Why Manchester City will beat the Gunners today

There’s the obvious statistics: City have won four of their past five home games against Arsenal and have not lost at home in 31 Premier League home games, but there are many things operating underneath the surface that suggest that blue will triumph over red.

I’ll be the first to admit that Arsenal look damn good in their new format, somehow a lack of RVP magic has made them better and the Podolski/Cazorla combination is looking lethal with Giroud taking his sweet time to join the party BUT... will it be enough?

First there is the batch of new and returning talent available to the Citizens, showing that if a lesser City side can them beat them, then a new and improved City side will demolish them. Mancini favourite Gareth Barry is back in the side, alongside Javi Garcia who made a fantastic debut and looked strong against Real Madrid. Maicon offers trouble for Kieran Gibbs who has been impressive but has his defensive weaknesses much like the Brazilian. Sergio Aguero is also back. It all adds up.

This is compared to the Gunners' packed emergency ward which now features the likes of Sczezny (to be replaced by Mannone), Bacary Sagna, Thomas Rosicky and Jack Wilshere (yet to return to match fitness).

There is also less tension surrounding this particular game compared to last season and the season prior. Samir Nasri (who will be rested this weekend with a hamstring concern) was fresh into the side from Arsenal after the arrival of fellow ex-gunners Kolo Toure and Adebayor (now at Spurs). While Clichy has also crossed over to greener pastures, there is markedly less of a jealousy feel surrounding this fixture, which if it were to permeate around the Etihad, would no doubt fire up the Gunners.

So who will fire up more? Well you just need to take one look at the characters in both sides to see who will have the better balance. City have the cool calm likes of Vincent Kompany, Joe Hart, Joleon Lescott, Gareth Barry and Yaya Toure to counteract the raw energy of the likes of Balotelli, Kolarov and Aguero. When you look at the other dressing room, it doesn’t speak out so much.

While there is a low of energy to be drawn out of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, even Diaby, they don’t have the same balance with Vermaelan being the coolest head in the team, but there isn’t much more left after him.

So will it be City or will it be Arsenal? We will have our answer soon enough.

Article by Venz De Zoysa

Arsenal fans: You probably won't agree with Venz's view, so check out Josh Ben Moshe's article on why he thinks Arsenal will beat the champions. Click here to read more

Calling all Manchester City fans: Do you agree with Venz's assessment ahead of the big game? Are you confident you can become the first team to beat Arsenal this season? Whatever your views, we'd love to hear from you.

For more Man City articles, click here