Football

Man City vs Arsenal Head-To-Head: Last season’s top two face off at Wembley

August 5, 2023 5:59 pm
Man City vs Arsenal Head-To-Head: Last season’s top two face off at Wembley
Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal pushes forward ahead of Bernardo Silva (centre) and Kyle Walker of Manchester City during the FA Cup fourth round match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester. Picture by Matt Wilkinson/Focus Images Ltd 07814 960751 27/01/2023 - Photo by Icon sport

Manchester City and Arsenal are set to go head-to-head at Wembley Stadium on Sunday afternoon in the Community Shield. The match is usually played between the winners of the Premier League and the winners of the FA Cup, however, as Manchester City won the treble last season, Arsenal have been selected as the Blues’ opponents due to their second-placed finish in the Premier League.

Man City vs Arsenal Head-to-Head Record

As two of England’s oldest football clubs, Man City and Arsenal have faced each other on 208 occasions throughout history in several different competitions. Their first encounter came in November 1893 with Arsenal (then known as Woolwich Arsenal) coming out on top.

  • Man City wins: 65
  • Draws: 45
  • Arsenal wins: 98

Arsenal have come out on top on more occasions than Manchester City over the years, however, this trend has changed somewhat over the past 15 years. Ever since Man City became a force to be reckoned with in 2008, they have beaten Arsenal 23 times in 38 encounters.

The trend becomes even more dominant when you look at the meetings between the two clubs ever since Pep Guardiola became the Man City manager in 2016. City have won 15 of the last 16 matches between the two sides with the Gunners only recent victory against City coming in the FA Cup in 2020.

Man City vs Arsenal Last Five Head-to-Head Matches

Manchester City 4-1 Arsenal (26/04/2023)

The match that sealed effectively sealed Manchester City their third successive Premier League title. After a series of poor results in the build-up, Arsenal knew they needed a win to stay in the title race but instead succumbed to the home side thanks to goals from John Stones, Erling Haaland and a brace from Kevin de Bruyne. Guardiola’s men were at their brilliant best and dismissed Arsenal with relative ease.

Arsenal 1-3 Manchester City (15/02/2023)

A few months prior to the demolition job at the Etihad Stadium, Arsenal welcomed Manchester City to the Emirates Stadium with the opportunity to go six points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a game in hand. City were far from their best in the build-up to this one and Arsenal’s failure to finish them off at home was the turning point in the title race.

Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal (27/01/2023)

Manchester City welcomed Arsenal to the Etihad Stadium at the start of January in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Neither side played their best teams but City’s second string proved to be too good for Arsenal’s in a tight encounter in Manchester. Considering Arteta’s side were riding a huge wave of momentum going into this clash, he may have regretted fielding the team he did.

Arenal 1-2 Manchester City (01/01/2022)

On New Year’s Day in 2022, Arsenal and Manchester played a very high-quality game of football at the Emirates Stadium. It was Arsenal’s best performance of the season and but for a red card to Gabriel, they would have likely gone on and won the match. In the end, a stoppage-time winner from Rodri gave City the three points.

Manchester City 5-0 Arsenal (28/08/2021)

Four months prior to the thriller at the Emirates, Manchester City blew away Arsenal in a game that left many wondering whether Mikel Arteta’s days were numbered as Arsenal boss. The goals came from Ferran Torres (two), Gabriel Jesus, Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan. The worst part of all for Arsenal was the fact that City never seemed to get out of second gear yet still put five past a sorry Arsenal.

Man City vs Arsenal – What to expect

Arsenal and Man City go into the Community Shield as the two favourites to win the Premier League next season. Arsenal have had a very productive summer, signing the likes of Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber while Manchester City will look slightly different following the departures of Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez.

Arsenal have had longer pre-season preparations than Manchester City so they perhaps even go into this match as favourites. Expect some early rustiness from Man City but for the game to properly kick into gear by the second half.

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