IT’S the one we’ve all been waiting for as Arsenal face Man City in a Premier League title clash.
Overwhelming pre-season title favourites Man City find themselves in second and needing a win to turn up the heat on surprise leaders Arsenal.
4Manchester City got the job done against Aston Villa to keep themselves firmly in the title race after the Gunners dropped pointsCredit: Getty
4Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard are the biggest threat to CityCredit: Getty
But the pendulum has started to swing back towards City recently after the Gunners threatened to build an unassailable lead.
Arsenal suffered a 1-0 defeat at Sean Dyche’s Everton last week before being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Brentford after a controversial VAR decision.
Those results mean Mikel Arteta’s men go into this one with just a three-point lead over City, albeit with a game in hand.
In the absence of Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah has stepped up to the plate for Arsenal and they’ll be looking for a repeat of the performance which saw him net a brace against Man Utd two weeks ago.
Man City meanwhile are sweating on the fitness of 25-goal man Erling Haaland after he went off injured against Aston Villa at the weekend.
World Cup winner Julian Alvarez is waiting in the wings if the Norwegian is unable to play his part.
But whoever starts up front, star midfielder Kevin de Bruyne will need to be at his best to ensure City create the chances they need to win the match.
And he will be tracked all the way by Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey.
4How Arsenal could line up against Man City
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard meanwhile will be looking to provide the creativity in the middle of the park for the Gunners.
Four weeks after Pep Guardiola blasted his own fans for booing the team off at half time against Spurs, Man City have been united in defiance of the Premier League after over a charged of breaching financial rules were levelled against them.
And Guardiola’s former deputy, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, will be under no illusions as to how dangerous the wounded animal can be.
4City are sweating on the fitness of Erling Haaland.
What is the team news?
Mikel Arteta is set to continue without Gabriel Jesus and Mohamed Elneny who both have knee injuries.
While academy stars Emile Smith-Rowe and Reiss Nelson will miss out due to their respective injuries.
Pep Guardiola has to deal with an injury to John Stones who is expected to return on the 25th of February.
Erling Haaland was taken off at half time against Aston Villa on Sunday after sustaining a knock, he will be assessed before the match.
What are the odds?
Arsenal win 19/10
Draw 5/2
Man City victory 7/5
source: thesun.co.uk
