By Roberto Mancini's own admission, Manchester City will wave a white flag in the title race if they lose against the team directly below them and Manchester United beat QPR in the early kick-off. City have won one of their last four games and it was rare to see them look so anaemic as last weekend at Sunderland. A vast improvement is needed and it will help that Sergio Agüero, Joleon Lescott and Samir Nasri, returning to his former club, are back. Arsenal have considerable requirements of their own, however, in the pursuit of a Champions League place and have not lost at home to City in a league fixture since 1975. Daniel Taylor
Venue Emirates Stadium, Sunday 4pm
Tickets Sold out
Last season Arsenal 0 Man City 0
Referee Martin Atkinson
This season's matches 24 Y80, R8, 3.67 cards per game
Odds Arsenal 6-4 Man City 2-1 Draw 5-2
Arsenal
Subs from Almunia, Fabianski, Jenkinson, André Santos,Miquel, Djourou, Benayoun, Ramsey, Squillaci, Gervinho, Chamakh, Park
Doubtful None
Injured Coquelin (ankle, 16 Apr), Diaby (hamstring, 21 Apr), Wilshere (ankle, 21 Apr), Mertesacker (ankle, May), Frimpong (knee, Sep)
Suspended None
Form guide LWWWWW
Disciplinary record Y55 R4
Leading scorer Van Persie 26
Manchester City
Subs from Pantilimon, Taylor, K Touré, Barry, Zabaleta, Savic, Kolarov, Milner, Pizarro, Johnson, Hargreaves, Tevez, Dzeko
Doubtful None
Injured None
Suspended None
Form guide DDWLWW
Disciplinary record Y41 R4
Leading scorer Agüero 17
Match pointers
• Since their last league win at Arsenal in October 1975, City have scored just nine goals in 26 visits to north London
• If he scores in this match, Robin van Persie will become only the fourth player to score against 17 different teams in a Premier League season – after Andy Cole (1993-94), Alan Shearer (1995-96) and Ian Wright (1996-97)
• There have been three red cards in the last three league meetings between these sides
• Arsenal have failed to score in five of their last six games against City in all competitions, including the last three at the Emirates Stadium
• Before Christmas David Silva scored five goals and provided eight assists but since Christmas he has not scored any goals and has managed just four assists |
