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Manchester City will look to show the wheels aren’t falling off their title challenge when they go up against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Following their Champions League, City succumbed to their first defeat of the Premier League season against Chelsea which saw their lead at the top of the table cut to just two points from fierce rivals Manchester United.
Matters took an even bigger turn for the worse when hot-headed striker Mario Balotelli was involved in a training bound bust up with team-mate Micah Richards, forcing the club to publicly deny rumours of a rift in the squad.
Richards will return to the squad after missing the last two games through injury and should start while Gael Clichy is suspended for the game after being sent off in the 2-1 defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last week, meaning Pablo Zabaleta will fill in at left back with Aleksander Kolarov.
Now manager Roberto Mancini will look to ensure the most difficult two weeks of his season to date is well and truly behind them with a convincing win over an Arsenal side that have well and truly found their feet after an atrocious start to the season.
The 1-0 win over Everton thanks a piece of Robin Van Persie brilliance extended the Gunners unbeaten streak to eight games in the Premier League.
However Arsene Wenger will be increasingly concerned about the injury crisis that has ravaged his defensive line.
Andre Santos was ruled out for three months earlier this week after the original estimate for his absence was three weeks, while Bacary Sagna, Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson are all on the treatment room and won’t return until the new year.
That has forced Wenger to shuffle his pack at the back, with centre-half Thomas Vermaelen playing out of position at full-back with Per Mertesacker and Laurent Kolscielny filling in the heart of defence.
There was some positive news for Arsenal on Friday after scans revealed Jack Wilshere is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation from injury and is on course for a February return to action.
While City may have recently lost their unbeaten record in the league they remain unbeaten at home, and will go an entire calendar year unbeaten Etihad Stadium if they avoid defeat against Arsenal.
Match Winner
In what is expected to be a tight game Manchester City’s immaculate home record means they are just edging the betting.
City are placed at 1.75 (3/4) with @ VC Bet for the win while the Gunners are 5.50 (9/2) with BetFred to snatch all three points.
The draw is 4.00 (3/1) with VC Bet.
First Goal
City’s impressive attacking line up means a host of men in blue head the market for first goalscorer, with Sergio Aguero, Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko all heading the list.
Ageuro and Balotelli are favourites at 6.00 (5/1) with SkyBet while Dzeko is trailing behind slightly at 6.50 (11/2) with the same bookmaker.
Robin Van Persie is perhaps the most in form striker in Europe currently and is placed generously at 7.00 (6/1) with StanJames to open the scoring.
Recommended Bets
First Goalscorer:: Robin Van Persie, 7.00 (6/1)StanJames
Correct score: 2-2 draw, 17.00 (16/1) with BoyleSports
