We’ve delved into all of the stats using the Squawka Comparison Matrix to pick out a combined Manchester City and Arsenal XI ahead of their crucial Premier League clash on Sunday.
Check the stats and see our eventual combined XI below. The players we’ve chosen to compare are a combination of the team’s most used XI so far this season and predicted lineups for the match itself.
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma vs David Raya
For many, David Raya has been the Premier League’s leading goalkeeper this season. However, he’s certainly not been the busiest, with Gianluigi Donnarumma being forced into more saves, while also boasting a higher save percentage.
The two are identical when it comes to clean sheets, while Raya edges it when it comes to goals conceded per 90 minutes, though the margin is just 0.1. Donnarumma comes out on top in the passing metrics, and in a big game, you’d fancy the majority to favour him between the posts.
Winner: Gianluigi Donnarumma
Right-back: Matheus Nunes vs Ben White
There’s a clear difference in styles here, with Matheus Nunes the high-energy attacking player, moonlighting as a right-back, and Ben White the versatile defender, focusing on getting the basics done first.
White comes out on top in most categories, with the exceptions of take-ons and ball recoveries, which is unsurprising given that ball-carrying and tenacity are two of Nunes’ biggest strengths.
Winner: Ben White
Centre-backs: Abdukodir Khusanov vs Marc Guehi vs William Saliba vs Gabriel
William Saliba and Gabriel have been widely touted as the best centre-back pairing in the Premier League over the last few years. However, with Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol injured, Man City have been building an exciting new partnership of their own in Abdukodir Khusanov and Marc Guehi.
Those two have been a major part of City’s surge back into the title race, with Khusanov, especially, impressing with his recovery speed and aggression. He gets in alongside Gabriel, who gets the basics done at the back, and is, obviously, a massive set-piece threat.
Winners: Abdukodir Khusanov and Gabriel
Left-back: Nico O’Reilly vs Piero Hincapie
Nico O’Reilly has been a revelation for City this season, and he comes into this match in form with three goals and an assist in his last three appearances across all competitions. Two of those goals, of course, came against Arsenal in the EFL Cup final, so the Gunners will be well aware of his threat.
The England international is overshadowed by Piero Hincapie when it comes to some of the core defensive metrics, such as interceptions and clearances. However, he’s the clear winner in almost all other metrics and one of the Premier League’s form players right now.
Winner: Nico O’Reilly
Central midfielders: Rodri vs Bernardo Silva vs Declan Rice vs Martin Zubimendi
A quick glance at the above comparison shows just how important Rodri is to Manchester City. From tackling to passing, to just being plain frustrating to try and get the ball off, the Spanish midfielder can do it all, and while they suffer when he’s injured, City are that much better when he’s in the side.
While Declan Rice doesn’t come out on top in any category here, he does beat Bernardo Silva and Martin Zubimendi in enough categories to be the second midfielder picked, forming a partnership Pep Guardiola would love, between arguably the two very best in the game right now.
Winners: Rodri and Declan Rice
Right winger: Antoine Semenyo vs Noni Madueke
Bukayo Saka is highly unlikely to feature due to injury, so Noni Madueke will come in on the right side for Arsenal.
Madueke has been solid across all competitions for the Gunners, but he’s managed just two goals and an assist in the Premier League. By contrast, Antoine Semenyo has been a force of nature, whether wearing a Bournemouth shirt or a Man City one. He may trail Madueke in the dribbling stakes, but it’s Semenyo delivering the goods where it really counts.
Winner: Antoine Semenyo
Attacking midfielder: Rayan Cherki vs Eberechi Eze
Eberechi Eze comes out on top when it comes to goals per 90, but it’s important to remember that five of his six Premier League strikes this season have come against Tottenham Hotspur.
Rayan Cherki is running up far superior numbers in every other category, and he’s been one of Man City’s brightest stars this season. The France international can sometimes be guilty of showboating at inappropriate times, but his confidence is wonderful to see, and he’s been pulling the strings and ripping teams apart recently.
Winner: Rayan Cherki
Left winger: Jeremy Doku vs Leandro Trossard
Leandro Trossard is so often a player Mikel Arteta turns to in big games, and his movement will give Man City something to think about on Sunday.
However, when placed against compatriot Jeremy Doku, there really is no comparison, at least statistically. Doku is far ahead when it comes to chance creation, assists, dribbling, fouls won and touches in the opposition box, proving himself a more obvious, prominent threat — even if his goals tally is surprisingly low. Ben White (or Cristhian Mosquera) won’t be looking forward to coming up against him.
Winner: Jeremy Doku
Striker: Erling Haaland vs Viktor Gyokeres
A Scandinavian derby for the striker spot. Despite the noise around him, Viktor Gyokeres’ movement and physicality have definitely improved Arsenal, and his 18 goals in all competitions (12 in the Premier League) make for a very respectable total for his first season at the club.
But if we’re being real, there’s only one winner here. Even somewhat off form, Erling Haaland is the Premier League’s ultimate goalscoring machine and one of the very best in Europe right now. He’s still top of the Golden Boot race, despite failing to score in each of his last four Premier League games, and an FA Cup hat-trick against Liverpool recently was a timely reminder of what he can do in the biggest games.
Winner: Erling Haaland
