Arsenal vs. Manchester City Preview

Arsenal vs. Manchester City provides the second tasty instalment of a super Sunday on April 8 – and the destination of the Barclays Premier League title could well be settled come the end of it.

With Manchester United firm favourites to extend their lead at the top of the table earlier in the day at home to QPR, City will almost certainly have to complete a league double over the Gunners if they are to stay in touch with their bitter rivals ahead of that all-important derby clash at the Etihad later in the month.

And Roberto Mancini’s men could be a telling eight points behind the Red Devils before the action at the Emirates gets underway.

If that is indeed the case, such distance between the two clubs may prove to be a telling psychological barrier for City who showed worrying signs of cracking internally throughout their last fixture against Sunderland.

Although the 3-3 result was met by delirium from the City supporters due to the circumstances of a late comeback, in truth it was a vital two points dropped and a number of team scuffles during the game sent out alarming warning signals to Mancini and the rest of the footballing world.

Despite thundering home a rasping drive from outside the penalty area, Mario Balotelli’s second goal was met with a shake of the head from his fellow Italian who had previously witnessed his star centre-forward protest to team mates over the taking of a free-kick – and his subsequent actions, although world class, looked like an act of greed with Balotelli seemingly unwilling to pass the ball to his colleagues.

Mancini will now look to quell the storm ahead of his side’s trip to North London which will be a stern test despite Arsenal’s shock defeat to QPR last time out.

Up until the loss at Loftus Road, Arsenal had been in flying form winning six matches on the spin to propel themselves up to third in the table – ahead of enemies Spurs who had once held a ten point cushion over Arsene Wenger’s men.

Now, with a five point buffer separating the teams from Chelsea in fifth, in appears as if both Arsenal and Tottenham will qualify for the Champions League at the expense of the Blues.

But Arsenal will be keen to kick on further in order to avoid another slump similar to that which they endured earlier in the campaign.

The reverse fixture between Arsenal and City was dubbed the most entertaining fixture of the whole Premier League season despite the 1-0 result and more of the same is expected this time around, with considerably more goals thrown into the mix.

Arsenal were perhaps a shade unfortunate to go down after dominating City for long periods in Manchester and they will fancy their chances of gaining revenge.

If the blip at QPR can be left behind, Arsenal can produce the goods for punters at 6/4 to officially put an end to Manchester City’s title challenge.

It may be foolish to write Mancini’s men off but they look a trouble outfit now that United have burst clear and a fluent Gunners team can take full advantage.

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02/04/2012     © Frixo 2024