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Man City have been steamrolling past opponents left and right over the last few months and without even playing a league match last weekend, the defending Premier League champions are right on the tailcoats of Arsenal heading into the business end of the campaign. Arsenal’s defensive problems continued at the weekend when the Gunners could only manage a 3-3 draw at home to struggling Southampton, their third draw in a row in the Premier League.
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Man City vs Arsenal: Match Preview
City have really found their form in recent months, winning 13 of their last 16 matches in all competitions, losing just once in their last 20 outings and scoring an impressive 57 goals. The Citizens could still win the treble as they are in the Champions League semi-finals, the FA Cup final, and the upcoming match against Arsenal could swing the Premier League title race heavily in their favour.
Arsenal started the month with an 8-point lead at the top of the table but the signs are there that the Gunners are starting to bottle in. Arteta’s side have seen their lead diminish following 3 consecutive draws, with 2-0 leads thrown away in two of those matches. The Gunners also face the daunting task of trying to avoid an 11th consecutive defeat at the Emirates, a run that stretches back to 2017. If this negative run continues the Gunners might be goners in the title race.
Man City’s fierce attack and Arsenal’s defensive frailties of late mean that there is a good chance we will be treated to goals on Wednesday night. It’s likely that this huge match in the title race will have a fast start. This season, Man City’s home games have produced 2.2 first-half goals, a league-high.
City’s leading striker Haaland has scored in 67% of PL home matches this season and he currently sits on 32 league goals. This equals the record for most goals in a season for a 38-game season. Haaland will be eager to become the best-ever goalscorer the Premier League have seen over a single season exactly against the only team that has matched City’s pace up to now.
The last meeting between the two
The sides met last not that long ago – mid-February. City won 3-1 away in convincing style. After an exchange of first-half goals City switched to a higher gear and goals from Grealish and Haaland decided the match. This was the second win against Arsenal in a short space of time with City also eliminating the Gunners from the FA Cup in January with a 1-0 home win.
The Form Guide: Man City vs Arsenal
Man City
Man City come into the match on the back of 11 wins in their last 12 games in all competitions. The Citizens have been scoring goals for fun with at least 3 goals scored in 6 of their last 7 home matches. Held to ‘only’ 2 goals in early March in a 2-0 win over Newcastle.
Form guide: WWWWW
Arsenal
Arsenal lost control of the title race on Saturday when they only managed to draw 3-3 at home to relegation-battling Southampton. This was the third draw in a row against a team from the bottom half of the table and Arsenal’s players, particularly their defenders, seem to be losing confidence in their own ability, Conceding 7 goals in their last three matches.
Form guide: WWDDD
Team News for Wednesday’s clash between Man City and Arsenal
Man City
City come into this title decider pretty much at full strength. Ake’s fitness is a slight concern but everyone else is fit and raring to go.
Arsenal
Arsenal’s back line remains under-strengthened with Saliba and Tomiyasu still sidelined through injury. Elneny is also out injured but Xhaka is expected to overcome illness in time and may even start. The ex-City players Zinchenko and Jesus should be among the starters too.
Our Prediction: Man City to record 12th consecutive home win vs Arsenal
- We predict a decisive 4-1 home win for Man City in this title decider and we think Erling Haaland will score at least one goal to break the record for most goals over a 38-game season.
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