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Arsenal v Man City team news: Saliba + Trossard start, Saka a sub

21 September 2025 770 comments
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The final match of Gameweek 5 takes place at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon, as Arsenal take on Manchester City.

Kick-off is at 16:30 BST.

TEAM NEWS

Mikel Arteta makes two changes to the side that beat Athletic Club 2-0 on Tuesday.

William Saliba comes in for Cristhian Mosquera at the back, while Leandro Trossard is preferred to Eberechi Eze on the left.

Bukayo Saka returns as a substitute following his hamstring injury, but Martin Odegaard is not in the squad.

As for City, they are unchanged from the team that beat Napoli 2-0 in midweek.

LINE-UPS

Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Merino, Rice, Madueke, Trossard, Gyokeres

Subs: Kepa, Mosquera, White, Saka, Eze, Martinelli, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly

Manchester City XI: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Rodri, Reijnders, Foden, Bernardo, Doku, Haaland

Subs: Trafford, Stones, Ake, Nico, Savinho, Nunes, Bobb, Mukasa, Lewis

READ MORE: FPL notes: Palmer injury latest + why Sanchez isn’t flagged
READ MORE: FPL notes: Why Slot benched Wirtz + Isak, Grealish + Ekitike good
READ MORE: FPL notes: Sarr return, Pino worry + West Ham’s set-piece woes

770 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 12 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    Eze is such a talent and should be starting these big games. Arsenal need his creativity to unlock defences. Arteta instead of trying to shut up shop from kick off should think about doing that after getting 1-0 in front and then bringing off the likes of Eze for Merino. Especially at home they should be dictating things more by all means stifle the game with from a leading position.

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    1. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      Set up shop?

      He’s left keys in the door & F’d off

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      1. Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        6 months, 1 day ago

        Arsenal we’re on top and attacking before City scored then shut up shop themselves

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    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      yeah

      eze shouldve joined spurs. those positions simons was picking up yesterday is eze down to a tee, he wouldve shone. oh well

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      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 12 Years
        6 months, 1 day ago

        So true, that position and that style of play at Spurs is way more suited to Eze’s style of play. Now he is a bit part player in a very turgid side.

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    3. pundit of punts
      • 13 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      Agreed

      Such negative tactics

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    4. Gubby-Allen
      • 4 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      Eeino has played well and his a good attacking outlet, plus is only in the team as Odegaard is out and who would always have started.

      Eze is in over Trossard or Rice as much. I would have started him over either

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      1. Gubby-Allen
        • 4 Years
        6 months, 1 day ago

        Merino

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  2. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    Gaby desperately diving get up

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    1. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      Silly comment

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      1. g40steve
        • 8 Years
        6 months, 1 day ago

        2.4 for the dive

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  3. OneTeamInBristol
    • 2 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    The last week where i can enjoy Haalands points before everyone owns him.

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    1. keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      Anyone using wildcard or free hit to get him next week won't be able to use TC .

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    2. Zimo
      • 7 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      U can TC and be one step ahead again

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  4. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    This is a different City playing differently

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  5. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    Got 14 points on BB this week - Dubravka, Xhaka, Esteve with 4pts each and Milenkovic with 2pts.

    Decent enough?

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    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      Reckon it's par with defcons now. Be glad to be rid of it.

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      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        6 months, 1 day ago

        Yep, it's done and don't need to fret about it anymore. Time to WC and reduce bench to absolute fodder...although half way there 😀

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    2. pundit of punts
      • 13 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      Anything above 12 is great

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    3. Gubby-Allen
      • 4 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      Yes very good. They all played for one thing.

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  6. F4L
    • 11 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    feed gyokeres and he will score

    but he's starving 😥

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  7. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    Doku pass ffs

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  8. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    Doku trying to walk it into the net of next weeks game...

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    1. have you seen cyan
      • 6 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      Yea..

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  9. FPL Sanky
    • 2 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    Imagine playing and captaining Palmer and benching Reijndeers....ohh wait that's me

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    1. MJF
      • 7 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      I think you made the right decision with the info you had to be fair, Man Utd are hopeless.

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  10. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    Classic Doku. Haaland and Reijnders open, and he runs into trouble with his head down. 😡

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  11. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    Doku is out of the team next week following that.

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  12. SINGH
    • 7 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    3 defensive midfielders at home. No playmaker. Speedy Martinelli on the bench.

    End of season this guy needs to get out!!

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    1. Gubby-Allen
      • 4 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      Not sure Merino is any more defensive than Odegaard, but anyway, it is to get to 60 mins intact and then the finishers come on.

      If it works and they win 2-1 or 3-2 it was inspired. If not, negative.

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  13. Hughes Your Daddy
    • 13 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    Sad seeing Eze stuck on the bench, not helping his England chances 🙁

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  14. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    Reijnders on 2 bonus atm

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    1. fedolefan
      • 11 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      His bonus will go up in smoke. Needs the defcon.

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      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        6 months, 1 day ago

        He’s on 18 which is high considering not even half time yet

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  15. Dynamic Duos
    • 12 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    Arsenal defence essential?

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    1. SINGH
      • 7 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      No

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    2. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 12 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      Most weeks yes.

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    3. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      Soon, getting there

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    4. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      From GW7, yes.

      2 of them if you can.

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    5. Gubby-Allen
      • 4 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      No more than one of them but them as much for goals/assists.

      The time to get them was for the first six games - first goal from open play today. Those coming up they often concede in.

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  16. chocolove
    • 15 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    HT changes for Eze and Saka looks good on the card. But knowing Arteta, he will make the changes on 60'

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    1. KanuLenoMeeMoCash
      • 5 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      And he'd be right to, especially Saka

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  17. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    Do Saka, Maduake & Eze all play on the same side? That's serious competition, especially in a world cup year...

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    1. SINGH
      • 7 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      Madueke and Saka yes. Eze is central midfielder not wing

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      1. Hughes Your Daddy
        • 13 Years
        6 months, 1 day ago

        What you going on about? Eze is a left sided attacking midfielder (who yes can drift central) but has played out on the left many years.

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        1. SINGH
          • 7 Years
          6 months, 1 day ago

          He isn't a winger like saka and madueke

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  18. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    Donna big save

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    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      commanding

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    2. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      & another

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  19. Twisted Saltergater
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    I don’t think many people would’ve played Porro over Reijnders, so I’m really not sure what I was thinking

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  20. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 12 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    Madueke looking excellent so far.

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    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      Arsenal have collected all our mid priced midfield options so we can’t play with them

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    2. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      All drible, only pass when can drible anymore

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      1. chocolove
        • 15 Years
        6 months, 1 day ago

        Cant

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  21. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    Big Gabriel header incoming

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  22. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    Saka ain’t walking back into team Madueke their best player on this show

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  23. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    This is all good from Arsenal but who is scoring the goal? They need starboy.

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    1. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      Gyokeres

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    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      Where is Gyok?

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  24. Pedersen
    • 7 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    Wow. Statistics on this game is like a top team playing a bottom team with City being the bottom one

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  25. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    Ref grow a set

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  26. Pariße
    • 11 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    Yellow to Silva and yellow to Trossard?

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  27. chocolove
    • 15 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    What a joke, Silva

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  28. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 12 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    Trossard got sent off last year for being a gimp. If he repeats and gets sent off he is done.

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  29. F4L
    • 11 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    low blow from leandro

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  30. KeanosMagic
    • 4 Years
    6 months, 1 day ago

    If you had to choose one for the long term, would it be Raya or Donnarunma?

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    1. Sgt. Schultz
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      Raya

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    2. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      Arsenal have more option in their def. City not really

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    3. F4L
      • 11 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      raya 100%

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    4. Pino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 months, 1 day ago

      Tempted with Donna. He has improved City defense. He is a better then Raya and even if City defense is not as good as Arsenal`s, he is a great shoot stopper.

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      1. have you seen cyan
        • 6 Years
        6 months, 1 day ago

        Yea. I'd prefer Raya, but if he goes up in price before I get him. Donna it is instead.

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        1. have you seen cyan
          • 6 Years
          6 months, 1 day ago

          ffs, both going up lol.

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