Hello everyone and its that time again to look ahead to my Game of the Weekend in the upcoming round of Barclays Premier League fixtures. This weekend it is a simple choice to make as Manchester City take on Arsenal.
Man City v Arsenal
There is no doubting the importance of this game for both sides. Firstly, for Arsenal it is a chance to finally prove to the doubters that they are serious title contenders this season. Currently five points clear coming up to Christmas and still there are so many people in the football world who believe the Gunners will choke and slip up. One argument that continues to get thrown at them is that they haven't played any of the so called big teams away from home. The defeat earlier in the season against Manchester United didn't do much to dispel the claims and last weeks dropped points at home to Everton mean that Arsene Wenger will want his team to make a real statement about their title credentials this weekend. For Man City, this is also a crucial game in their season. They are desperate to claw pack the gap to Arsenal and maintain their wonderful home form this season, and with the current patchy away form these home days take on even more importance.
So which team will be happier come close of play on Saturday afternoon? Something has to give as the team with the best home form in the league takes on the joint best away team this season. To me however, I feel victory is a step too far for Arsene's men and believe Man City will take the win and reduce the gap to three points at the top. City have been frighteningly good at home, scoring goals for fun and only conceding two at the other end. This was epitomised by their 6-0 romp of Tottenham and by putting seven past Norwich. The attacking style of play and a strike force of Aguero and Negredo could be too much for the Arsenal defence which there are still doubts lingering about. I believe Arsenal will happily take a point and that may be the best they can hope for as tiredness could affect the squad due to the short turn over between their disappointing result to Napoli on Wednesday night and this early kick-off on Saturday. Man City will be keen to win this one, while Arsene Wenger has spoken of the importance of not losing, suggesting a point will suit him. However, the efforts of his Arsenal team are likely to be in vain if Man City play anything like they have done all season so far at home.
Verdict: Home Win
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