Arsenal vs. Manchester City: How City Will Line Up in Premier League Showdown

Manchester City's loss to Stoke City, coming as it did between their convincing win over Liverpool and the international break, can easily be written off as the predictable outcome of a "trap game."

Add to those elements that Arsenal were the next side on the Premier League slate after Stoke City, and the temptation to look past Mark Hughes' charges may well have been irresistible.

Here's the problem, though. If you succumb to that line of thinking, then this match with Arsenal at the Emirates is yet another trap game.

Three days after the Arsenal match, City go to Germany to take on Bayern Munich in their first match in Group E of Champions League pool play. And after that, City welcome Chelsea to the Etihad in league play.

The lesson is that City's schedule presents so many marquee matchups that they can never let up and they can never excuse themselves for a lackluster performance based on the natural inclination to look ahead.

The only match that ever matters, for City or any club, is the one they are playing right now. And if City are not careful, that slip-up to Stoke City could snowball into an ugly losing streak.

How will City line up against Arsenal in a match that now carries real urgency for the Citizens?

Goalkeeper

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What must be going though Hart's head these days?

There may come a time in the not-so-distant future where Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini gives Willy Caballero the starting goalkeeping spot at Manchester City.

It should not be now, though.

Hart's weak effort to stop Mame Biram Diouf's strike did not cost Manchester City a result against Stoke City. But it certainly did not help their effort much.

Until Hart makes an inexcusable error, though, his job is probably safe. Pellegrini would surely prefer that Hart play well for an extended period of time rather than start the goalkeeper carousel in September.  

Defenders

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Kompany (center) is the fulcrum of the City back line.

Manchester City are almost certain to start Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta against Arsenal. Kompany is the captain (often City's sine qua non) and Zabaleta is the defender City boss Manuel Pellegrini trusts most to make the overlapping runs that can devastate opposing defenses.

Beyond that, we know that City will start two more defenders. The safe calls are Martin Demichelis and Aleksandar Kolarov, but City supporters are surely more excited at the prospect of Eliaquim Mangala making his debut in sky blue.

"With City gearing up for an epic eight days against Arsenal (away), Bayern Munich (away) and Chelsea (home) Mangala is likely to be thrown in," Paul Handler observed in the Manchester Evening News.

It would also not be a shock to see Gael Clichy at left-back in place of Kolarov.

Central Midfielders

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City would prefer to see Toure operate with a bit more open space around him.

There are potential mysteries and positional battles all over the pitch at Manchester City. Except here. Yaya Toure and Fernando will man the central midfield unless injury interferes. 

Fernando "was substituted during the weekend defeat by Stoke with a groin injury and has been treated at Carrington ever since. The Blues have given no bulletin on his condition, but MEN Sport understands that there is not a great deal of concern about the injury," wrote Stuart Brennan for the Manchester Evening News last week.

You could make an argument that Fernandinho's pace as opposed to Fernando's physical presence would be the better fit against the speedy midfielders Arsenal will deploy.

But City manager Manuel Pellegrini seems to prefer dominating the midfield with force rather than quickness.

Wingers

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City will need incisive play from Silva in the coming weeks.

David Silva will surely start against Arsenal, and Samir Nasri is also a very likely choice.

Hopefully Nasri will have his full attention on Manchester City's tussle with his former employers, though given the splashy headlines Nasri has been making related to his retirement from international football it might be difficult to blame Nasri if his mind is elsewhere. 

City boss Manuel Pellegrini likes to bring Jesus Navas on for Nasri when he can, and he has been known to put James Milner on for Silva if City have a lead late. Neither Navas nor Milner are much pleased with their secondary roles but for now this is the order of things at City.

Forwards

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City would like to see Aguero strike that "I just scored" pose a few times against Arsenal.

With Stevan Jovetic likely out against Arsenal, City manager Manuel Pellegrini has a difficult decision to make.

Pellegrini wants to play with two strikers whenever he can. But Alvaro Negredo is gone (and he is still injured, anyway) and Jovetic probably cannot go. That leaves Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko, whose strike partnership over the years has vacillated between being grudging and being uneasy.

It would not be the worst idea for Pellegrini to deploy the 4-5-1 formation he used to great effect toward the end of the 2013-14 season. Particularly against a tactically proficient opponent like Arsenal (at the Emirates, no less), another midfielder might be very valuable.

But Pellegrini probably cannot help himself. He will start Aguero and Dzeko and try to put the Gunners down quickly. If Pellegrini can get Aguero off the pitch before the 60-minute mark, he will be beyond ecstatic with matches against Bayern and Chelsea to follow.