Manchester City host Arsenal in a mouth-watering clash between teams expected to vie for honours at the end of the season. And the champions head into this much-anticipated encounter in red-hot form, with Manuel Pellegrini’s side currently unbeaten in their last 12 league contests, a run that includes nine wins – however they have drawn two of their last three games.
Meanwhile, the visitors also arrive in the north west on an impressive run of late having managed nine victories in their last 12 games in all competitions. And key to that have been the eye-catching displays of Chile international Alexis Sanchez, with the forward having been involved in more goals than any other player in the Premier League so far this season.
City hope to have both captain Vincent Kompany and top-scorer Sergio Aguero back from injury for this clash after the duo made the substitutes’ bench at Everton last Saturday.
However, the home team will be without Samir Nasri, with the former Gunners midfielder having been ruled out for three weeks with a calf problem, while striker Edin Dzeko is doubtful with a calf/shin injury.
The north London club have both right-back Mathieu Debuchy (shoulder) and defensive midfielder Mikel Arteta (ankle/foot) unavailable after surgery this week, while left-back Kieran Gibbs may also miss out with a heel problem. Defender Calum Chambers, though, should feature having recovered from a recent illness.
The last seven Premier League games between City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium have seen 28 goals scored. There have been six red cards in the last nine Premier League matches between these two sides.
Arsenal’s away form this season is patchy with four wins, four defeats and three draws in their 11 Premier League road trips. In contrast, City’s home form under Pellegrini has been impressive with 25 wins from 29 Premier League games under his stewardship at the Etihad Stadium (W25 D2 L2).
Arsenal are the only team to score three goals at the Etihad in a Premier League game during Pellegrini’s reign – but this was in a 3-6 defeat. Only Chelsea (11) have won more Premier League games away at City than Arsenal (10). Only West Ham (14) have scored more headed goals than the Gunners this season (8).