Manchester City will finally welcome Premier League football, and former assistant Mikel Arteta, back to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, June 17 as the top flight resumes after a 100-day stoppage caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The champions are one of the first teams back in action as they face Arsenal for their game in hand, having slipped 25 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool prior to the suspension of the campaign.
Defeat against the Gunners could give Liverpool the chance to clinch the title in their first game back - the Merseyside derby against Everton - but should Man City make an instant return to winning ways then the Reds' wait will likely be extended by at least another week.
Here, Sports Mole looks at how Pep Guardiola could line his side up for Arsenal's visit.
Out: None
Doubtful: None
Manchester City boast a clean bill of health in the wake of the three-month break in play, meaning that Guardiola should be able to name a full-strength team.
Particularly notable is the option to select Leroy Sane, who has not played since picking up a knee ligament injury during the Community Shield all the way back in August.
The German winger has once again been the subject of public advances by Bayern Munich recently, and he is unlikely to be thrown straight into the starting XI even if the stoppage time play will have allowed him to close the gap in terms of match fitness levels.
Instead, Riyad Mahrez is likely to complete the front three alongside Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero, with Gabriel Jesus also an option to lead the line.
Aymeric Laporte was the other major injury concern pre-lockdown, but he too is good to go and will presumably start the first game back - although the identity of the man alongside him appears to be less certain.
Fernandinho has filled that role admirably for much of the campaign, but specialised centre-backs Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones will hope that Laporte's return to fitness sees Fernandinho move back to the midfield pecking order.
Speaking of midfield, Ilkay Gundogan could be chosen ahead of David Silva and Phil Foden, while Kevin De Bruyne is a shoo-in as he resumes his chase for the all-time single-season assist record in the Premier League.
Barney Corkhill
