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2021/22 English Premier League
Matchday 21 of 38
Arsenal vs Manchester City
Emirates Stadium
London, England
Saturday, 01 January 2022
Kick-off is at 14:30
Arsenal will host Manchester City in the opening
Premier League game of 2022 at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, 01 January 2022.
Image copyright: Getty Images
The Gunners went into Christmas in fourth place on the league standings and on the back of a three-game winning run in the league, having found more consistent form under head coach Mikel Arteta this season.
Arteta celebrated two years in charge at the north London club in December and said that he has learnt some key lessons along the way.
"[I've found that] this is much more complicated, much more unpredictable than it looks!" Arteta said. "But I love and am completely passionate about what I do, I feel privileged and very lucky to be where I am and I try to enjoy it as much as I can. It is a lot of pressure and a lot of decisions to make, but at the same time it is priceless to be here.
"I’m most proud of the atmosphere, the environment and the culture we have around the club and the sense of unity that we have from everybody who works at the club and the sense of unity that we have with our supporters that I think has come a long, long way," he added.
City are on course to defend their Premier League crown and went into Christmas top of the standings and three points clear of second-placed Liverpool following a run of eight consecutive victories.
Whether or not that is a good omen or not doesn't phase winger Riyad Mahrez who will be eager to play a pivotal role in maintaining, or even building that lead, before jetting off to Cameroon for the Africa Cup of Nations.
"I don't really believe in superstitions and these types of things. I just believe in winning games and trying to be there until the end," Mahrez said.
"We just have to keep going and we are in a very good moment. The numbers do not matter. We just have to win game after game." he added.
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The Cityzens have absolutely dominated this fixture over the last few seasons and will make the trip to Emirates Stadium having accumulated 10 successive league wins against Arsenal, including a 5-0 win at Etihad Stadium earlier this season.
An early goal from Raheem Sterling proved to be the difference between the two sides in a 1-0 win for City in north London last season.
Arsenal vs Manchester City head-to-head statistics:
Matches played: 184
Arsenal wins: 89
Manchester City wins: 53
Draws: 42
English Premier League fixtures, matchday 21:
Saturday, 01 January
14:30 - Arsenal vs Manchester City
17:00 - Leicester City vs Norwich City
17:00 - Watford vs Tottenham Hotspur
19:30 - Crystal Palace vs West Ham United
Sunday, 02 January
16:00 - Brentford vs Aston Villa
16:00 - Southampton vs Newcastle United
16:00 - Leeds United vs Burnley
16:00 - Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
18:30 - Chelsea vs Liverpool
Monday, 03 January
19:30 - Manchester United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
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