The high-flying manchester city host Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon in a game whose result could propel the hosts far away from the chasing pack. Manchester City heads to this contest after recording consecutive victories in all competitions, the latest being their 4-2 victory over Napoli in Champions League in midweek. A win could see the hosts momentarily open a nine-point gap at the top given that Manchester United will only play later in the day.
Arsenal is among the three London teams that are trailing the two Manchester clubs that have already occupied the first two positions in the Premier League table.
Arsenal could go to position three at the end of the weekend should Chelsea, and the Tottenham Hotspurs, fail to win their respective Sunday matches. The Gunners go into this game after drawing 0-0 at Fk Crvena Zvezda Europa League in midweek.
Talking points
- The last six meetings in all competitions between the two teams have seen the home team emerge victoriously on four occasions while the remaining two games ended in draws. The Gunners have had the edge after recording three wins while Manchester City is only affording one victory and the remaining two games in all competitions ending in stalemates.
- Manchester City is one of the European teams that is enjoying an impressive run in the domestic league. The Citizens have won all their last eight Premier League matches with Pep Guardiola's side winning both at half-time and full-time in seven of the previous eight home Premier League matches.
- Arsenal has had an edge in the past encounters with Manchester City where the Gunners remain unbeaten in nine of the last ten matches in all competitions.
- The last seven Manchester City's home matches have yielded at least three goals where the Citizens have scored at least three goals in the last four Premier League games. Arsenal's last four Premier League contests have concluded with at least a total of three goals on each occasion.
Team news
Pep Guardiola will have the rest of his players except Vincent Kompany and Benjamin Mendy who have both sidelined for an extended period since the season started.
After laboring past Napoli in the midweek in Champions League, Manchester City manager is expected to field the same side that was victorious in Italy.
The Gunners rested a host of their regular first-eleven players in the European midweek in Serbia in anticipation of the Sunday showdown at Etihad Stadium. Arsene Wenger will miss the services of Danny Welbeck, Santi Cazorla, and Shkodran Mustafi.
They are all injured, while Sead Kolasinac and David Ospina are doubtful for the test. Also, Callum Chambers may miss the action due to his unfitness status. Arsenal manager will make at least eight changes from the team that drew 0-0 in Europa League on Thursday against FK Crvena Zvezda.
Full-time prediction: Manchester City 1-2 Arsenal