspension in time for Sunday’s tilt.
Arsenal survived a tough test Thursday to start its Champions League campaign against Atalanta, with goalie Raya making a highlight reel double save on a penalty to salvage a 0-0 tie.
Who Are the Arsenal and Manchester Stars to Watch
Manchester City: Haaland understandably gets much of the attention, but the rest of the City roster is extraordinarily deep. Midfielder Rodri, an offensive and defensive star, made his first start of the season at Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Inter Milan. Belgian Kevin De Bruyne is one of the top midfielders in the Premier League. Brazilian winger Savinho, the big addition of the summer transfer period, is already adding an extra spark to the team.
Arsenal: English striker Bukayo Saka is the engine that makes the Arsenal attack rev. He tallied 20 goals and 14 assists in all competitions last season, and already has one goal and four assists in his first four fixtures this season. Rice, who has justified his 105-million-pound price tag since joining the team last season, gives Arsenal a fighting chance against any team. Dynamic German forward Kai Harvetz leads the team in scoring with two goals.
