Skipper David Silva returns to the City starting line-up along with Kyle Walker as Pep Guardiola makes two changes from the side that beat Napoli in midweek.

Starting XI:

Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Stones, Delph, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, D Silva (captain), Sterling, Sane, Aguero

Subs: Bravo, Mangala, Gundogan, Bernardo, G Jesus, Danilo, Yaya Toure

Tactics: As you were?

Expect the formation that has served City so well this season to form the blueprint for today’s game.

On paper, it looks as though it will be 4-1-4-1 or 4-3-3 depending on how you interpret it!

Weight off?

Sergio Aguero is now City’s record goal-scorer but has the weight of expectation now been lifted from his shoulders.

Having the spotlight firmly on you and the ‘will he?/won’t he? question continually asked before games would add additional pressure on anybody and the relief when he bagged his record-breaking goal against Napoli was there for all to see.

Will Arsenal pay the price this afternoon? We shall see.

 

 

Arsenal starting XI:

 

 

Stats and milestones

City have won just one of the last nine meetings with Arsenal and only Chelsea (24) have beaten the Blues more times than the Gunners (23) in the Premier League era.

The Blues haven’t kept a clean sheet in 10 matches against the Gunners.

If City win today, it will equal the Club record of nine league wins during the same season dating back to February 1947

The 35 goals the Blues have scored in the Premier League is the best of Pep Guardiola’s managerial career,

Interestingly, City and Arsenal top the possession table in the Premier League so far this season - 71% to 65% in the Blues’ favour.

Arsene Wenger is the only manager to have beaten Pep at all the clubs he’s so far managed.