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PREVIEW: Man City vs Arsenal, Team News, Starting XI & Prediction

By on January 17, 2015

Arsenal face a huge test this weekend as we take on Premier League champions Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday.

The match has been dubbed ‘Alexis vs Aguero’ and it’s easy to see why as they are arguably the two best players in the Premier League.

Alexis comes into the game in excellent form while Aguero isn’t 100% fit after a month out injured, so hopefully that will play an important part in proceedings tomorrow.

We eased past Stoke 3-0 last week but we’ll be in for a much tougher task at the Etihad – a ground we’ve historically done well at but we’ve struggled there in more recent times.

In fact, we’ve struggled against all the top sides in the last four or five years, so fingers crossed this is the day we end that run with a win against one of the ‘big boys’.

Team News

Wenger has a decision to make at right-back after Debuchy was ruled out for three months with a dislocated shoulder. I’d like to see Bellerin keep his place but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Chambers start tomorrow.

All eyes will also be on Arsene to see who he picks in goal after he axed Szczesny for the last two games.

Gibbs is expected to pass a late fitness test on a heel injury but Arteta is out for up to three months with an ankle problem.

Welbeck is still two weeks away from recovering from a thigh problem so he joins Wilshere on the sidelines.

As for City, Nasri won’t face his former side as he’s out with a calf problem but Aguero and Kompany are expected to start.

Preferred line-up

I wouldn’t be surprised if Arsene sticks with Ospina in goal but I’d prefer to see Szczesny recalled. He’s our number one and I think it would be a huge risk to keep the relatively untested Ospina between the sticks for this game.

It’s one thing facing the likes of Stoke at home, but he’s guaranteed to be called into action on numerous occasions on Sunday so I’d prefer we bring Szczesny back in.

Theo doesn’t look ready to start but I’d like to see Ozil play. This would mean moving Santi out to the left with Sanchez on the right, although all three can interchange throughout the game.

Prediction

Not an easy one to predict. We’ve been inconsistent this season and if our defence plays like it did at Southampton and Aguero’s on it, we could concede five or six, but we’ve also got the firepower to cause them problems so I’m going to go for an entertaining score draw.

Man City 2-2 Arsenal

COYG!!!

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