Premier League action will be returning tonight with top team clash between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Mancity that is already 25 points behind Liverpool will be hoping to close the gap at least as the Merseyside club only needed two wins to be confirmed as 2019-20 champions for the first time in 30 years.
Football action is resuming in England after 100 days in the deep freeze, following the resumption of activities in the German Bundesliga and La Liga in Spain in rebooting their seasons after the coronavirus-enforced holiday. The clubs are now to play 92 games in six weeks to complete the remaining season.
Another match that will follow the Etihad clash is between Aston Villa and Sheffield United at the Villa Park later before hosts of other games.
Head to head: Manchester City vs. Arsenal
The noisy neighbours have been gaining the upper hand against the gunners recently. The citizens won their last five meetings with Arsenal failing to even secure a draw from them. One such meeting was this season’s first leg at the Emirate that City scored three unreplied goals in the space of twenty minutes, and the rest was a formality. In the last five games played, Arsenal was only able to score two goals to City’s 16.
Overall, in the last 45 encounters between both sides, City won 23 and scored 70 goals in the process, with Arsenal winning just 12 and scored 53.
The odds favours City that will be hosting Arsenal this time around behind closed doors after the coronavirus hiatus.
Guardiola: Player not fully ready
Speaking ahead of the clash, Man City manager, Pep Guardiola, has admitted his players ‘are not ready’ for the rigours of matches that have to be played every three days.
Managers are already familiar with player fitness levels and match sharpness, and City boss said he wouldn’t know what shape his squad is in for sure until they get back on the pitch.
While noting that City is ready for the game, he said they are not prepared to be playing regularly in the space of three days for the next six weeks.
According to him, this is where rotation comes in. All thanks to FIFA for the new rule that allows five substitutions in each game.
Guardiola said the players are not fully fit because they couldn’t train properly during the lockdown, but the games have to be completed to avoid damaging the finances of the clubs.
What time is Arsenal and Manchester City game ?
Arsenal will face Manchester City today at 2.15 pm Central time (American time zone)
What is your prediction for the game?
