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2022/23 English Premier League
Matchday 33
Manchester City v Arsenal
Etihad Stadium
Manchester, England
Wednesday, 26 April 2023
Kick-off is at 19h00
Manchester City look will to capitalise on Arsenal's recent slip-ups in the
Premier League as the title race comes to a head at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, April 26.
The Gunners have seen an 11-point lead over the Citizens reduced to just five after they needed two late goals to rescue a 3-3 draw against Southampton at the Emirates Stadium last Friday.
It was the third game in a row that Mikel Arteta's side had dropped points following their recent 2-2 draws with Liverpool and West Ham, which has opened the door for City to retain their league crown.
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The defending champions have two games in hand on the league leaders and will cut the gap to just two points if they do the double over the North Londoners, who suffered a 3-1 defeat in the reverse fixture on February 15.
Pep Guardiola's team booked their place in the FA Cup final with a 3-0 victory over Sheffield United in the semi-finals last Saturday and they will be chasing a seventh consecutive league win in midweek.
Riyad Mahrez will be hoping to retain his place in the team after scoring a match-winning hat-trick against the Blades in the FA Cup. The Algerian winger has had to play second fiddle to Phil Foden in recent months after the latter's outstanding form this season, although he started the last three league games in the absence of the England international, who underwent surgery on his appendix.
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Gabriel Martinelli is in the form of his life after finally getting an extended run in the first team this term. The Brazilian winger has started all but one of Arsenal's 32 top-flight games in 2022-23 and bagged his 15th goal in the stalemate with the Saints - his eighth in 10 outings.
In team news, Nathan Ake (thigh) is the only absentee for the hosts, while Takehiro Tomiyasu, Mohamed Elneny (both knee) and William Saliba (back) remain unavailable for the visitors. Granit Xhaka (illness) is considered doubtful.
Guardiola is hoping that every squad member will be able to contribute to their title challenge in the run-in, with Foden having returned to action as a second-half substitute against Sheffield United.
"What's important is we go game by game, everyone is fit. We don't have injuries," the Spaniard said. "Phil [Foden] is back, we can rely on Sergio [Gomez] and Stefan [Ortega Moreno]. Everyone is going to do their contribution."
Arteta insists his players are still hungry to win the Championship and will redouble their efforts in the build-up to the trip to Manchester on Wednesday.
"They want it so much. For me personally, what I've experienced with not only the players but the staff and our supporters, it was incredible and I know how difficult it is," the Spaniard said.
"I think everybody has to disconnect tonight, digest it and tomorrow start to think what is the best way to go to Manchester to beat them."
Head-to-Head (Last Five Premier League Meetings)
Matches - 5
Man City - 5
Arsenal - 0
Draws - 0
Matchday 33 fixtures:
Tuesday, April 25
18h30: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Crystal Palace
18h45: Aston Villa v Fulham
19h00: Leeds United v Leicester City
Wednesday, April 26
18h30: Nottingham Forest v Brighton & Hove Albion
18h45: West Ham United v Liverpool
18h45: Chelsea v Brentford
19h00: Manchester City v Arsenal
Thursday, April 27
18h45: Everton v Newcastle United
18h45: Southampton v Bournemouth
18h15: Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United
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