Manchester City vs. Arsenal Prediction: Early Premier League Title Clash

• Manchester City and Arsenal are the two favorites to win the Premier League title

• Manchester City are off to a perfect start at the start of the 2024/25 season

• Arsenal are hot on the heels of Pep Guardiola’s side ahead of Sunday’s showdown

Manchester City vs. Arsenal Odds

The odds for Manchester City vs. Arsenal are provided by the bet365 sportsbook. Place your bets at bet365 and claim the bonus with our code WSN365: $1,000 Safety Net Bet OR $200 in Bonus Bets.

Manchester City vs. Arsenal Pick

Back a draw when Manchester City host Arsenal. There is not much between these teams and we should see that in evidence on Sunday

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Manchester City Out to Prove They Are Still the Team to Beat

The best online sportsbooks and soccer pundits alike believe that one of Manchester City or Arsenal is likely to win the Premier League title this season. There is still a chance that Liverpool could push that duo all the way, but you will not find many people disagreeing with the view that City and Arsenal are the two best teams in the English game right now.

The evidence of the last two campaigns certainly supports that view. In 2022/23, Arsenal led the way for months but ultimately finished five points behind City, chiefly because they lost both of the head-to-head encounters between the pair. 

The battle last term was even closer. City ultimately came out on top by a solitary point, despite losing at the Emirates Stadium and only drawing at the Etihad Stadium. Arsenal amassed their second-highest ever Premier League points tally, yet still it was not enough.

City are the team to beat once again in 2024/25 as they seek a record-extending fifth consecutive title. They have made a perfect start to the domestic campaign with victories over Chelsea, Ipswich Town, West Ham United and Brentford. No other side in the league has a 100 percent record heading into gameweek five.

City did stumble in midweek, however, drawing 0-0 at home to Inter on matchday one of the Champions League. In a rematch of the 2023 Champions League, City were successfully shut down by their Italian opponents, who defended with great discipline and organisation to keep a clean sheet and pick up a point.

City lost Kevin De Bruyne to injury in that match. At the time of writing we do not know the extent of the Belgian’s problems, but he will not take part in Sunday’s showdown in Manchester. That is a blow to City, although De Bruyne’s influence on Guardiola’s team is not as strong as it once was.

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Arsenal Looking to Make Major Statement of Intent on Sunday

On the face of it a 0-0 draw in this fixture last season was a good result for Arsenal. They played for a point and that is exactly what they got. Manchester City were frustrated at the end of the game, whereas Arsenal were pleased.

By the end of the campaign, though, some fans wondered whether Arsenal should have gone for it more at the Eithad. Had they won that match, they would have won the title. As it was, City went on to triumph in each of their final nine games to take the trophy.

Mikel Arteta will be pleased with the way his team have begun the campaign. A 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion was frustrating, but Arsenal were 1-0 up when Declan Rice was controversially sent off. They have had two tough away games already yet won them both, beating Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur on their own turf.

Like City, Arsenal were involved in a goalless draw with an Italian team in the Champions League. Their 0-0 came against Atalanta, who saw a penalty and the rebound saved spectacularly by David Raya in the most consequential moment of the match.

Rice missed the Spurs match due to suspension but is back for this weekend’s trip to Manchester. However, Arsenal will have to make do without Martin Odegaard - arguably their most important player. The Norwegian is not only the club captain, he is also the man who makes the team tick in possession. His absence makes Arsenal’s task harder.

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This Will Be a Tight Game With Little Separating the Teams

The sportsbooks have Manchester City down as the favorites to win this match. That makes sense. They are the reigning champions and they have a better overall record so far this season. 

City may also benefit from home advantage, while they played in the Champions League at home on Wednesday as opposed to away on Thursday for Arsenal. That extra rest and lack of travel could make all the differences.

But even without the influential Odegaard, Arteta’s team have a chance. Arsenal are magnificent defensively, as they demonstrated in their wins to nil against Aston Villa and Tottenham. They are gritty and resilient, and possess an ability to pick up results even when they are not at their free-flowing best going forward.

Consider, too, that Arsenal have not only gone unbeaten away from home in the Premier League in 2024, but they have not even been behind in that time. That is right, Arsenal have been level or ahead for every single minute of soccer they have played at an opposition ground this year.

That is why we are backing Arsenal to avoid defeat by Manchester City. Go for a draw in this titanic tussle at the Etihad.

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How to Watch Manchester City vs. Arsenal

• Teams: Manchester City vs. Arsenal

• Location: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England

• Date and Time: Sunday, 22 September 2024, 11.30 AM ET

• How to Watch: USA Network