Premier League team news and prediction: Man City vs Arsenal

Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta will lock horns once again when Manchester City host Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday. It's the first encounter between the two since Arsenal defeated City in last season's FA Cup final.

Ahead of another mouth-watering encounter, we have all your need-to-know information in one place, including kick off details, where you can watch it and up-to-date team news.

When is kick off?
Saturday 17th October, 17:30 GMT
Where is the match?
Etihad, Manchester
Where can I watch it?
Sky Sports Premier League / Sky Sports Main Event

Season so far

Manchester City have made a relatively underwhelming start to the season, with only one win from their opening three matches. Pep Guardiola's side started the campaign with a 3-1 win away to Wolves before being well thrashed 5-2 at home to Leicester and drawing 1-1 with Leeds in their final match before the international break.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have made a really encouraging start to the campaign and head into the weekend in fourth place. The Gunners have won three of their first four matches, only tasting defeat to champions Liverpool.

Team News

Pep Guardiola has confirmed Kevin De Bruyne will miss Manchester City's next few matches after sustaining an injury during the week on international duty.With Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus also still sidelined, it's a hammer blow for the home side. Raheem Sterling missed the international break altogether with a hamstring injury but is at least expected to be okay to feature this weekend. Finally over coronavirus, Ilkay Gundogan could step in for his first appearance of the season. Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho and Rodri could all start in a surprising starting XI.

All eyes will be on whether deadline day signing Thomas Partey will make his Arsenal debut this weekend. Due to the international break, the ex-Atletico Madrid midfielder would have had very limited time to train with his new team-mates but supporters will be desperate to see him play against City. Meanwhile, Kieran Tierney will be available after Arsenal succedded in cutting down his period of self-isolation in a major boost for the away side. Captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is also expected to be fine to play despite pulling out of the Gabon squad with an ankle injury.

Probable XIs:

Man City (4231): Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte, Mendy; Fernandinho, Rodri; Silva, Gundogan, Foden; Sterling

Arsenal (433): Leno; Bellerin, Luiz, Gabriel, Tierney; Xhaka, Partey, Ceballos; Willian, Lacazette, Aubameyang

Key Battle: Ruben Dias vs Gabriel

Manchester City and Arsenal each made at least one high profile defensive signing over the summer. After signing Nathan Ake for £40m, City left it late to go even bigger for Benfica's Ruben Dias. Arsenal, meanwhile, managed to sign Gabriel from French side Lille for a more modest fee.

Gabriel has hit the ground running for Arsenal this season and barely put a foot wrong for the Gunners since scoring on his debut. In fact, the 22-year-old is Arsenal's highest WhoScored rated player in the Premier League (7.39) this season. Gabriel has impressively completed 93% of his attempted passes and is expected to start against City after surprisingly being dropped for the defeat to Liverpool.

Ruben Dias made his debut for City before the international break in their 1-1 draw with Leeds. Defensive mistakes cost City from challenging Liverpool for the Premier League title last season and it's been more of the same so far this season. Guardiola will desperately hope Dias is the solution with a tough test awaiting the 23-year-old this weekend.

Prediction: 1-2