BREAKING NEWS: Ruben Diaz admits that going up against him tomorrow won’t be easy, expressing his fear of one particular Arsenal player—not Trossard or Havertz.

After defeating Tottenham last Sunday, Arsenal faces another crucial test as they travel to the Etihad Stadium to take on title contenders Manchester City this weekend.

Mikel Arteta had to manage the North London Derby without two key midfielders, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice. Rice missed the game due to a one-match suspension but is expected to return to the starting lineup for the City clash. Odegaard, however, remains uncertain due to an ankle injury that initially appeared to be serious. Despite this, there were signs that he was close to featuring in the derby, leaving fans hopeful for his availability.

### Arsenal’s Likely Lineup Against Manchester City

Unless Arteta pulls off an unexpected change, Rice is almost certain to reclaim his position in midfield. His return would likely see either Thomas Partey or Jorginho dropped to the bench. If Odegaard is still unavailable, Kai Havertz may once again be trusted to fill the midfield role.

**Projected Arsenal Lineup:** Raya; Saliba, Gabriel, White, Timber; Rice, Partey, Havertz; Martinelli, Trossard, Saka.

This formation remains strong, though Odegaard’s absence would be a blow, given his creative influence. However, Havertz could provide an advantage with his physicality and work rate, especially in a game where Arsenal might not dominate possession as they often do.

### Manchester City’s Likely Lineup Against Arsenal

Both clubs have midweek Champions League fixtures, but Manchester City, with their deeper squad, are better positioned to rotate key players. After resting crucial figures like Rodri and Phil Foden in their previous match against Brentford, City is expected to field their strongest lineup for this weekend’s showdown.

**Predicted Man City Lineup:** Ederson; Dias, Stones, Walker, Lewis; Rodri, Kovacic; Foden, De Bruyne, Savio; Haaland.

Predicting Manchester City’s lineup is always tricky, as Pep Guardiola is known for his tactical flexibility, particularly in high-stakes matches. There is always a chance that players like Bernardo Silva or Ilkay Gundogan could feature as well.