Arsenal outplayed Benfica on Thursday with some very strong performances, however, the goals failed to follow their effort, and the Gunners returned to London with a 1-1 draw. The second leg of the UEL’s Round of 32 tie will be on Thursday in Athens.
As we all know, this is the point in the season when Arsenal must find every way possible to win. Their next test is the Premier League’s top of the table club, Manchester City. Pep Guardiola and his boys are in peak form and will be looking to increase their points lead over Manchester United in the table. The Gunners will have to bring their “A game” and play at their full potential to keep pace with City’s volatile attack.
With that said, here are my predictions for Sunday at The Emirates…
Predicted starting XI…
[4-2-3-1]
Lacazette
Aubameyang, Odegaard, Saka
Xhaka, Ceballos
Tierney, Gabriel, Holding, Bellerin
Leno
Predicted final score…
ARSENAL 2 – Manchester City 2
COYG!
Mikel Arteta said on Friday Bukayo Saka, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber are all in contention to be in the squad for Saturday’s match.
According to Graeme Bailey of TEAMtalk, Arsenal has intensified their interest in Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams as a top summer priority. 
Fabrizio Romano is reporting Calum McFarlane will be the Chelsea interim manager until the end of this season.
Arsenal Women have confirmed Manu Zinsberger will leave the club at the end of this season. The Austrian goalkeeper has totaled 51 cleans sheets in 143 appearances for the Gunners.
Stat of the Day: David Rays has made 53 saves and had 15 cleans sheets in 33 appearances this season for Arsenal.
American movie star Anne Hathaway on the Gunners title chances, “They better. I believe in Arsenal.”
Gabriel Magalhaes, “We need to be strong on Sunday, We are at this club to play these kind of games.”
Ten Premier League managers have been sacked this season, including three at Nottingham Forest, and two each at Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
