Manchester City v Arsenal: Can the Gunners stun the champions?
Can Arsenal continue their unbeaten start to the season or will the champions flex their muscles and show why they are the Premier League's top dogs?
The Gooners enter the game ahead of City in the league on goal difference, but they have lost four of their past five league and cup meetings at the Etihad. Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla are the new kings of the Emirates and they are keen to deliver silverware to the club this season, but how will they fare at the home of the champions?
Arsenal are unbeaten in all competitions this season and have only conceded twice while City have dropped points against Liverpool and Stoke City. However, the Citizens are yet to lose in the league this year. In fact, their last defeat at home was back in December 2010 against Everton, so Arsenal face a tough task ahead of them.
The Citizens suffered a hammer blow in midweek when they let a 2-1 lead slip away against the Spanish giants Real Madrid. They were five minutes away from recording a remarkable win at the Bernabeu, but then that man Ronaldo - who else - stepped up to clinch the opening group points.
The hosts based their success last season on a rock solid defence but this season they have already conceded nine goals in their opening five league and cup games. How will they react following their Champions League heartbreaker and can they stop the Gunners from scoring? They are the two biggest questions facing Mancini's men.
Our pundits are expecting goals but City are expected to just shade it.
Prediction Panel
|
Arsenal |
Josh Ben Moshe |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Aston Villa |
Frank Pattison |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Chelsea |
Joe Tyler |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Liverpool |
Dave Disciascio |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Man United |
Alex Richert |
2 |
V |
3 |
|
Newcastle |
Greg Hall |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Norwich |
Sue Read |
2 |
V |
3 |
|
QPR |
John Jaycock |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Reading |
Jon Keen |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Southampton |
Andy Saunders |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Stoke City |
Jack Heaney |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Swansea |
Jim Barry |
2 |
V |
4 |
|
Spurs |
Mike Richards |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
West Ham |
Matt Beeby |
3 |
V |
2 |
|
Wigan |
Jimmy Shine |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Sarshar Hosseinnia |
3 |
V |
2 |
|
Blackburn fan |
Terry Kennedy |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Bolton fan |
David Blackburn |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
3 |
V |
2 |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
3 |
V |
2 |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
Wolves fan |
Chris Cox |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Panel Verdict
This could go any way.
Home: 14; Draw: 10; Away: 9. TBA 1.
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear from you.
