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Arsenal will play host to Manchester City in Monday Night Football at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners will be expecting the return of their star player in Alexis Sanchez, whereas Sergio Aguero is also expected to be back for the visitors. Manchester City are just one point behind their hosts and will look to improve their run at the Emirates Stadium come Monday night.
Arsene Wenger will be confident of getting the three points following their away win at Aston Villa last weekend. They sit comfortably in second spot in the table, five points behind leaders Leicester City with a game in hand.
Whereas, for City, they will look to get a positive result on the table with 21 games still left to play in the season. Having managed an extra time win against struggling Swansea City last weekend, City kept their third spot in the table intact. The two teams have had interesting, well-matched displays over the past few seasons, and one hopes it will be another top-notch game between the two sides.
Kickoff and Live Telecast
Channel: StarSports4, StarSports HD4.
Live Stream: starsports.com
Date and Time: Monday, 21st December 2015 – 20:00 GMT ( Tuesday, 22nd December 2015 – 01:30 IST)
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London.
Team News
Arsenal have reported no fresh injuries in the past few weeks, which is an early Christmas present for Arsene Wenger. The Gunners, however, remain without the likes of Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta, Danny Welbeck, Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin and Tomas Rosicky. Their star player, Alexis Sanchez, returned to training this past week and should be back in contention for the game. Wenger will not be willing to risk the Chilean ahead of the new year, so he should start on the bench. Theo Walcott and Joel Campbell will be given roles occupying the flanks, which means Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain can expect to be on the bench. There should be no changes in defence for the home team going into the game.
Manchester City will have their key player Sergio Aguero back for their visit of Arsenal. Aguero could feature after four games out with a heel injury, while captain Vincent Kompany, who was suffering from a calf problem had also returned to light training but is not yet working with the squad so continues to sit out. Their midfielder, Fernando is out with a hamstring problem along with defender, Pablo Zabaleta, who is out with a knee problem. Former Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri is out long-term with a leg injury. Hence, City will have Silva, De Bruyne, Aguero and Sterling, all in the line-up.
Probable Line-ups
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Ramsey, Flamini; Campbell, Ozil, Walcott; Giroud.
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Hart; Sagna, Otamendi, Mangala, Kolarov; Fernandinho, Toure; De Bruyne, Silva, Sterling; Aguero.
Form
Arsenal are in a confident mood after securing their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a maginificent 3-0 win over Olympiacos. Last weekend, the Gunners managed to overcome a stubborn Aston Villa side to claim a 2-0 away victory. Arsenal had endured injuries to key men in a league run that saw them collect two points from three games in November. The home team has now won four of their last five games in all competitions.
Arsenal have won the last two league games against Sunderland and Aston Villa, having previously lost to West Bromwich Albion, and drawn against Norwich and Tottemham. An impressive display from Aaron Ramsey in central midfield provided plenty of encouragement for Wenger. He may be at his best rampaging forward from deep but the Welshman will need to be disciplined defensively if Arsenal are to repel City.
Wenger will be eyeing to get to Christmas just two points behind leaders Leicester City. Giroud has found his form at the right time for Arsenal to boost the fourth-most potent attack in the Premier League. Arsenal have scored 29 goals in their 16 matches this term, but have also been resolute at the back, shipping just 13 strikes and keeping seven clean sheets.
Last 5 games: W-D-W-W-W (Last match: Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal)
Manchester City have endured an up-and-down season in the Premier League so far. Though Pellegrini’s men are just one point behind Arsenal it has been some time since they inspired the fear in top sides that saw them romp to the league’s summit in August. Six wins in their last twelve league games and only two in their last five league games has seen City drop to third spot in the table. Last week’s 2-1 win over Swansea was far from impressive, with only a late Kelechi Iheanacho deflection seeing off one of the league’s most out of form sides.
City’s away form is a worry for them as Pellegrini's side have won none of their last four away league games and failed to score in the last three in a row, managing zero goals at Manchester United, Aston Villa and Stoke City. If they fail to find the net at the Emirates, it will be the first time in almost 10 years that they have gone four straight away league games without a goal.
Last 5 games: L-W-D-W-W (Last match: Manchester City 2-1 Swansea City)
Key Stats
- The Gunners have won a league-high 75 points in the year 2015.
- The Gunners have scored in ten successive league matches.
- Arsenal have lost just one of their 18 home league games against City, winning 11 and drawing 6. But they have won just one of the last six, having drawn 4 and losing one.
- City have lost 22 league games against Arsenal, their joint-most defeats against any opponent, along with Chelsea.
- There have been five red cards in the last five league matches between City and Arsenal at the Emirates.
- The Gunners have conceded just 11 goals in their last 20 home league games in this fixture.
- In the 15 games that Vincent Kompany has not played this season City have failed to keep a clean sheet and conceded 1.6 goals per game.
Key Battles
Sergio Aguero vs Laurent Koscielny
Sergio Aguero is back in the fold for the away team. He has had a particularly injury-struck season at City but whenever he has been on the pitch, he has created vital opportunities for the visitors. His presence up front, along with the ability to hold up the ball and bringing other quick players into play, will be really crucial for the away side as Arsenal will look to attack right from the first whistle to the last.
Aguero will be up against the likes of Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker in Arsenal’s defence. Koscielny, however, will be expected to match City’s attacking play with his defensive heroics. The Frenchman has particularly been impressive for the Gunners. He is widely considered as one of the best central defenders in the world. On Monday night, he will again be expected to start the game for the Gunners, and stop any chances for Aguero. The task for Aguero and company will be harder than it will be for the Arsenal defenders.
Olivier Giroud vs Eliaquim Mangala
With five goals in his last three games Giroud is currently in great form. The Frenchman has also scored twice in Arsenal’s last three games against Manchester City. With Giroud high on confidence, City defenders are going to have their work cut out if they are to stop him from adding to his goal tally. Following Giroud’s hat-trick against Olympiakos, Wenger praised him, saying that he didn’t need Benzema when he had Giroud firing on all cylinders. A pat on the back like that, could exactly be what fires the Frenchman up ahead of a busy end of the year period for Arsenal.
Giroud will be up against the physicality of Manchester City defender and fellow Frenchman, Eliaquim Mangala. The defender will be hoping to avoid giving any space to Giroud, whose link-up play has been outstanding recently. It will be a game that will be well matched between the two sides. But Giroud’s presence can turn the tie in Gunners’ favor if Mangala slips up.
Prediction
Arsenal can be expected to win this game, as City’s form has been very inconsistent. Recently, the Gunners have managed to beat top sides, and Arsene Wenger will take his side to the Emirates to put in another top performance against a rival. City, on the other hand, do not have much going for themselves. They have slipped up in the Premier League, and the home crowd will be behind their team, which can lead Arsenal to a victory by a solitary goal. Aguero will score for City, but Arsenal will come back to record a win.
Predicted score: Arsenal 2-1 Manchester City
Betting odds (bet365)
Arsenal – 7/5
Draw – 5/2
Manchester City – 21/10
