Sunday's match between Arsenal and Manchester City feels like a must-win for both sides.

Given how Liverpool has started the campaign and how last season's title race played out, the Gunners and Sky Blues can't afford to cede any more ground, even if it is still early days in 2025-26.

The oddsmakers are showing plenty of belief in Arsenal in this match, as the Gunners are sitting as odds-on favorites at home on the three-way moneyline.

The process for Arsenal looks very similar to what we've seen from the Gunners over the past handful of seasons. Mikel Arteta wants his team to control the tempo of the match, dominate possession, and lull opponents to sleep by passing the ball around the pitch.

It may not be the most exciting brand of soccer, but it's worked well. Arsenal has finished runner-up in each of the past three seasons, and they're one of the favorites to win the Premier League and/or Champions League this campaign.

Manchester City used to be a similar outfit, but things are a little bit more reckless and exciting for the Cityzens these days.

City isn't the elite defensive side it was two years ago, but they're creating plenty of offense, and they've got the best striker in the world, Erling Haaland, firing on all cylinders to start the season.

Arsenal passed a tricky test against Athletic Club in the Champions League on Tuesday, but they've looked less than formidable going forward against tough opposition this season. A lot of their offensive output came in blowouts against Leeds United and Nottingham Forest.

The Gunners have been terrific defensively, but Manchester City's attack has produced more expected goals (8.4) than any other outfit in the Premier League, and they're still loaded with star talents who can flip a match on their own.

This new version of City should give Arsenal a real shake, as the Gunners won't feel comfortable in a high-event match against a star-studded roster.

The Play: Manchester City (+300, FanDuel)

Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.

Premier League predictions: Arsenal vs. Man City odds, pick, best bet