Africa-Press – Eritrea. With Arsenal top of the table and Manchester City third with just a point separating them, this match is important to both clubs. Both coaches believe this could be a battle between Declan Rice for the Gunners and Rodri for City.
Both can control games and Rice believes Rodri is the best holding midfielder in the world. Arsenal can take advantage of City’s constant high pressing, which leaves gaps at the back but it is central midfield which will dictate which team dominates.
Most worrying for the Gunners is the injury to Bukayo Saka, who has contributed 16 goals and 13 assists in 37 appearances. Saka pulled out of the Three Lions last week, did not train and returned to the Emirates Stadium early.
I am told his withdrawal was a “precaution.” If he does not make it, Arteta has Reiss Nelson and Gabriel Jesus to turn to but I am hearing that Fabio Viera has asked to be considered. However, I think Saka has a fair chance of playing.
Takeriho Tomiyasu and Thomas Partey were training this week but there was no sight of Jurrien Timber. Gabriel Magalhaes also dropped out of international duty and Gabriel Martinelli has been struggling with a gash on his foot and was on crutches this week.
By choice, Ben White did not play for England in the internationals and remained in north London but the 26-year-old is a vital part of the Arsenal set-up. The Gunners took part in a warm-up training match against QPR to test the fitness of Partey, Tomiyasu and Jesus and all three did well.
City still have three trophies within sight. After the Gunners this weekend, they face Real Madrid in the Champions League and an FA Cup match against Chelsea. Pep Guardiola needs all of his key players to be fit. He was assessing his international players after they reported for training on Thursday. Kyle Walker left the pitch in last weekend’s match between England and Brazil due to a hamstring pain. A tough match marking Vinicius Junior took its toll but Walker hopes to be fit to face Arsenal.
However, his chances are only 50-50. Unfortunately, his deputy, Manu Akanji, picked up a knock playing for Switzerland and is yet to be assessed. John Stones is ailing from an adductor thigh injury and the 29-year-old is unlikely to play. Kevin De Bruyne didn’t make the Belgium team due to a groin injury and Jack Grealish didn’t play for England.
He is on a 10-day City personalised training programme. Both trained on Monday and could feature. Guardiola is confident Erling Haaland and Oscar Bobb will be ready but will decide before the game, bearing in mind that the light blues also play Aston Villa on Wednesday.
Liverpool v Brighton
What would be perfect for Liverpool fans? Pure fantasy, I admit. But if it was a perfect world, Jurgen Klopp would change his mind about leaving and Mo Salah, Virgil Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold would sign new contracts…and if Klopp does not change his mind and leaves, Xabi Alonso would arrive before next season. May all your dreams come true, Reds’ fans.
If things go well for Klopp, Liverpool could sit top of the table on Sunday…but only for a couple of hours if Arsenal win. Only goal difference separates them.
Klopp is yet to taste victory over Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi and the Reds haven’t won in their last four games against the Seagulls. Mo Salah will be vital.
He missed 12 games due to injury and international duty. However, his last six appearances have brought five goals and five assists. He is still Liverpool’s top goalscorer this season with 21 and the 31-year-old wants to break 30 goals for the season for the fourth time in his Anfield career.
Caoimhin Kelleher has done spectacularly well deputising for Allison Becker in goal but has only three clean sheets during that period. Darwin Nunez, Ibrahima Konate and Luis Diaz should be fit to start. Trent-Alexander Arnold and Diogo Jota could also return.
Chelsea v Burnley
Chelsea fans believe they can overcome Burnley this weekend before a challenging trip to Manchester United on Thursday.
Unfortunately, things are not quite that simple. Mauricio Pochettino watched the progress of his players in their international matches. Chelsea are 11th in the standings and Pochettino knows that he cannot afford any slip-ups during the run-in if Chelsea are to have any chance of playing European football next season.
Burnley is a must-win. Their 10 fixtures include Tottenham, Aston Villa, Manchester United and Arsenal. Cole Palmer is a problem for this weekend. He is central to all that is good at Chelsea this season. The medical team hope to nurse him back to complete fitness for the match.
Carney Chukwuemeka is another doubt having been picked for England Under 21s but unable to play. Malo Gusto picked a virus but should be fit. Pochettino will be without Reece James, Christopher Nkunku, Lesley Ugochuckwu and Wesley Fofana.
Ben Chilwell recovered his form in England’s second game and looks good. Levi Colwell has been suffering from a toe injury but is hoping to play as is Thiago Silva, who has regained his fitness.
Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia will not be able to play again this season due to a thigh injury.
Burnley will fight as they try to win for coach Vincent Kompany. They are second from bottom and look doomed. Having lost 4-1 at home in October against Chelsea, Burnley are not expected to turn things around at Stamford Bridge.
Goals have deserted Kompany’s team, scoring only 29 in 29 matches with Zeki Amdouni their top scorer. They conceded 63 goals, keeping just two clean sheets. Burnley haven’t beaten Chelsea in their last 10 meetings and I can see no improvement for them this time around.
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