Premier League Preview: Manchester City vs Arsenal

David Silva of Manchester City takes on Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal

Arsenal‘s title winning credentials will be tested when the Gunners face Manchester City on Saturday evening at the Etihad. Arsenal are 6 points ahead of the Citizens and this clash is very important for both the clubs. Arsenal come into this game after suffering a 2-0 defeat by the hands of Napoli while Manchester City triumphed in Munich as they beat Bavarian side 3-2 few days ago.

Arsenal’s most important run of games started with a tough draw against Everton last weekend at the Emirates. Gunners then traveled to Italy for the final matchday of the UEFA Champions League. Arsenal now face Manchester City and then host Chelsea next weekend. Arsenal need to take maximum points from these two games to prove their critics wrong & establish themselves as the number one challengers for the Premier league title.

Manchester City are in a fine run of form when playing at home, with the Aguero – Negredo pair being one of the deadliest strike forces in Europe. This match pits the two most clinical teams in the Premier League with Manchester City scoring with 20.6 per cent of their shots and the Gunners 18.9 per cent. Manchester City have now won 5 of their 6 games in all competitions & although they are not that good away from home, they have made Etihad Stadium a fortress.

Team Performance

	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	GF	GA
Manchester City at Home	7	7	0	0	29	2
Arsenal away from Home	7	5	1	1	14	5

Manchester City have the best home attack (29 goals) and the best home defence (2 conceded), while Arsenal have the joint-best away attack (14 scored) and the best away defence (5 shipped). It will be interesting to see which team overcomes the other. The Citizens have scored in 57 consecutive home games in the Premier League. This run started after three games at the Etihad without scoring for the Citizens, the first of which was a 0-3 defeat to Arsenal, in which now a blue, former Gunner Samir Nasri opened the account for the Arsenal.

Team News

• Manchester City: Matija Nastasic is still sidelined while right-back Micah Richards (hamstring) is doubtful after being forced off against Bayern Munich in midweek. Left-back Gael Clichy has overcome a knock and Stevan Jovetic has succesfuly returned to the first team training.
• Arsenal: Bacary Sagna have high chances of returning to the playing XI after passing a fitness test. Lukas Podolski is also fit but lacks match sharpness so he will not be involved in tomorrow’s game. Yaya Sanogo, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain & Abou Diaby are the long term absentees.

Last Corresponding FixtureManchester City 1-1 Arsenal. Joleon Lescott and Laurent Koscielny were on the targets for both the clubs respectively.

OPTA Statistics:

• Arsenal have scored more goals than any other team away at Manchester City in the Premier League era (28).
• No team has won more Premier League games against Manchester City than Arsenal (21 along with Chelsea) or won more often on City’s own ground (10 along with Chelsea).
• There have been 6 red cards in the last 6 Premier League meetings between Man City (4) and Arsenal (2).
• There have been just 7 goals scored in the last 6 meetings in all competitions between Arsenal and Man City.
• Only 2 of the last 8 meetings between City and Arsenal in all competitions have ended as home wins (HW2, D3, AW3).
• The last time Arsenal won at the Etihad Stadium, Samir Nasri was playing for Arsenal and netted the opening goal (October 2010).
• Manchester City have conceded the highest percentage of second half goals in this season’s Premier League (73 per cent).

Possible Starting XI

• Manchester City: Hart – Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy – Fernandinho, Touré – Navas, Agüero, Nasri – Negredo.
• Arsenal: Szczesny – Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal – Ramsey, Arteta – Wilshere, Özil, Carzorla – Giroud.

Match Appointments

Referee: Martin AtkinsonAssistants: S Burt, H LennardFourth Official: R Madley.