Arsenal entertain Man City at the Emirates Stadium in what could potentially be a title decider between the two sides.

Win or Burst, Do or Die.. any term you deem fit, for Arsenal, THIS IS IT. When both sides clashed in the FA Cup last month, it was a tetchy encounter with Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola playing a game of chess. Despite Arsenal’s poise and probing, all it took was a Nathan Ake side footed shot to settle the tie for Man City, eliminating Arsenal from the competition. 

Mikel Arteta’s team come into the clash knowing anything less than three points at the end of 90 minutes will be a huge disappointment, having seen a slender five points gap reduced to three, albeit with a game in hand.
After a disappointing defeat at Goodison park to Everton in the penultimate week courtesy of some Grade A Satanball, the Gunners again failed to hold on to their one goal lead and eventually drew against Brentford with some dubious calls from the VAR referee Lee Mason who claimed to ‘have forgotten to draw the line‘ for a possible offside that led to the Brentford goal.

Despite the apology from PGMOL citing ‘human error’ as the culprit, Arteta has lashed back at the officials, stating that their apology cannot bring the two points that have been dropped

“That wasn’t a human error. That was a big, big, big not conceiving and understanding your job. That’s not acceptable, I’m sorry. And that cost Arsenal two points and that’s not going to be restored.

“So we are going to have to find those two points somewhere else in the league.”

Victory against Pep Guardiola’s led side won’t come easily, as Arsenal are on a 10-game winless streak against City. His record at the Emirates is quite insane, winning six of his last seven visits to Arsenal’s home turf. 

Man City themselves come into the tie in no spectacular form, however, they can take comfort from a recent victory over Unai Emery’s Aston Villa at the weekend, and with the Gunners failing to beat Brentford, the lead at the top has been cut to just three points. With Man City having a superior goal difference than Arsenal, a win for the visitors tonight will see them rise to the summit of the table at the expense of their hosts. 

Arsenal still remain without star striker Gabriel Jesus who is nearing a return, after resuming light training on the grass last week. The team will have to look to the likes of Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka for inspiration if they’re to salvage anything from this clash. Gabriel Martinelli hasn’t been in good form of recent but in Leandro Trossard, the Gunners have a dependable option that can come from the bench to influence the game, like he did last weekend against Brentford.

Guardiola sweated over the fitness of main man, Erling Haaland, after the striker was withdrawn at halftime at the weekend having picked up a ‘slight knock’. But he trained with the team on Monday, so the threat he poses still remains ever present. Arsenal will be wary of the threat posed by the in-form Riyad Mahrez, as the winger added another goal and assist to his tally over the weekend.

When Man City visited the Emirates last season, it was Mahrez that scored the late penalty that resigned Mikel Arteta’s side to defeat. The Gunners put up a valiant display that fine afternoon but Gabriel’s red card put the team on the lurch. The fans will expect that same fight tonight and hope it will be enough secure the most vital three points of the season. 

Whatever the result, it’s sure going to be a mouthwatering clash for the neutrals, as apprentice takes on master.

Arsenal vs Man City Predicted Lineups

Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard; Martinelli, Nketiah, Saka.

Man City: Ederson; Walker, Laporte, Akanji, Ake; B. Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Grealish, Haaland, Mahrez

Injury / Suspension Updates

Arsenal: Mohamed Elneny (knee), Reiss Nelson (thigh), Gabriel Jesus (knee), Smith-Rowe (thigh)

Man City: Stones (hamstring)

Form Guide

Arsenal Form

• Last Five Games: W W L L D
• Last Result: Arsenal 1-1 Brentford (Trossard 66′ | Toney 74′)
• Leading Goalscorer: Eddie Nketiah (9)

Man City Form

• Last Five Games:  W W W L W
• Last Result: Man City 3-1 Aston Villa (Rodri 6′, Gundogan 39′, Mahrez 45′ | Watkins 61′)
• Leading Goalscorer: Erling Haaland (32)

Gooner Daily predicts a 2 – 1 victory.

Kick Off – 8.30pm (GMT +1) at Emirates Stadium.

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