Manchester City vs Arsenal team news: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Nolito dropped as Alex Iwobi returns

City make two changes to the side that beat Watfordwhile Arsenal bid to respond to the defeat by Everton with one change

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain drops out of the Arsenal line-up for their trip to Manchester City on the same day as reports over a move in the same direction emerged in the national media, with Pep Guardiola reportedly interested in the England international.

The 23-year-old drops to the bench to make way for Alex Iwobi, who is recalled to the side after being named on the substitutes’ bench for the last five Premier League matches.

Manchester City make two changes, one of which is forced through the season-ending cruciate ligament injury suffered by Ilkay Gundogan in the midweek victory over Watford. Guardiola shuffles his formation as a result, and deploys Kevin de Bruyne as a false nine, while Nolito also drops out of the side.

Leroy Sane and Fernando come into a five-man midfield, which looks set to see the Brazilian playing in a holding role with Sane, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Raheem Sterling all advanced to support De Bruyne.

Nolito drops to the bench alongside Kelechi Iheanacho and John Stones, while Arsenal are able to call on Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lucas Perez and Olivier Giroud.

Teams

Manchester City: Bravo; Zabaleta, Otamendi, Kolarov, Clichy; Fernando; Sané, Touré, Silva, Sterling; De Bruyne

Subs: Caballero, Sagna, Stones, Nolito, Navas, Iheanacho, A Garcia

Arsenal: Cech; Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Xhaka; Walcott, Ozil, Iwobi; Sanchez.

Subs: Ospina, Gibbs, Holding, Elneny, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lucas, Giroud.