please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Arsenal take on Manchester City at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon and both teams will see this as a huge game for different reasons. For Arsenal, it’s all about the race for the top four and with the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur above them, it’s important that Arsenal do not slip even further behind. While for City, it’s all about catching their fierce rivals Manchester United in the race for the title. City trail United by seven points and if they were to drop points at the Emirates, it could be a damaging blow to their title dreams. The Premier League took a break last week as the FA Cup took centre stage, and for both Manchester City and Arsenal it was a mixed weekend. While City cruised to the fourth round thanks to a comfortable win over Watford, Arsenal had to settle for a replay after only managing to draw against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium. Arsenal were also unable to win their last league game, after coming away from the Saint Mary’s with a point against Southampton, it also ended their four game winning run. Manchester City recorded a fairly straight forward win over Stoke at the Etihad Stadium in their last league game after they cruised to a 3-0 win over the Potters. Manchester City and Arsenal played out a fairly entertaining 1-1 draw when the two teams came up against each other earlier in the season at the Etihad. Joleon Lescott put City into the lead after a thumping header and City looked set to claim all the three points, but Laurent Koscielny struck late on to rescue a point for the Gunners and it was the least they deserved from that game. Arsenal more than matched City and the likes of Santi Cazorla,Carl Jenkinson and Per Mertesacker were outstanding on the day. If Arsenal are to get something out of the game Manchester City this Sunday, then they will have to come up with a similar performance. It’s been 38 years since Manchester City last beat Arsenal away from home in the league and under the management of Roberto Mancini, City have never looked like beating Arsenal at the Emirates in a league game, after a string of dour and negative performances. But, Manchester City are the champions and have class players throughout their team, so if they turn it on, they can easily blow Arsenal away. It’s going to be a fascinating game and with a lot star players on show, it should also hopefully be an entertaining game. After winning the title last season, Manchester City fans would have expected to see their team progress and step up and become one of the real elite clubs in European football, but that has not been the case this season. Their abysmal showing in Europe, meant that came last in their champions’ league group and that has been the biggest disappointment in Man City’ season and it could yet see Roberto Mancini lose his job in the summer. Also in the league, City have not impressed like they did last season, they currently trail Manchester United by seven points and players like David Sila and Yaya Toure have not really hit the sort of form they were displaying last season. It could be argued that City’s dealings in the summer transfer window have hurt them this season with most of their new signings not having the required impact. The likes of Javi Garcia, Jack Rodwell ,Scott Sinclair and Maicon have all been disappointing this season and all four not made any sort of meaningful contribution to City’s performances this season. So Mancini has not been able to fully rotate his squad and has had to rely on his main players, which has hurt City this season. Sergio Agüero tore his hamstring in City’s win over Stoke and he will now miss the game against Arsenal and that is a huge blow to the Champions. Aguero has been the man that has led from the front for City this season and only Edin Dzeko scored more goals in the league for City this season. Without Aguero, Mancini will turn to Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez from the start and between them they have scored 16 goals in the league this season, so it’s still a partnership that can hurt Arsenal. Yaya Toure will also be absent for the game on Sunday as jets off to South Africa for African Cup of Nation duty. It will be another blow to City but Toure has not really been at his best this season. Manchester City’s record against the teams from the current top six has been poor this season, the only team they have beaten from the top six was Tottenham. Manchester United on the other hand have beaten three of the teams in the top six this season. On the road, Manchester City have lost once and that came against Sunderland. Arsenal have been in good form in the league recently, having won four of their previous five games but their performances have been as inconsistent as ever. So it’s hard to know what to expect from them when they next play. Arsenal’s defence has been all over the place in the last few games with the likes of Barary Sagna being in wretched form. Also, in the league, they have missed Per Mertesacker who has not been able to play in their last two league game through illness and after recovering to face Swansea in the FA cup, the big German will be fit to face City, and the Gunners will hope that he can put in another commanding performance against Manchester City this season. Santi Cazorla’s form has been on the decline since the game against Reading and the Spaniard has not been able to assert his influence on the recent games. Cazorla was at his best when Arsenal faced Manchester City earlier in the season, and they need him to return to form if they are be at their best on Sunday. Theo Walcott will face a real test if Arsene Wenger opts to use him through the middle again as Walcott will for the first time face a top class centre-back. Vincent Kompany has seen off some of the best centre-forwards in the world so it’s going to be a testing afternoon for Walcott should he start through the middle. Mikel Arteta had a wonderful start to the season with a string of brilliant performances. But as the season has gone on, he has not been able to display the same sort of control with his performances. Against City he will have the job of looking after David Silva who likes to drift between the lines and Arteta will have try and limit his time and space on the ball. Arsenal have yet to win a game in 2013, but win against the champions really would be a big scalp for the Gunners could do wonders for their confidence, but it’s not going to be easy. City have only lost two games this season in the league for a reason, they are hard to beat. They also the quality to win any game and the Gunners will have to be at their best. With the race for title and champions league places hotting up this game is of huge importance and hopefully it will also be a wonderful game to watch. Team News: Arsene Wenger: Form Guide: please log in to view this image Three Key Match-ups: please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Overall Record vs Manchester City: Played: 178 Wins: 90 Draws: 41 Losses: 47 For: 289 Against: 202 GD: 87 Last 6 Meetings: Manchester City 1 - 1 Arsenal Arsenal 1 - 0 Manchester City Manchester City 1 - 0 Arsenal Arsenal 0 - 1 Manchester City (League Cup) Arsenal 0 - 0 Manchester City Manchester City 0 - 3 Arsenal please log in to view this image Manager's Views: Arsene Wenger on the importance of a win against Manchester City: My Team: please log in to view this image Final Score: please log in to view this image
We've got a decent record against City and I think we'll be up for this game. Given that they will be missing some key players, we're playing them at a good time. I think this game is going to be a huge test for Walcott, as SJW mentions in the OP he's up against a really good CB, so it will be a chance to determine whether he's really cut out to be a CF. Personally, I think he'll get a lot of chances to run at the City defence as they like to play a high line and press forward. Should be a cracking game
This is a big game for both teams. City have to win to make any inroads on United and we have to win for a whole host of reasons. There are more players than just Walcott on both sides who have some things to prove. This is going to be a tight affair which I think that we (Arsenal) can just edge. I am looking forward to this one as well
Good luck Arsenal, hope you come away with 3 points, I think you can really hurt them with your pace up front. I think the biggest danger is going a goal up and then trying to defend your lead in the second half, City have looked good when chasing and getting results late in matches... I'm hoping for a 1-1 or 2-2 going into the final 15 minutes, with a blistering Arsenal counter attack resulting in the winner
I think we have a good chance of beating City. However they are still the champions and therefore not to be underestimated even though I feel we are playing them at the right time.
Likely City X1 --------------------------------------------------------------HART--------------------------------------------------------------- -----------ZABALETA-----------------KOMPANY---------------------------------------NASTASIC----------------CLICHY------------ -------------------------GARCIA----------------------------------------------------------------------------BARRY---------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------MILNER------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------------------------TEVEZ--------------------------------------------------SILVA---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------DZEKO------------------------------------------------------------ If we lose this game and Utd beat the scousers earlier it could well be the defining moment so i expect City to play a little deeper than normal and attempt to crowd arsenal out making the play as narrow as possible and attempt to pinch it on the break or at a set piece where arsenal seem a bit vulnerable,Garcia never seems to be picked up at set plays and hes very dangerous in the air. i would rather theo played down the middle against Kompany than out wide against Clichy as i dont think the ox has been playing well and the max wall character on the other side is simply dreadful,zabaleta wont be sweating too much facing him. 1975 since we last won a league game at arsenal and to be honest id be very surprised it that stat doesnt roll on for another year at least Will be a close game with few chances and i fancy a 0-0 draw as the likeliest outcome with both sides cancelling each other out
Im torn between this one , we need the points but , City look like the only ones capable of stopping the scum from winning the league . tsk tsk . We should BOTH get 3 points , win or lose. Hows that sound. ? I will send an Email to the F A , see what they come back with .
I am strangely confident ahead of this game, City under Mancini have never scared me not like United or Chelsea under Jose's management did. Some of their performances against us in recent years has been dire. Also they are missing Yaya and Aguero.
Are you kidding me I would far prefer Man utd on he league over city or Helena. Hell I would rather Tottenham won it over those 2, yes I said Tottenham. On another not what makes you think giroud won't start up front I reckon front 3 will be pod giroud theo -------- edit - Helena is meant to be Chelsea that is one hell of a autocorrect by my Ipad
Of course i want an arsenal win , its just unfortunate that city will therefore have to drop 3 points on the ..........them , you know who.
I'd prefer City to the league than ****-United. Sure, City and their ways are a stain on the game, but United and their arrogant ways are on a stain on the game too. The amount of biased decisions that go their way, the bat **** crazy things their manager gets to get away with, coupled with his arrogant rants. As far as I'm concerned, the fact that City's rise has riled up the red half of Manchester (London) including red nose, makes me happy.
This thread has been posted by SJW for us to discuss Sunday's game against Citeh.I'd rather if you didn't use it to childishly WUM Man Utd fans.The last thing we need is their WUMS swarming all over the thread and ruining it for others
Time for a stat. Since 2007, Manchester City have not scored a league goal against us at the Emirates.
