Arsenal gunning for a league and cup double
The FA Cup fourth round draw has pitted the top two of the Premier League table against each other, with Manchester City playing hosts to Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Friday night. Pep Guardiola's squad has a clean bill of health, whilst the visitors are riding high after their 3-2 win over mutual rivals Manchester United last weekend. Read our preview here:
Homes for Gómez
Several of the senior members of the roster have suffered serious dips in their own individual form this term, especially since the World Cup break. Chief amongst them is João Cancelo - the inverted full-back's only 90 minutes since Qatar have both ended in defeat, down in no small part to his poor displays. Guardiola has rolled the dice since, sometimes putting Nathan Aké (though he's more suited to a central role) or youngster Rico Lewis in the left berth. The latter has impressed but is likely to receive the Phil Foden treatment when it comes to his introduction into the first team proper. Sergio Gómez, signed in the summer from Anderlecht, was ostensibly supposed to be a backup to Cancelo originally, with his appearances restricted to cup competitions. Here, he could be handed a shirt from the outset where he will come up against a red-hot Bukayo Saka.
Zinc is golden
Mikel Arteta will be without Emile Smith-Rowe after the playmaker picked up an issue with his thigh. He joins Gabriel Jesus, Reiss Nelson, and Mohamed Elneny on the sidelines. Gabriel Martinelli's recent underperformances might not be as costly as they could've been from an attacking point of view - the capture of Leandro Trossard from Brighton & Hove Albion adds another potent attacker across the front three positions. Behind the Belgian international and facing his former side will be Oleksandr Zinchenko has muscled his way back into the XI on merit with some solid displays, and he will of course have the inside track on almost every member of the home team.
Betting tip
Arsenal are in superb nick at the moment, whilst there are some defensive vulnerabilities to the Man City setup. betway have odds of 4.00 for the Gunners to keep their dreams of another league and cup double very much alive within the 90 minutes.
