Chelsea have been the standout team in the Premier League this season, and are standing tall on the table, but teams below them are trying to get close to them and fight for the title. Arsenal and Manchester City, who will be involved in a mammoth clash at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, will try to close the gap with a win.
Arsenal are nine points behind Chelsea, while City are just a point below the Gunners, which explains the importance of the game. Arsenal are always going to be a huge threat while moving forward with players like Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil. All these players are in great form, and scoring goals, and more importantly Arsenal have looked a potent force with Sanchez leading the line.
After Liverpool, Arsenal enjoy the best offensive record with 37 goals. So, when Arsenal players set their foot on the Etihad pitch, they will try to increase that goals-tally and look for that win as well. Arsenal have destroyed some of the teams of late in the Premier League, but their last loss against Everton must have disappointed the Gunners, who will need to get back to their winning ways against City.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants his players to respond against Manchester City.
"We have done extremely well, but what is important in football is that you respond and that we focus to do better in the future. It's a bit difficult to accept the result on Tuesday but many teams can drop points at Everton. We are a strong team away from home and that's what we want to show straight away again at Manchester City," club's official website quoted Wenger as saying.
Arsenal are a strong offensive side, no doubt, but they will also have to be solid at the back with City possessing some incredible players like Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Silva, who can create havoc with their skills. However, City will miss some key stars including Gundogan, who suffered knee ligament injury, ruling him out of the season. Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho are still serving their suspension.
Man City manager Pep Guardiola believes the club will miss him a lot during the season from now on.
"He (Gundogan) is sad, we are sad. The action of the opponent was correct - it was an unlucky situation. Now we need him to feel we are there and wait and come back safe. He's going to be operated and be back as soon as possible. It's so, so difficult for him. Sad for him. We are going to miss him a lot. It's what it is. He's unlucky. Sometimes football is like this," Mirror quoted Guardiola as saying.
With no Gundogan, they will look forward for the services of Yaya Toure in the midfield. City might not have their full strength, but they will be a tough nut to crack for Arsenal, and the home team will hope to give their home fans some reasons to cheer in the contest. City will look for some magical performance from Silva and De Bruyne on Sunday.
For Arsenal as well, they will miss of their high-profiled players including Shkodran Mustafi and Santi Cazorla. Both teams will have to make use of their resources available to script a win.
Where to Watch Live
Manchester City vs Arsenal is set to begin at 9:30pm IST (4 pm GMT, 11 am ET). Live Streaming and TV information is below.
India: TV: Star Sports Select HD1. Live Streaming: Hotstar.
UK: TV: Sky Sports 1. Live Streaming: Watch Sky Sports.
USA: TV: NBCSN. Live Streaming: NBC Sports Live.
Australia: TV: Optus Sport. Live Streaming: Optus Online.
Middle East: TV: Bein Sports Arabia. Live Streaming: Bein Sports Connect.
