- Manchester City is set to play Premier League leaders Arsenal on Wednesday at the Etihad
- The two teams are separated by five points at the top of the Premier League table
- We take a look at the talking points ahead of one of the most anticipated matches in the Premier League season
Manchester City and Arsenal square off on Wednesday in a highly anticipated match that might decide the Premier League title.
Arsenal travel to the Etihad Stadium with a five-point lead at the top of the table, but Champions City, who have two games in hand, are also in control of their own destiny.
Can Arsenal put a stop to City’s charge?
Arsenal has led for the majority of the season, but City currently has the momentum. The Londoners’ lead has been eroded by three consecutive draws, while City have found form. Pep Guardiola’s treble-chasing squad has won 11 of their last 12 games, putting their earlier season inconsistency behind them.
READ: Arsenal fall to pressure at the wrong time in the Premier League tittle race
Victory on Wednesday would surely give City the upper hand, and given Arsenal’s track record of ending seasons strongly, the indications might be worrisome. It appears that the London club will need to win in order to realize their dream.
There is no sign of Manchester City Fatigue.
Arsenal may have hoped that with City seeking glory in three competitions and the fixtures piling up, they would be feeling the strain. Unfortunately for the Gunners, there aren’t many indications of it.
Guardiola cited exhaustion as a reason for making six changes for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United, but the ease with which they won 3-0, with Riyad Mahrez coming off the bench to score a hat-trick, made it plain that there are no severe difficulties. They don’t appear to be bothered by the pressure.
Arsenal, on the other hand, is confronting this predicament for the first time, and even without the distraction of other tournaments, they appear to be in need of a boost.
READ: Champions League: Manchester City into the semi-finals
Injuries
City have a doubt about the in-form Nathan Ake, but they have a clean bill of health after Phil Foden’s comeback at the weekend. In fact, despite what could have been a challenging season, with more World Cup call-ups than any other team, City has emerged remarkably undamaged thus far.
This season, Arsenal has had to contend with a number of serious injuries to key players, including the present absence of William Saliba. The defense has not been as strong without him in recent weeks, and manager Mikel Arteta will be looking forward to his return.
Potential headline makers
A handful of potentially interesting articles are just waiting to be written. The amazing Erling Haaland has made the majority of City’s headlines this season, and the prolific Norwegian is on the verge of a couple of more.
Erling Haaland is expected to lead the line for Manchester City against Arsenal and replicate the impressive form he has had in the Premier League this season. | PHOTO: Sky Sports |
Two more goals would not only tie Haaland’s Premier League record of 34 goals in a season, but would also push his season total to 50.
In the Arsenal lineup, crucial players Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, both of whom were released by City last summer, will have the opportunity to annoy their former teammates.
Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola
Guardiola frequently lavishes praise on his former assistant Arteta, but the Gunners manager has struggled to outwit his former boss. Guardiola has won seven of their eight managerial meetings. This season, City defeated Arsenal 1-0 in the FA Cup at the Etihad in January, followed by a 3-1 Premier League victory at the Emirates Stadium a few weeks later. Arteta’s only win came three years ago in an FA Cup semi-final.
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