'No need' - Gary Neville tells Mikel Arteta what to do with Arsenal starting XI for Man City clash

Arsenal secured a big North London derby win over Tottenham on Sunday thanks to Gabriel Magalhaes’ second-half header. The Gunners were not at their best in the absence of Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, but they got the job done to secure another three points and to remain within two points of leaders Manchester City at this early stage.

With so much football to play, the table is not all that significant at this stage, but it does have added meaning this week given Arsenal face City away from home on Sunday. That clash could give us a clearer picture of which team is most likely to lift the Premier League trophy come May.

Rice will be back from suspension for that one, while questions will remain over Odegaard as he looks to recover from an ankle injury. With Thomas Partey, Jorginho and Leandro Trossard having made up the midfield against Tottenham, Gary Neville does not envisage too much change for the City clash.

Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, he said: “I think he [Rice] will come in just for Jorginho and then leave it as it is. I think Trossard did well in that role – the number 10 – so I don't think he'll change that.

“I think he'll keep it simple. I don't think Mikel Arteta is doing anything nowadays that is surprising us and I say that in a positive sense and a complimentary sense. He's got such confidence in his own team and how they play he doesn't need to try and think of fancy different systems or shocking anybody with the team selection. He's got stability. When you've got stability and an 11 that works together well and you can just change one or two then there is no need to do anything clever.”

The trusted 13

Asked about the possibility of regular rotation from Arteta this season, Neville added: “You can trust the 12 or 13 players that are his best players. He might bring in [Gabriel] Jesus and [Raheem] Sterling on Thursday night but I don't think he will be doing mass rotation.

“You can't afford to do that and I don't think you should do that. You have to trust that these players are capable physically of handling a Sunday-Thursday-Sunday [schedule].”