It's been a while since Arsenal supporters felt remotely confident heading into a contest with Manchester City. While City have spent without restrictions, the same couldn't be further from the truth for Arsenal. Indeed that remains largely true but in Mikel Arteta they have a manager that has finally put the club on the right track.
Arsenal have made superb improvements under the Spaniard and now he will look to make it successive wins over his old teacher when the two sides meet at the Etihad on Saturday evening. While the Gunners head into the weekend in fourth place, City are remarkably in the bottom half of the table with only one win from their first three matches.
As a result, it's a bit of a pasting as far as the City and Arsenal combined XI is concerned. Arsenal remarkably have eight players compared to City's three, though injuries play a part in that. With Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero ruled out, Alexandre Lacazette has a free run at centre forward. Pep Guardiola has also confirmed Kevin De Bruyne, who is the highest WhoScored rated player across both teams, is out for City's next few matches in another major blow the home side. Phil Foden benefits with a place in our combined XI as a result.
Arsenal have succeeded in reducing Kieran Tierney's period of self-isoltion and his availability means the away side sweep up at the back. Given City continue to struggle in defence, shipping five at home to Leicester earlier in the season, that is perhaps not a surprise. New boy Thomas Partey also seals a place in the team based on his earlier season performances with Atletico Madrid.
There is no doubt Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang remains integral to any success Arsenal will have this season but the 31-year-old is yet to hit top gear this season. Aubameyang only has one goal in the Premier League this season, while even right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold (7) has had more shots than the Arsenal skipper (6). He misses out on a place in our combined XI to Raheem Sterling, with Riyad Mahrez beating Willian to a spot on the opposite flank.
