Manchester City v Arsenal

Manchester City: League Position: 1st, League Form: WWDWL

Roberto Mancini’s men finally came unstuck last week as a Monday night defeat to Chelsea saw them lose for the first time domestically this season. After controlling the game with ease for the majority of the first half at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s breakaway goal destroyed the momentum they had built, and it seemed to halt their flow for the rest of the game. From then on it was Chelsea’s to win.

Man City vs Arsenal odds

Having their unbeaten record taken from them one game and losing out on Champions League group qualification the week before, this has been a little uneasy period for The Citizens. And again Mario Balotelli has caused controversy, this time involved in a training ground scrap with Micah Richards. Can City come out of this hard run of fixtures and sticky patch with a win against Arsenal?

They are still top, although this may not be the case come four o’clock this Sunday afternoon with rivals United playing earlier in the day and only two points behind. However they have won all seven at home, scoring 24 and conceding four.

Arsenal: League Position: 5th, League Form: WWDWW

Arsenal are back. After their poor start to the season they have began to turn it round, climbing the table and going from European outsiders to right back in the Champions League qualification places, and also comfortably through to the last 16 of this year’s tournament.

Much of this is down to the flying Dutchman Robin Van Persie. 19 goals this season, 15 in the league which is four more than second placed Aguero, the man is almost unstoppable.

The problem looks to come on their away form, three wins, one draw, three defeats, yet they have won their past three away games in the league. In fact, they are unbeaten since October 2nd in the league, with domestic defeat to this weekend’s opponents in the Carling Cup their only blight on the copybook in this country.

Match Prediction: Manchester City Win – 1.73 William Hill

The form book says Arsenal, the striker in form is Arsenal’s Robin Van Persie, yet Manchester City will be expecting to win this.

The side’s rigid defensive style of last year could come into play against an Arsenal side that have not lost their inconsistent traits, as Fulham showed in their draw at The Emirates Stadium this season.

Whilst Arsenal’s midfield has been a platform to flourish in attack, they come up against a City midfield that are a different animal. The man the Arsenal fans cried out for their manager to buy for seasons before he was taken by City, Yaya Toure, will marshal a midfield of Barry and Milner that can not only harass and interrupt the flow of Arsenal’s passing game, but also feed the creative men ahead of them.

City have not kept a clean sheet in the league since October 1st, but their home record is impressive. Manchester City have taken 49 from a possible 51 points in their last 16 games at the Etihad Stadium and won the last 12 in a row.

Highlighted Bets:-

Over/Under: Over 2.5 Goals – 1.73 Stan James
First Goalscorer: Sergio Aguero – 6.00 Sky Bet
Correct Score: 2-1 Manchester City – 8.5 188Bet

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