Arsenal gave Manchester City a scare in the Premier League title race last season but their three head-to-head meetings in 2022-23 all went the way of the Citizens.
They beat the Gunners 1-0 in the FA Cup before 3-1 and 4-1 victories in the league and they have won their last 12 league meetings with the north London club.
However, the absences of key midfielders Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne could help close the gap between the teams and City, beaten 2-1 at Wolves last weekend, face a testing trip to the Emirates Stadium.
Team news
Arsenal will assess the fitness of forward Bukayo Saka, who came off in the first half of the midweek Champions League defeat to Lens. Gabriel Martinelli is also a doubt so Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus could start on the wings with Eddie Nketiah as the centre-forward.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri serves the final game of a three-match ban. Kevin De Bruyne is injured and John Stones is unlikely to feature so Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes may start in central midfield.
The stats
Arsenal have won 19 of their last 26 home Premier League matches.
The Gunners have scored 35 goals in their last 12 home league games.
Arsenal have scored five penalties in their last six league fixtures.
Manchester City won only one of their eight away games against top-nine teams last season.
The Citizens have won their last 12 league meetings with Arsenal.
City have conceded the first goal in four of their last six games in all competitions.
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Rodri will serve the final match of his three-game domestic ban on Sunday
Prediction
There has been a sense of inevitability about this fixture over the past few seasons with Arsenal winless in 15 league meetings with Manchester City, losing the last dozen.
They have competed well in their last two home league defeats to the Citizens, however, and Sunday’s game should be even closer with Declan Rice strengthening the home midfield and City missing a couple of key players.
The treble winners lost their first two matches without the suspended Rodri, against Newcastle in the EFL Cup and Wolves in the league, and Arsenal could complete the hat-trick this weekend.
The Gunners left it late to beat Manchester United 3-1 before sharing a pulsating 2-2 draw with Tottenham so it is hard to see them grinding out a win to nil against the Citizens.
A likely front four of Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden and the in-form Julian Alvarez can certainly cause problems for the Arsenal defence and the fitness of Bukayo Saka is a major concern for the hosts.
However, Arsenal have an excellent home record under Mikel Arteta and, after last weekend’s 4-0 rout of Bournemouth on the south coast, they can edge an entertaining win over the champions. The 2-1 Correct Score is an appealing bet.
