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Football London
Football London
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Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

Martinelli and Maitland-Niles start, no Lacazette - The team Arsenal fans want vs Man City

Arsenal are back in Premier League action on Wednesday night.

Since the first-ever winter break, the Gunners have won three league games in succession, scoring eight goals and conceding twice as they look to keep pace with Chelsea and Manchester United in the top-four race.

However, that record will be under serious threat as they face Manchester City and the Etihad Stadium and the north London outfit's record away from home against a 'top six' rival doesn't make for good reading.

Mikel Arteta on his knowledge of Manchester City

For Gunners head coach Mikel Arteta it's a return to the club where he served three full seasons as Pep Guardiola's assistant head coach.

And the Spaniard is very much looking forward to the game.

"It's going to be a very special night," Arteta said in his pre-match press conference. "I'm very excited to get back there. I have some fantastic memories, a lot of friends, a lot of people I like.

"Obviously now I'm in another position, another bench. I will defend my club as well as I can."

In terms of team news, Arteta will be without as many as three first-team players as Calum Chambers, Lucas Torreira, Sead Kolasinac are all ruled out because of injury.

Meanwhile, Kieran Tierney, Cedric Soares and Shkodran Mustafi are all rated as doubtful for the trip to Manchester.

Ahead of the game at the Etihad Stadium, football.london offered fans the chance to step into Arteta's shoes and pick the team to take on the reigning Premier League champions.

Supporters were asked who they'd like to start the game against Man City and those who responded came up with some interesting selections.

What jumps out immediately is the popular choice at right-back. Hector Bellerin has a little problem so might not be risked and Sokratis has operated in that position in the last two games.

But fans are hoping to see Ainsley Maitland-Niles come in from the cold and make his first start since the 1-1 draw against Sheffield United in January.

That's the only change to the back five as Pablo Mari is picked by supporters to start against his former club and continue a partnership with David Luiz which has so far yielded successive clean sheets.

The midfield is unchanged from which started the 1-0 win over West Ham United, but things get rather interesting in attack as fans are not demanding an immediate recall for Alexandre Lacazette despite his winning goal at the weekend.

Instead a recall for Gabriel Martinelli on the left-wing, captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang moving to the central striker role and Eddie Nketiah dropping out is what fans are calling for.

Arsenal XI: Leno; Maitland-Niles, Luiz, Mari, Saka; Xhaka, Ceballos, Ozil; Pepe, Aubameyang, Martinelli

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