Odds courtesy of TonyBet.
Arsenal vs Manchester City Odds
Arsenal is a very slim +154 favorite at soccer betting sites. City is priced at +165, while a full-time draw is set at +245 odds. The total, meanwhile, sits at 2.5 goals.
The Sky Blues have beaten the Gunners in back-to-back meetings, winning the League Cup final in March and then again in Premier League action less than a month later.
Arsenal vs Manchester City Analysis
The Gunners enter 2026-27 with a target on their backs after finally lifting the Premier League title last term, but they have a real shot at doing so again. Arsenal has brought in Bruno Guimarães to strengthen their midfield, while Pierre Hincapie’s loan deal from Bayer Leverkusen became a permanent move. Although Leandro Trossard did depart for Turkey, Mikel Arteta’s attack is still full of quality options with the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Bukayo Saka, and Kai Havertz, among others. Also, Gyokeres should be even better in his second Premier League season.
Beating City has been an issue for the Gunners in recent memory, and this is an opportunity to quickly change that narrative before the Premier League campaign begins. However, the North Londoners haven’t looked particularly convincing so far in preseason action. In four matches, they have just one victory, losing on spot-kicks to Borussia Dortmund and Como. That being said, this fixture has a lot more importance, and Arteta will be rolling out the big guns who are fit with the hope of securing their first piece of silverware for the upcoming season.
Man City is heading into a brand-new era following Pep Guardiola's departure this summer after 10 years at the Etihad, paving the way for former assistant Enzo Maresca to take over after he left Chelsea in early ‘26. Maresca will certainly have pressure to perform, and it’s hard to know what to expect from this club without Guardiola calling the shots, but it’s impossible to overlook the talent within the squad.
Erling Haaland still leads the line after winning another Golden Boot last season, and he’s also coming off a terrific summer with Norway where he led his country to the World Cup quarterfinals. While Nathan Ake, John Stones, and Bernardo Silva have all left, Elliott Anderson arrives to bolster the midfield after making his name at Nottingham Forest. In preseason, City won two of their three games, and they enter this affair with just one defeat to Arsenal in their last six meetings.
Arsenal vs Manchester City Injury News
Arsenal remain without defenders Jurrien Timber and William Saliba, with Timber sidelined for several more weeks because of a groin issue and Saliba facing a longer absence with a back injury. The rest of Mikel Arteta’s squad is available, although Declan Rice, Saka and Martin Zubimendi are unlikely to start after missing the entirety of pre-season.
Manchester City are still without Rodri following back surgery, while Savinho is also a doubt after missing training through illness. Haaland has returned to training but is expected to start on the bench due to a lack of pre-season minutes, while Tijjani Reijnders could also miss out as he closes in on a move to the Saudi Pro League.
Arsenal vs Manchester City Picks
Both sides are missing some key figures, and this is the first meaningful fixture of the campaign for Arsenal and City. I expect a cagey affair here, but I’ll take the Gunners to prevail.
Pick: Arsenal +154/TonyBet
