Arsenal travel
to Manchester City on Saturday in search of their first points and goals of the
Premier League after losing the first two games of the season without scoring
for the first time in top-flight history. A trip to the home of the champions could
prove to be a long day at work for Mikel Arteta and his men.

Arsenal lost 2-0 at Premier League new boys Brentford in the opening week of the season, where
Arsenal’s usual lazy defending came to the fore. They then lost 0-2 at home to
Chelsea, with the Champions of Europe taking full advantage of the gaping holes
in their back four to take three points.

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Given
Arsenal had up to nine first-team players unavailable for both clashes, the
performances were still not reflective of a side on the mend. But with a few
key players back in the fold, Arsenal might just surprise Pep Guardiola.

The Gunners
had a morale-boosting win at The Hawthorns in the second round of the EFL Cup,
where they beat West Brom 6-0. Albeit it was mismatch from the off – with
Arsenal fielding a near full-strength XI against a team of young Baggies – the hattrick
for Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, along with goals for Alexander Lacazette,
Nicolas Pepe and Bukayo Saka, will no doubt be a confidence booster.

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Summer
signing Martin Odegaard showed glimpses of quality, providing the assist for
Saka’s goal with a lovely flick, in that win.

However,
City will still take a lot of beating. The champions were stunned on opening
week as Tottenham Hotspur won 1-0 at home, but they bounced back the only way
they know, with a handful of goals and a statement of intent.

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Jack
Grealish, the most expensive signing in the Premier League, got off the mark
with his first goal in sky blue, with Aymeric Laporte, Raheem Sterling, Riyad
Mahrez and an own goal helping City to a 5-0 win over Norwich City.

While City
also have a few key players missing – in Kevin de Bruyne and Phil Foden among
others – they will be expecting to get three points against a lacklustre Arsenal
side, who will be eager to prove otherwise.