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The biggest game of the Premier League season so far awaits on Sunday afternoon as Manchester City host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.
It is a clash of the top two, with City six points behind league leaders Arsenal with a game in hand.
Should they win that and beat the Gunners, both teams will be level on points heading into the final stretch, in what promises to be an exciting end to the season.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our Today's betting tips page for more of our expert Premier League predictions!
Contents
Manchester City vs. Arsenal key stats
- City have won just once in three home games in all competitions (D1, L1).
- Arsenal have won just once in five matches across all competitions (D1, L3).
- City's Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal was their first in seven H2Hs (D3, L3).
Manchester City vs. Arsenal preview: Gunners to avoid damaging defeat?
| Man City | vs | Arsenal |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd | Position | 1st |
| 64 | Points | 70 |
| 63 | Goals For | 62 |
| 28 | Goals Against | 24 |
| 13 | Clean Sheets | 15 |
| 2nd | Home Rank | 2nd |
| 1st | Away Rank | 1st |
City are suddenly very much back in the title race after gaining three points on Arsenal last weekend.
Indeed, after the Gunners lost to Bournemouth, they beat Chelsea to cut the gap at the top to just six points.
A win on Sunday would close it further to just three, and suddenly City could be looking at a domestic treble.
The Cityzens beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final, and are also in the FA Cup semi-final.
As for the visitors, they were on for an unprecedented quadruple before the latest international break, but have since lost the Carabao Cup final and crashed out of the FA Cup.
They did get through 1-0 on aggregate against Sporting in the Champions League quarter-final though, qualifying for a second successive semi-final for the first time in their history.
However, focus is now back on the league and how they can fend off City's late challenge.
Having come second three seasons in a row, there is no doubt Arsenal will be feeling the pressure.
Manchester City vs. Arsenal form guide & betting tips
| Man City | vs | Arsenal |
|---|---|---|
| W-W-D-D-W | League Form | W-W-W-W-L |
| 11 | Points | 12 |
| 3rd | Form Table | 1st |
| 9 | Goals For | 10 |
| 4 | Goals Against | 4 |
| D-L-W-W-W | Form (all comps) | L-L-W-L-D |
Whispers predicts: Manchester City 1-1 Arsenal
City are 9/10 favourites to win, but given Arsenal's need to avoid defeat and their solid recent H2H record, we are backing them to get a positive result.
Double chance - Draw/Arsenal at 1/1 therefore appeals to us as an opening bet.
Both teams boast the highest-scoring attacks in the league, and so BTTS - Yes at 17/20 also appeals.
In terms of an outside punt, we are backing Nico O'Reilly to score.
He netted both goals in City's Carabao Cup final win and has been cleared to play after an injury scare, so O'Reilly to score anytime at 13/2 is our final pick.
Overall, we are predicting a 1-1 draw, which is available at 13/2.
> BTTS - Yes at 17/20 | Likelihood: Probable
> Double chance - Draw/Arsenal at 1/1 | Likelihood: Possible
> O'Reilly to score anytime at 13/2 | Likelihood: Outsider