Good news From Emirates .Dream Arsenal line-up vs Manchester City as Saka and Martinelli start, Partey partners Rice in midfield

Arsenal’s dream lineup to face Manchester City in the Premier League includes the return from injury for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli as Thomas Partey starts.

In a dream scenario, both Gabriel Martinelli and Thomas Partey could return for Arsenal to face Manchester City.
In a dream scenario, both Gabriel Martinelli and Thomas Partey could return for Arsenal to face Manchester City. (Image: David Price/Arsenal FC Arsenal newsletter so you don’t miss the latest Gunners news, straight to your inbox

The midweek Champions League disappointment can be wiped from the face of the Earth with a massive victory in this week’s Premier League clash. The reason is because the opponents are Manchester City who arrive with, as always, an unbelievably good record in the red half of north London.

However, there are plenty of narratives to the game with the majority centring around who is not going to be playing. From the visitor side, both Rodri, who is suspended, and Kevin De Bruyne, who is injured, will not be a part of the team with the duo being a thorn in the Gunners’ side for quite some time.

It is arguably the best opportunity the Gunners have had in many years to get a good result against the champions. However, Mikel Arteta is also under the cosh from a spate of injury woes peppering his group over the past few weeks however, glimmers of hope exist.

In terms of what a dream line-up for the team could look like, starting in goal, David Raya. The mistakes against Tottenham and RC Lens can be forgotten if he keeps out the likes of Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez this weekend.

The defence has options, mainly at left-back with either Oleksandr Zinchenko or Takehiro Tomiyasu up for debate with the latter offering more defensive security and likely preferable away from home. However, at the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners will hope to build from the back and that’s why the Ukrainian is preferred.

William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes will partner up for the first time against City since the last home defeat as the Frenchman missed the trip to Etihad Stadium through injury. Ben White will return to start at right-back and be tasked with dealing with a variety of potential starting options on the City left.

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Into midfield and Thomas Partey’s return to fitness could not have come at a better time. If fit to start, being paired with Declan Rice revives the Community Shield success that saw the Gunners compete with the treble-winners for the whole match and eventually lift to trophy.

Up top is where it could be exciting and scary. Both Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have not been completely ruled out for this game and in a dream scenario, the idea that they both could be fit would be a humungous boost and relief to Arteta as he then sandwiches Gabriel Jesus with the revived pace on the wings.

Arsenal dream line-up vs Manchester City: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli