The best match of the Premier League weekend has been saved until last as Arsenal host Man City in the Monday Night Football at the Emirates Stadium.
Both sides will go into the match looking to close the gap on the now runaway leaders Leicester and defeat for either will leave them needing to overturn a bit of a gap in the second half of the season. This really is one of, if not the biggest games of the season so far.
Arsenal go into the match off the back of a decent mini run of form but they will be judged on this match alone really. It is fair to say their form in the big matches hasn’t been to the required standard for a while but they’ve taken Man Utd to the cleaners this season already.
Injuries aren’t helping the Gunners at present but it doesn’t appear to be stopping them. Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil have been in sparkling form but the goals of Olivier Giroud have come at a perfect time. Theo Walcott’s pace could be important in this match.
Man City by contrast have struggled over the last couple of weeks. They were knocked off by Stoke in a really flat performance and needed a deflected late winner to come past a pretty average Swansea side so their confidence could be a little fragile right now.
City haven’t been helped by injuries recently either and it appears that they are going to be without Vincent Kompany again here. Sergio Aguero could be back which would be a boost but City’s record with and without their captain could hardly be more different.
This should be a belter of a game but the decisive factor in it could be Kompany’s absence. There is no denying that City’s defence is considerably worse when he isn’t at the heart of it and that could be vital.
Arsenal will need to be careful of City’s pace and quality on the break but with their own pace in attacking areas they can sit a little deeper and attack from far which might suit them. I wouldn’t be surprised if this ends a draw but if there is a winner I can see it being the home side so I’ll take them on the level ball line.
Back Arsenal (0AH) to beat Man City for a 4/10 stake at 1.76 with BetVictor
