All gaze turns towards the Etihad for a potential title deciding clash involving two heavyweights this campaign as Manchester City welcome Arsenal in an encounter that is expected to deliver suspense.
Would the title be donned with sky blue ribbon or red ribbon? Well it remains to be seen as Pep Guardiola battles his former apprentice Mikel Arteta on Wednesday night.
The Cityzens are on a staggering 16-game winning run!
Manchester City are on a 16-match winning run across all competitions that has seen them earn the trust of many to do a three peat of Premier League titles.
Arsenal have faltered in recent weeks after their impressive run through the season, their recent games has left a sour taste in the mouth for fans of the Gunners.
The Gunners are winless in their last three games
Mikel Arteta’s side have picked up just 3 points from 9 in the English Premier League and they have reduced their points disparity with City who have two games outstanding to just five points.
They dropped important points at Anfield in their 2-2 draw with Liverpool a fortnight ago before also surrendering a two-goal advantage against West Ham United a week after.
Their last outing in the Premier League appeared like it was heading for the ditch for them but they fought back to salvage a 3-3 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
Manchester City are eyeing the treble
The Cityzens are eyeing the chance to win the treble with the UEFA Champions League, English Premier League and the FA Cup still within reach.
The defending champions of the English Premier League have played 12 games at their home turf in 2023 and they have been victorious in all 12 of them.
Manchester City have netted at least two goals per game except for the 1-0 FA Cup victory over the Gunners, who could not choose a wonderful moment to halt their long-running hoodoo against Arteta’s former club.
Nonetheless, Arsenal are currently the side with the best away form this campaign as they have picked up 36 points from 16 games played this season.
Arsenal have also scored at least twice in each of their last eight encounters in the Premier League whether at the Emirates Stadium or away from home.
Arsenal are winless against Manchester City since 2017 when they defeated City 2-1 after Extra Time.
It has been a long existing curse for the Gunners against Pep Guardiola’s side who they can’t simply find a way to surmount or share the spoils with as they have lost each of their last 11 Premier League matches against City since a 2-2 draw in 2017.
Team News for Manchester City
Pep Guardiola’s side play Arsenal with an almost swashbuckling spotless bill of health, although Manchester City will be doing everything possible to improve the fitness of Nathan Ake who netted the only goal in the FA Cup triumph over Arsenal in January as he is battling a thigh problem.
Guardiola made several changes to his City team for the clash with Sheffield United and he is expected to recall notables names like Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones, Ruben Dias and Rodri back to the starting eleven for this game.
Haaland could break a massive record against Arsenal
Erling Haaland has scored 32 goals so far this campaign in the Premier League and he would require just one more to smash the record for a 38-game season.
If Haaland manages to net his seventh hat-trick for Manchester City in the Arsenal clash, he would surpass Andy Cole and Alan Shearer to become the player with the most goals scored in a single Premier League season.
Team News for Arsenal
William Saliba is expected to be unavailable for this clash and possibly the rest of the campaign as he continues to make a sluggish progress in his recovery from a back injury.
Rob Holding who has been highly-criticised by Arsenal supporters should deputise in the Frenchman’s absence.
Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohammed Elneny would also view the action from the treatment room as they are still nursing from knee injuries that should keep them out of the season.
Xhaka should be back for this clash
Granit Xhaka is expected to return for this encounter after he was unavailable for the Gunners 3-3 draw with Southampton last Friday due to feeling unwell.
Ukrainian Oleksandr Zinchenko and Brazilian Gabriel Jesus should start against their former team and if Gabriel Martinelli scores against the Cityzens, he would smash the record for the most goals netted by a Brazilian player in a single Premier League campaign.
Martinelli is tied with Roberto Firmino on 15 goals and a 16th goal in this encounter would see him surpass the Liverpool attacker’s 2017/18 goal tally.
Manchester City possible starting lineup against Arsenal:
Ederson, Akanji, Dias, Laporte, Stones, Rodri, Mahrez, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Grealish, Haaland
Arsenal possible starting lineup against Manchester City:
Ramsdale, White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Xhaka, Partey, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Jesus
Prediction:
We say Manchester City 2-0 Arsenal!
Despite Arsenal’s inspiring season this campaign, they have found it hard to surmount City as they have lost in all meetings this campaign both in the Cup and in the English Premier League.
This meeting shouldn’t be any different as the players of Manchester City are eyeing the possibility of a potential treble and a three peat of League titles.
Due to that, Pep Guardiola’s side would be too strong for his former protege’s team to cope with as a result of the firepower they Cityzens have got across the side.
