No Smith Rowe or Foden tonight
No Emile Smith Rowe as expected for Arsenal tonight after that thigh injury.
However, the problem is considered minor and his absence from Arteta’s match squad is merely a precaution.
Standard Sport understands the issue is in no way related to the ongoing groin injury that required surgery and which sidelined him for some four months earlier this season.
As for City, Phil Foden is still not ready to return, despite an improvement in his foot problems since the Manchester derby defeat at Old Trafford.
Haaland starts as Guardiola switches two
The big news for City is that Haaland starts and Guardiola makes just two changes to the side that sidelined Wolves in the Premier League.
One is in goal as Ederson’s understudy Stefan Ortega takes over, while back Nathan Ake replaces Aymeric Laporte.
Otherwise it’s a case of like you were at City tonight very much into business against a much more rotated Arsenal team.
Six changes for Arsenal as Trossard starts
So Leandro Trossard has indeed been brought in for his full Arsenal debut tonight, with fellow newcomer Jakub Kiwior named as one of the traveling substitutes.
Arteta has made six changes to the side that triumphed in dramatic fashion against Manchester United, with Matt Turner, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Rob Holding, Kieran Tierney and Fabio Vieira also lined up in the first team alongside Trossard.
Bukayo Saka retains his place, as do Gabriel, Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and Eddie Nketiah.
Manchester City line-up
Starting XI: Ortega, Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Ake, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Mahrez, Grealish, Haaland
Subs: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Phillips, Cancelo, Laporte, Alvarez, Bernardo, Palmer
Arsenal lineup
Starting XI: turner; Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Vieira, Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Nketiah, Trossard
Subs: Kiwior, Ramsdale, White, Zinchenko, Saliba, Lokonga, Odegaard, Marquinhos, Martinelli
Standard Sport’s Simon Collings has arrived at the Etihad to report that Leandro Trossard is indeed lining up for a full Arsenal debut tonight…
The photo shows both sets of players arriving at the Etihad slightly earlier.
But will this man be in the starting line-up after his latest hat-trick exploits to beat Wolves last weekend?
Or will Guardiola rather give him a rest and trust World Cup winner Julian Alvarez to lead his attack with a trip to Spurs on the horizon?
We’ll know soon!
Guardiola defends Arteta for antics on the sidelines
Guardiola also put up a robust defense of Arteta’s heated touchline antics, which once again came into the limelight in that latest victory over Manchester United.
Many find his appeals and passionate protests too much, although Guardiola has no time for the sort of allegations he has faced on that front as well.
“When you’re at the top of the league, they have to undercut you for another reason, and they’re doing that now. I know this situation very well,” he said.
“Anything can happen on the sidelines during the moments of the game. I teach him few things, but this comes from himself, his father and mother, his character and that was already there.”
“I know him and I felt during the time we worked together that what he’s doing isn’t fake, it’s him.
“When we made training and in a game, he was always complaining about referees, and that was as an assistant coach. It is what it is.”
“So after that I am no longer a judge. Everyone is everyone and sometimes I act like one.”
Arteta: ‘Cruijff-like’ Guardiola changed the game
Arteta, meanwhile, insists he never tried to “copy and paste” his former mentor’s approach as they prepare to reconvene tonight.
He says he received the same accusations as a player, but feels nothing but respect for his ex-boss as they embark on a thrilling title battle.
Arteta also compared Guardiola’s impact on the game to that of fellow Barcelona icon Johan Cruyff.
“I feel gratitude,” he said. “First of all because he inspired me as a player and he inspired me and gave me the chance as a coach. That’s all.”
“For what people think of me, I accept it. Because I probably wouldn’t have had the career I had as a player, the understanding of the game or the goal I had as a player if it wasn’t for him at that time.” at Barcelona.
“I wouldn’t be sitting here and having that willingness and love for coaching if he hadn’t trusted my love and given me the chance.
“I watched him and just wanted to achieve what he was doing. I loved the way he played and the way he radiated on the pitch and understood what was happening. He has been an inspiration since I was 18 years old.
“I think the influence Pep had in football over the last 20 years is just incredibly powerful. He changed the game like Johan (Cruyff) did in the past, he did like other managers who will go down in history.”
Guardiola predicts a side line from Arteta
The Guardiola-Arteta factor always adds an extra layer of intrigue to any clash between Manchester City and Arsenal these days.
Pep’s former Etihad protégé is now fighting for him in the title race, with such a tense battle threatening the positive relationship that has always existed between the two Spaniards.
In fact, Guardiola believes there could be a first sideline rift with his ex-assistant, though he insists it won’t tarnish their friendship in the long run.
“Merry Christmas and Happy New Year was the last time (we talked),” Guardiola said this week.
“He’s a rival, of course he is. He wants to beat me and I want to beat him.
“I know how we both are and in defeat we are not the best of friends in the world.
“From my point of view, I have a lot of respect for him as a person, as a manager. That’s not going to change if we start fighting on the sidelines.”
“Sooner or later it’s going to happen, I think, but if it’s going to happen, it won’t change the respect I have (for him) or anything.”