As the Gunners prepare to face the Treble winners, it's safe to say the Spaniard has a fair few selection headaches to cope with. The first is what to do with Bukayo Saka after revealing the winger is in contention to feature despite being substituted in midweek as a result of a muscular injury.
Another is in midfield where Thomas Partey is available for selection after missing six games in succession with a groin problem. Then there's the dilemma of who leads the line as Arteta can choose from Gabriel Jesus - against his former club - Eddie Nketiah and summer signing Kai Havertz.
Man City have lost twice on the road in the past 10 days, so now could be the perfect time to play Pep Guardiola's side. Therefore it's crucial that Arteta gets this line-up right. Thankfully for him, football.london's writers are on hand to help. Below is who they think should start for Arsenal against the champions.
Kaya Kaynak - Chief Arsenal Writer
If I were Mikel Arteta I think I'd be looking to stick with David Raya in goal despite his error in midweek that resulted in RC Lens scoring an equaliser. However, the Spaniard is probably one error away from Aaron Ramsdale having a good claim to get his starting spot back.
I think the defence for this game largely picks itself. Ben White has been largely superb at right back and while I don't think Takehiro Tomiyasu was particularly bad on Tuesday I'd still bring the England defender back in alongside the rest of the usual back four.
In midfield I'm going to take something of a risk. Throwing Thomas Partey back into a game of this magnitude cold is far from optimal. In an ideal world he'd have got some minutes in France. But I think he's so good at the base of the midfield that you have to play him if he's fit, with Declan Rice slightly more advanced with Martin Odegaard to really put the pressure on the City midfield.Leandro Trossard wasn't at his best on Tuesday, but with Gabriel Martinelli likely to miss out I feel as though he has to play. I would, however, put him on the right wing instead and throw in Reiss Nelson on the left. The 24-year-old deserves his chance after a series of impressive cameos. Up top it's got to be Gabriel Jesus whose finish was uncharacteristically clinical against Lens.
Kaynak's Arsenal XI vs Manchester City: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Trossard, Jesus, Nelson
Tom Canton - Arsenal Writer
I will be working off the premise that Bukayo Saka is not completely fit and I am not sure I'd risk his long-term availability for this one game. No, the weight of the fixture isn't lost on me, I just think Saka's minutes could be managed smarter, and including him would smack of hypocrisy.
In his place, the front three takes the structure of the Community Shield. However, every player bar Kai Havertz is different and the German does indeed return to the centre-forward role with Gabriel Jesus occupying the right wing and Leandro Trossard in the still injured Gabriel Martinelli's place.
Into midfield and having Thomas Partey back for selection is a huge boost, especially for this fixture. Being able to pair the Ghanaian with Declan Rice for a midfield battle that does not include Rodri is exciting for Arsenal and the Gunners should be winning the middle third with these two alongside Martin Odegaard.
In defence, the back four remains the consistent quartet and I wouldn't be tempted to bring Takehiro Tomiyasu in. Oleksandr Zinchenko is important and he will join Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba in the hope the latter's presence - which it wasn’t in the meeting at the Etihad Stadium - can be another key difference between the sides.
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