Arsenal vs. Manchester City: How the Gunners Will Line Up in Premier League Game

Arsenal face the biggest test of their season this weekend against Manchester City.

There are a number of reasons to be anxious about this fixture, despite the fact that the Gunners roundly defeated the defending champions 3-0 in the Community Shield.

First and foremost, Arsenal have looked anemic during their first several fixtures of the season. They have only managed a couple of wins, against Crystal Palace and Besiktas, and have struggled with a one-dimensional attack against Leicester City.

The defending champions are obviously a marked step up from that level of competition, and Arsenal might not have many of their best players available (doesn't this always seem to happen?). Their chance of success largely depends on who is fit.

Mikel Arteta and Mesut Ozil, whose health was in question, were pictured training with the first team, so we can assume they are fit enough to play. That does not guarantee that both will start, but they are so important to Arsenal's style of play that Arsene Wenger is likely to play both from the outset.

Meanwhile, Kieran Gibbs should be nearing the end of his spell on the sidelines if Wenger's own words are to be believed, per Arsenal's official site. He was not featured in any of the training pictures on Arsenal's website, though.

So, with the limited information we have now, let's take a look at what Arsenal's starting XI might look like.

via lineupbuilder.com

There are some more aggressive and conservative predictions in terms of players' fitness and the manager's tactics. Let me explain.

I am assuming, first of all, that Gibbs will not be healthy enough to start, thus giving Nacho Monreal another chance to impress at left-back.

I am also banking on Mikel Arteta to be well enough to play, though Wenger has such trust in his captain and relies on him so heavily to dictate the pace of Arsenal's attack that he is liable to start him against such an important opponent.

Now for the more conservative counterweight. Let's assume that Aaron Ramsey, who limped off the artificial surface in Andorra after getting his ankle stepped on, will not be fit, or at least fit enough to start.

David Rogers/Getty Images

That opens the door for Jack Wilshere, who has excelled in his past couple performances, to regain his ideal position as Arsenal's box-to-box midfield pivot. He will need to be hyperactive in snuffing out Manchester City's attacks and quick to spark the Gunners on the counterattack.

Mesut Ozil starting in attacking midfield pushes Santi Cazorla to the wing. However, this is simply a choice I believe Wenger will make, rather than the one I would.

To give the team as much attacking diversity and dynamism as possible, he should start Alexis Sanchez on the left and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the right. This arrangement utilizes the pace and shooting ability of the pair to hit City on the counter and avoid the passing rut that Arsenal tend to fall into.

And a note about the formation: Wenger has strangely preferred a 4-1-4-1 setup in recent matches, a totally ineffective arrangement that, combined with playing Ozil out of position on the left wing, has prevented players from performing at maximum effectiveness.

I am assuming—perhaps somewhat aggressively—that Wenger will realize this tactic does not work and will not again attempt to force square pegs into round holes once more against a team that will gladly punish Arsenal if he does.

Even without an ideal lineup, the Gunners can still take at least a point, and possibly three, from City. But rearranging the entire team is simply foolish.

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