Manchester City and Arsenal Set to Clash on Wednesday Night as English Premier League Resumes
However, the corona virus pandemic led to the postponement and cancellation of football activities across the world and the EPL was not an exception. The league fixtures were postponed earlier this year as the world grappled with Covid-19 pandemic with Liverpool being just two games away from being confirmed as the new champions, but their title chase was cast into flux by the disease.
That suspension of the 2019/2020 season since early March left relegation and European qualifications up in the air with every player, fan and stakeholder watching the developments, with the UK government implementing further restrictions on mass gatherings and sporting activities and no one could know when the league would resume.
Since then, there has been no action in the top-flight but now the league is gearing up to return, with all the 20 clubs welcoming their squads to a full and regular training ready for their opening fixtures. The league was initially scheduled for june12, but clubs voted unanimously for it to start on Wednesday, June 17 subject to all safety requirements.
There are still 92 matches in total to be played and all the action is expected to be happening behind closed doors. Neutral grounds could also be used for some 'key matches' where it's considered necessary by the emergency services and safety advisory groups or where games will have to switched due to localized lockdowns.
Now all the eyes are set on Wednesday night, June 17, for a mouth watering clash between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium at exactly 100 days since the last taste of the EPL. This headline fixture was first postponed on Wednesday, March 11 when Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta tested positive for the novel corona virus and subsequent matches were thereafter called off.
But now Man City head coach Pep Guardiola will have to go head-to-head with his former assistant manager for the first time as a manager.
Man City Possible Starting Line Up
Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Mendy, De Bryune, Rodri, Gundogan, Mahrez, Aguero and
Leroy Sane's fitness after injury leaves Guardiola with a clean bill of health ahead of the Project restart, with Sergio Aguero, De Bruyne and Laporte having all long shaken off knocks they were carrying prior to lock down. Aguero's record against Arsenal could see him chosen to lead the attack ahead of Gabriel Jesus, with the Argentine nett
ing 11 times from 15 appearances in this fixture.
Arsenal Possible Starting Line Up
Leno, Bellerin, Mari, Luiz, Tierney, Ceballos, Xaka, Pepe, Ozil, Aubameyang and Lacazette
Sead Kolasinac, Lucas Toreira and Kieren Tierney are back from injury, while Calum Chambers remains sidelined. The future of Pierr-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexander Lacazette has been on the headlines for the last few months for transfer reasons, but the Gabon international will be focusing on scoring more goals and chase the golden boot, and could as well break a club record currently held by Thiery Henry.
Aubameyang has scored 49 goals in 75 Premier League games for Arsenal and could become the clubs fastest to reach the half century milestone by surpassing Henry's 50 goals he scored while at Arsenal in 83 Premier League fixtures.
Head To Head and Prediction
Manchester City has dominated this fixture in the recent past, winning each of their last six meetings in all competitions with the recent meeting seeing City cruise to a 3-0 victory at the Emirates in December.
Arsenal have not won a league game against City since December 2015 and a decreased home advantage may give them more optimism, but their away record has been dreadful this season and Man City will be raring to go again.
From these statistics, the hosts have the superior squad with plenty of talent on the bench, and I'm backing them to come with a 3-1 victory and take home all the three points.
