De Bruyne and Sterling were both rested for our 2-1 Premier League home win over Bournemouth in midweek but are restored to Pep Guardiola’s side to face the Gunners with a place in the final at stake.
The City boss has selected a powerful looking starting X1 with centre-halves Aymeric Laporte and Eric Garcia and attacking winger Riyad Mahrez also recalled.
Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo was ruled out with a muscular injury with Ederson starting while former England stopper Scott Carson is named among the substitutes.
John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi, Fernandinho, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden – who all started against the Cherries – also figure on the bench this evening along with Rodrigo, Joao Cancelo and Oleks Zinchenko.
Line ups
CITY: Ederson, Walker, Garcia, Laporte, Mendy, Gundogan, De Bruyne, D Silva (C), Sterling, Jesus, Mahrez
Subs: Carson, Stones, Zinchenko, Cancelo, Otamendi, Rodrigo, Fernandinho, Bernardo, Foden
ARSENAL: Martinez, Mustafi, David Luiz, Tierney, Bellerin, Ceballos, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles, Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang
Subs: Macey, Holding, Sokratis, Kolasinac, Torreira, Smith, Willock, Nelson, Saka
Formation
City look set to stick with our tried and trusted 4-3-3 deployment with full-backs Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy buttressed by centre-halves Laporte and Garcia.
Ilkay Gundogan is likely to be entrusted with the key holding midfield role with De Bruyne and skipper David Silva also adding their trademark creativity.
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Gabriel Jesus will lead the line upfront with Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez completing a potent attacking trident.
Wembley wonders
The national stadium has become something of a second home for City during Guardiola‘s reign and we boast a formidable record playing there under the Catalan.
City have won our past nine games at Wembley across all competitions, an impressive run that has taken in games in the Community Shield (twice), three Carabao Cup finals, an FA Cup semi-final and final as well as two Premier League encounters against Tottenham.
Hopefully we can go on and ensure we make it a perfect 10 tonight.
Dressed to thrill
Tonight, we’ll also be wearing our brand-new 2020/21 PUMA Home kit for the first time.
Inspired by Manchester’s famous mosaics, the new shirt has already gone down well with the fans.
Hopefully it can help bring City some FA Cup good fortune on its first competitive outing!
Stats and facts
Arsenal have lost their past seven meetings with City in all competitions, by an aggregate score of 20-2. Only against Leeds have Arsenal ever lost more consecutive matches in their history (eight).
City’s last defeat against Arsenal in all competitions was in an FA Cup semi-final, with the Gunners securing a 2-1 victory in 2017, before going on to beat Chelsea in the final.
This is just the fifth FA Cup meeting between City and Arsenal, with City winning the first in February 1904, and Arsenal winning the next three (March 1932, February 1971 and April 2017).
Arsenal
Arsenal are playing in their 30th FA Cup semi-final - no side has played in more. They’ve reached the final on 20 occasions, which is also a joint record (level with Manchester United for both).
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Arsenal have beaten/eliminated the holders of the FA Cup each of the past five times they’ve faced them, and this is their first such match since the 2014 semi-final against Wigan Athletic.
Four of Arsenal’s seven FA Cup goals this season have been scored by players under the age of 21 - the most of any side from the first round proper - Bukayo Saka (1), Eddie Nketiah (2), Reiss Nelson (1).
City
City have won 10 of our past 12 FA Cup semi-final matches, with our two defeats in that time coming against Arsenal (1932 and 2017).
Holders City are looking to reach the FA Cup final in consecutive years for the third time, also doing so in 1933-1934 and 1955-1956. We are unbeaten in their past nine matches at Wembley Stadium, last losing against Arsenal in the 2017 FA Cup semi-final.
Phil Foden has had a part in seven goals in just six FA Cup appearances (4 goals, 3 assists), averaging a goal involvement every 57 minutes in the competition.
