Manchester City will look to come out of the upset in the fifth round of the FA Cup by picking up a win against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.
Guardiola’s hopes of winning a quadruple this season were squashed after they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Wigan Athletic earlier this week but the Citizens will have a chance of picking up their first silverware of the season this Sunday. Guardiola undoubtedly will field his strongest eleven against the Gunners and we take a look at Man City’s predicted line up vs Arsenal.
MANCHESTER CITY TEAM NEWS:
Claudio Bravo has been the goalkeeper of choice for Guardiola in the cup ties and we feel Sunday’s match will be no different as Ederson will once again be on the bench.
Guardiola is also expected to shuffle his defensive line with John Stones expected to make way for new signing Aymeric Laporte. Stones had not been at the top of his game since he returned from injury in January and Monday’s defeat against Wigan was one instance when the English defender looked particularly shaky. Nicolas Otamendi was given a rest for the FA Cup tie but he will return back to the starting line-up and will be partnering Laporte at centre-back.
Fabian Delph is suspended for the Carabao Cup final after picking up a red card on Monday and Danilo is expected to take up his place at left-back. Kyle Walker will reprise his role as the right-back against Arsenal.
Kevin De Bruyne started the FA Cup tie on the bench and only came on as a substitute but the Belgian International is expected to start against Arsenal alongside David Silva and Fernandinho. The inclusion of De Bruyne would mean that Gundogan will move to the bench.
Sergio Aguero is a guaranteed starter as the lone striker and will be assisted by Leroy Sane on the left wing. But the big concern for Pep Guardiola is the fact that Raheem Sterling is a serious doubt for the clash against Arsenal on Sunday. The manager has claimed that Sterling could very well miss the match meaning that either Gabriel Jesus or Bernardo Silva will take the winger’s place in the first XI.
But as things stand it looks like Bernardo Silva will get the nod as Jesus is still not a 100 percent fit and City’s medical staff will take a final call on the Brazilian on Saturday.
MAN CITY’S PREDICTED LINE UP VS ARSENAL:
Goalkeeper: Claudio Bravo.
Defence: Danilo, Laporte, Otamendi, Walker.
Midfield: Silva, Fernandinho, De Bruyne.
Attack: Sane, Aguero, B. Silva.
