MANCHESTER CITY welcome Arsenal to the Etihad on Wednesday for a mouthwatering title clash.
Just five points separate the two sides and City have two games in hand over their rivals.
That means Mikel Arteta’s side must win to keep things in their hands, though their recent record against the champions is abysmal.
City have won the last 11 Premier League clashes between the pair and have not lost to the Gunners at home since January 2015.
Arsenal have won just one of the last 15 meetings – a 2-0 FA Cup semi-final win in 2020.
And even a much improved Arsenal side struggled in their two games against Pep Guardiola’s serial winners this campaign.
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City knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win at the Etihad in January, and then dealt their rivals a huge blow in the title race with a 3-1 win at the Emirates a month later.
Top goalscorer Erling Haaland found the net on that occasion and he is the dangerman once again for City.
He is the top scorer in the Prem with 32 goals this season, while team-mate Kevin De Bruyne leads the way with assists on 15.
City boast more experience than Arsenal, both in terms of squad age and in winning know-how, having claimed the title in four of the past five years.
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Guardiola is also a more accomplished manager than Arteta and has 191 Premier League wins compared to his protege’s 72.
The Spaniard has masterminded four of City’s eight top-flight title wins while Arteta, who worked as a coach under Pep at City, has won only one major trophy – the FA Cup.
He arguably has better players at his disposal too, with City’s squad worth £929million.
Jack Grealish alone cost £100m and the England winger has found form in recent weeks, including a goal in the key Emirates win.
By comparison Arsenal’s squad is worth £787m, and they have hit a sticky patch with three draws on the bounce against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton.
Meanwhile City are unbeaten in 16 matches and will be buoyed after reaching the FA Cup final following a 3-0 win over Sheffield United on Saturday.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
