Arsenal and Manchester City head into their clash at the Emirates on Sunday in need of three points; while the Gunners are looking to solidify their position, City's dream could all but die.

Arsenal are ahead of Spurs by a solitary goal in the final automatic Champions League berth, while a Chelsea side back in form and Newcastle United menacingly lurk five points behind.

City have seen their form suffer badly, especially away from home, and they now trail Manchester United by five points. Their hopes of clawing back the deficit rest largely on a victory over their arch-rivals at Eastlands at the end of the month but they can afford no further slip-ups.

After all the doom and gloom that enveloped the Gunners following their 4-0 thrashing at AC Milan in February, coupled with falling ten points behind Tottenham in the league, it must feel like an entirely different season now. A 7-1 thrashing of Blackburn was soon following by a 5-2 comeback win over Spurs, part of a winning run that lasted seven Premier League matches.

A 2-1 loss at Queens Park Rangers last weekend brought their sequence of results run to an end, but with only two defeats at home all season - to Liverpool in August and Manchester United in January - confidence will be high that Arsene Wenger can deal a fatal blow to Roberto Mancini's hopes of landing the title.

Last time out against Sunderland, City failed to win at Eastlands in the league for the first time this season, but it is their form on the road that has proved more concerning. Having taken all three points on the road only twice since November 5 - at Wigan and Aston Villa - City have to win.

All four of City's away defeats have come in this same period, most recently at Swansea, and their last seven trips have brought just three goals. Compare that the Gunners, who have netted 17 goals in their last four home fixtures.

Samir Nasri returns to the Emirates for the second time having put in a below-par performance against Arsenal in the Carling Cup. Kolo Toure and Gael Clichy will also tread familiar ground. Mancini has stated Sergio Aguero is set to return from his mysterious 'foot spray' injury, while defender Joleon Lescott is also back in contention after recovering from a hip problem.

Arsenal player to watch: Thomas Vermaelen. After two horror slips against QPR last week led to both goals in the Gunners' defeat at Loftus Road, Vermaelen will need to get back on top form to deal with the multiple attacking threats posed by the visitors.

Manchester City player to watch: Sergio Aguero. City have drawn both fixtures since Aguero suffered a blistered foot but he has trained during the week and is expected to return to the side. Mancini will need his striker back in the groove straight away to stay with Manchester United in the title race.

Key battle: Kolo Toure v Robin Van Persie. Toure has played the whole 90 minutes of both of City's 1-0 wins over his former club Arsenal this season, in the Premier League and Carling Cup, but in Van Persie he will have to keep out one of the hottest strikers in Europe yet again.

Trivia: Manchester City are one of only three teams against whom Robin van Persie has not scored in the Premier League this season. Fulham and Wolves are the others.

Stats: Arsenal have scored in only one of their last six meetings with Manchester City in all competitions, and have not scored in any of their last three home games against Mancini's men.



Match

VICTORIA CONCORDIA CRESCIT

[b]Roberto Mancini has learnt the true meaning of squeaky bum time over the last few weeks.
Instead of concentrating on his own team,he has spent all his time commenting on another team-Manchester United and as such has blown a wide points and goal difference lead.
He now finds his team five points behind United and this could extend to eight points by the time his team faces Arsenal tomorrow.
It is always dangerous to have a team relying on a striker like Ballotelli,who is as likely to score a spectacular goal as much as he likely to implode and get himself sent off.
The on field shenanigans between Balotelli and Kolarov over who should take a free kick against Sunderland sums up The kind of team Mancini has built at the Etihad stadium.
Meanwhile Patrick Vieras attempt at playing mind games was pathetic.
Mancini sounds less and less convincing at his press conferences and his hope that Man United will drop points before the end of the season sounds like a man clutching at straws.
I do not expect to see Mancini in charge at Manchester City next season.
Arsenal should be able to put away this team of players with over bloated egos.[/b]

want arsenal 2 win so as 2 enable we man-u go higher............ UP MAN-U........

Well, the sky is always blue...the sky will be the starting point for City...Go there and make a chelsea fan happy, solidly behind you...

Arsenal wins

Tomorrow i'm a City fan. Go City ish ur birthday!

I expect City to win

Jerry-jat:
want arsenal 2 win so as 2 enable we man-u go higher............ UP MAN-U........

Gbam!!!

;DWoteva D̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥γ̲̣̣̥ play, М̣̣̥̇̊Ɣ lead is ok τ̅☺ win the̶̲̥̅̊ leauge so, but i wish Asenal win sha so as τ̅☺ garantee United of sure CUP

This game will end city's title hopes.
Arsenal will win this convincingly.

Our Arsenal boys are going to win by the special grace of God. City can't just come to Emirates Stadium and trash us. Yes they are tough but they are not above losing this match! Van persie is gonna score this time around. Bad belle people and anti-arsenals, consume yourselves

msb247: Our Arsenal boys are going to win by the special grace of God.

What has God got to do with Football? Don't you fink he has better issues to worry about than some men enjoying themselves and raking millions in the process?
Dnt get me wrong, I believe in God and have been a GOoNEr since 99; but I just believe that if u get ur acts right: that is attack well and Defend well, you will win.
Pray from now till thy kingdom comes, if we put up that horrible performance we did @ Loftus Road, we'll see a cricket score line.
I shaa hope we will play more like we did against Milan; with a performance like that, Arsenal can beat any team (not sure about Barca though).
Arsenal we are on your side, GO GUNNERS!!!!!

Funny how chelsea fans are behind city and man utd fans supporting arsenal.

Manchester city need to win this match

This match is gonna be a must watch

they are hot but we are fire,
ARSENAL' VP' GO FOR GOAL

aww see my yaya but today bebe i am with le arsenal

na$iruuuuu booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

pheeeww noooo Ramsey in the starting line up greaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat

nasiru dey pray .. na boo go keee you today

kompany resemble agbero

game on!!!!!!!!!!!

mukina2: game on!!!!!!!!!!!

muki!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ouch clichy sef getting his own boooooos

Come on city. Hope you score Nasri

fredoooooo:

muki!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa


erm una wan begin wound my boys ni?

muki you no dey support yaya today

yaya stop na

fredoooooo: muki you no dey support yaya today

na my husband na.

goodfreekick arteta . .ball out for corner. kompany head big sha