There are still more than three months to go in the Premier League season, yet the stakes feel sky-high as leaders Arsenal host Manchester City on Wednesday.
Arsenal have passed every test this season but still have to prove they can last the pace, and they’re dealing with their first rocky patch after taking one point from their past two league games.
The Gunners’ wobble has opened the door for a City team that beat Aston Villa 3-1 on Sunday to close the gap at the top to three points, though Arsenal have a game in hand. Pep Guardiola is sweating on the fitness of Erling Haaland, who came off at half-time at the weekend.
Check out our free Arsenal vs. Man City picks and predictions for everything you need to know ahead of this huge Wednesday, February 15 showdown.
Arsenal vs Man City best odds
Arsenal vs Man City picks and predictions
Arsenal have already beaten Manchester United, Liverpool, and Tottenham at the Emirates this season, and they’re still unbeaten at home in the league, but this is the biggest test of their title credentials. Unfortunately for the Gunners, it comes at a time when their form is starting to falter.
A 1-1 draw against Brentford at the weekend, on the heels of a 1-0 loss to Everton, have raised some minor alarm bells.
With City trailing in the title race, I expect the visitors to treat this as a must-win fixture and set up their game plan accordingly. After the debacle at Tottenham, when Guardiola left Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, and Ruben Dias on the bench, we should see the best of City here.
They made quick work of Villa at the weekend, surging into a 3-0 lead before half-time, and there were flashes of the fluency that had been missing at times since the post-World Cup restart.
Of course, the Erling Haaland injury scare is an important factor to weigh up when betting on this game, but Guardiola hinted that the half-time substitution on Sunday was more precautionary. “If the score was tighter, then maybe I don’t do it,” he said post-game, and if Haaland is anywhere close to 100%, I expect him to start in a game of this magnitude.
I like City’s midfield edge too, with Rodri and Gundogan, who both scored against Villa, such experts at keeping the ball and bringing De Bruyne into the game.
Arsenal have great quality of their own and, while I’m leaning towards a City win, the Gunners will create scoring chances. Gabriel Jesus is close to a return but unlikely to feature here. His absence has been felt over the last two weeks, with Arsenal scoring just once in their last 270 minutes of action.
City landed a psychological blow with a 1-0 win over Arsenal in the FA Cup in late January and I’m taking these odds for a game where I expect goals and at least a share of the points for the visitors.
My best bet: Double chance – City/draw + BTTS (+130 BetMGM)
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Arsenal vs Man City side analysis
It’s indicative of City’s aura and Arsenal’s sluggish February that the visitors are narrow favorites here. Some of that may stem from the circumstances — City really need a win to crank up the pressure — but it’s also a nod to the high ceiling of this City side.
The defending champions are coming off a strong showing against Villa and they’ve got plenty of depth in the event that Haaland misses out or can’t play the full 90 minutes. But Arsenal have shown plenty of character in big games this season, so I see this being a tight, back-and-forth contest, similar to the 3-2 thriller against Manchester United in January.
Bukayo Saka has so often been the difference-maker for the Gunners this season — look for the Gunners to focus on getting the ball out to the right wing to attack a City defense with some question marks at left-back after Joao Cancelo was shipped out to Bayern Munich.
Arsenal vs Man City Over/Under analysis
I’ve taken the both teams to score prop as part of my best bet for Wednesday, and this doesn’t feel like a matchup that will follow the same script as the one-goal January cup tie. Four of City’s last five league games have featured at least three goals — and, if Haaland starts, I’m not concerned about his relative slump (no goals in his last three games).
Arsenal’s recent misfires in the final third are a slight cause for concern — and for hesitation in taking the Over on 2.5 total goals. Since the 3-2 win over Man United, they’ve seemingly run of out steam against stubborn defenses.
The arrival of Leandro Trossard in the January transfer window has at least given Mikel Arteta another option, with Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, and Saka carrying a heavy burden in the first half of the season.
Arsenal vs Man City game info
| Location: | Emirates Stadium, London, England |
| Date: | Wednesday, February 15, 2023 |
| Time: | 2:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | fuboTV, Peacock |
Arsenal vs Man City key injuries
Arsenal: Gabriel Jesus ST (Out), Emile Smith Rowe AM (Out), Mohamed Elneny M (Out).
Man City: Erling Haaland ST (Questionable), John Stones CB (Out).
Arsenal vs Man City recent form
| Teams | Last five matches |
|---|---|
 Arsenal |
D-W-W-L-D |
 Man City |
L-W-W-L-W |
Arsenal vs Man City weather
There’s light rain in the forecast for kickoff on Wednesday, with temperatures in the low 50s, but it’s expected to be sunny in the lead-up to the game.
