please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Arsenal take on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium this Sunday as two of the big four face each other for the first time this season. Both sides are still unbeaten in the league and Arsenal will go into this game on the back of three straight wins in all competitions. Their last win in the league was against Southampton at the Emirates. Arsenal were at their fluent best and tore Southampton into pieces and ran out 6-1 winners in the end. Manchester City like Arsenal could only manage to come away with only a point against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium. City deserved the win but they just could not convert the chances they created. Both sides have also played in the Champions League this midweek and they both had mixed fortunes. Arsenal travelled to France to take on French Champions, Montpellier. The Gunners went behind very early on after Vermaelen fouled Belhanda in the penalty area. Belhanda slotted home the penalty to give the French Champions the lead. Arsenal struck back through Lukas Podolski and Gervinho gave them lead after getting on the end of a Carl Jenkinson cross. With a lot of luck, Arsenal managed to come through the rest of the game with their lead intact. It was the perfect start for Arsenal in the Champions League. The same, however could not be said of Manchester City’s result in midweek. City came away from the Santiago Bernabeu empty handed after a thriller against Real Madrid. City rode their luck in the first half and on the break they took the lead after Edin Dzeko finished off a brilliant counter attacking move. But Madrid equalised through Marcelo, City once again on the run of play, took the lead after a free kick from Aleksandar Kolarov. Real Madrid, broke City hearts with two late goals as the came out on top in a heart-stopping match. City will have to recover from that energy sapping game to take on Arsenal this Sunday. Arsenal go into this game having won their last three games, but their second–half performance in Montpellier will be a worry. A lot of the Arsenal players looked fatigued and that will be of a lot concern to Arsene Wenger. Both these sides won their respective home games against each other last season. The games were very tight and there was nothing between the two teams. Manchester City did not lose a single home league game last year, so Arsenal will have a tough job on their hands this Sunday. On 13th May 2012, Manchester City made history after overcoming QPR in one of the best and most dramatic finishes we have ever seen to a league season. City scored two late goals to bring home their first Premier League title and their first league title in 44 years. After the billions spent, City finally achieved what they really wanted and taking the title from under the noses of their bitter rivals, Manchester United was surely the icing on the cake for City fans. Roberto Mancini was the man that lead them to a title that they thought they had lost when Arsenal beat them at the Emirates with seven games to go which resulted in them trailing Manchester United by eight points. Manchester United buckled under the pressure and City took advantage. In the summer transfer window, Roberto Mancini was a frustrated man after he was not allowed to build on the title win. City did not spend as heavily as they have done in previous transfer windows as they look to meet the FFP regulations. On the last day of the transfer window, City did however splash the cash. They spent £15 Million on Spanish midfielder Javi Garica from Benfica. Maicon and Scott Sinclair were also brought in and they will add depth to an already strong City squad. Javi Garica, looks to be the pick of their buys from this summer’s transfer window, and the midfielder has already scored for his new club. He got on the score sheet against Stoke and to score from a set piece against Stoke is no mean feat. City certainly have the players to win back to back championships and a massive difference between this and last season, is the form and mind set of Carlos Tevez. He looks content and a lot fitter this season and Tevez has been leading the Manchester City attack this season. On his day, Tevez is as good as anyone in the league and Arsenal will have to be very wary of the threat he poses. Yaya Toure, goes from strength to strength and his ability to power through teams is second to none. He is arguably City’s most important player and a player that can change games with surging runs from midfield. Arsenal have a new look midfield this season, and they will be severely tested against Yaya Toure and City. Manchester City have yet to keep a clean sheet this season, and that will be of serious concern to Roberto Mancini. Last season, City conceded the fewest goals in the entire league but this season they have not been as mean in defence. In all competitions, City have already let in eight goals in five games this season, Arsenal on the other hand have only let in 2 goals in the same amount of games. Manchester City have been involved in some very open games this season, and Arsenal will surely be looking to hurt City on the counter like they did against Liverpool at Anfield if City come into this game with the same attacking approach. But, the last team to beat City at the Etihad in the league was Everton way back in 2010. So, despite City’s dodgy defending, this is going to be a very difficult game for the Gunners. Arsenal’s defence have come in for a lot of praise this season after only conceding one goal in four league games. But this Sunday they will face their first serious test. Manchester City pose some of the best attackers In Europe and the likes of Augero,Tevez and Silva will pose a technical threat that will give the Gunners a lot of problems. If Arsenal can hold firm in defence, which is easier said then done against Manchester City, they will get their chances to score if Manchester City's defending so far this season is anything to go by. The Gunners have certainly showed their threat on the counter this season to trouble Manchester City. Lukas Podolski already has three goals to his name and the German has been very impressive with his clinical touch in front of goal. Olivier Giroud, on the other hand has yet to score and has also yet to hit the target. He was dropped for Arsenal’s last league game and there are serious as to whether or not he will feature against Manchester City. Gervinho was the man that replaced Giroud in the starting line-up for the game against Southampton. And he took his chance by scoring twice and showing the sort of form that will get a more regular spot in the first team. Gervinho has frustrated Arsenal fans by showing them only flashes of his talent and frustrating them with his decision making in the final third. But like Podolski, he scored against Montpellier in midweek and his confidence should very high at this moment. Santi Cazorla has been Arsenal’s star player this season with his brilliance in midfield, but against City, he will come up against midfielders of the class of Yaya Toure and Javi Garica. If Cazorla can contuine to weave his magic, then Arsenal will get chances because Cazorla has created the most chances in the league. Should, Arsenal get a positive result at the Etihad then they will confirm the improvements they have made from last season. But this is not going to be easy by any means, Manchester City are champions for a reason, and they can turn it on and destroy any team on their day. This game will be the first meeting between two of the big four this season, and it should be a cracker. 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: 177 Wins: 90 Draws: 40 Losses: 47 For: 288 Against: 201 GD: 87 Last 6 Meetings: 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 Arsenal 0 - 0 Manchester City please log in to view this image Managers View: Arsenal Wenger on how Sunday's game will test Arsenal's championship credentials: My Team: please log in to view this image Final Score: please log in to view this image
this is gonna be a mutha of a game. We MUST not drop points against the big teams. THESE are the games. Cometh the hour . Cometh the men . COYG
Gervinho can do a similar thing, but has more end product, and is in the form of his life. Dropping him would be madness.
Gerv through the middle? Walcott or Chamberlain to start? I think we should attack them from the first whistle.
*Gladiators Referee Voice* Arsenal, you will attack on my first whistle. Man City, you will wait for my second whistle. Three...two...one!!! */Gladiators Referee Voice*
Anyone watching the Spuds europey game ? Dempsey goal ruled out, Lazio hit the bar with a rasping shot. Other than that, bit of a dull game.
The only thing I noticed from that game was their **** atmosphere. They take the piss out of the atmosphere at the Emirates, but you could hear a pin drop at their **** hole of a stadium.
All i could hear was the Lazio fans, but they are a bunch of nutters, so it's to be expected. Not every Italian team has ****e support.
Looks like Nasri is going to miss this game through injury. Probably for the best, I reckon if he scores against us he will milk it big time, ala Ade.
No, not just because of his form, but we just look more dynamic with Podolski and Gervino switching with each other as forwards, with Giroud up front, City will know exactly who to mark when we throw the ball forward, but with Pod, Gervino, OXO or Walcott all up in attack, they will have a lot of players to watch.
