Team News: Calafiori starts for Man City for the first time | Team News | News

Mikel Arteta has made two changes to his team for today's top match against Manchester City and given Riccardo Calafiori his debut for the senior national team.

The Italian international makes his first start for us and moves into the defence, with Ben White moving to the bench.

The other change from Thursday's 0-0 draw with Atalanta sees Leandro Trossard, former City player Gabriel Jesus and another man who shone in the sky blue Etihad Stadium, Raheem Sterling, among the substitutes.

Thomas Partey will make his 100th Premier League appearance after being called up to the midfield, while Declan Rice returns to action after serving his one-match ban.

For the third year in a row, we have a different captain: Bukayo Saka takes over the captain's armband after having led us onto the field once before – in October 2023 against Sheffield United.

The big news for City is that Kevin de Bruyne is missing from the matchday squad after being substituted at half-time in the 0-0 draw with Inter Milan on Wednesday.

His place will be taken by Ilkay Gündogan, while Kyle Walker and Jeremy Doku will also be included in the starting line-up, replacing Rico Lewis and Jack Grealish.

Lineups

Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Partey, Rice, Havertz, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard.
Subscriptions: Neto, White, Lewis-Skelly, Kiwior, Kacurri, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Sterling, Jesus.

Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Gündogan, Bernardo, Savinho, Doku, Haaland
Subscriptions: Ortega, Carson, Stones, Kovacic, Grealish, Nunes, Foden, Lewis, McAtee

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