Arsenal travel to Manchester City this afternoon in the biggest game of their season so far.
The Gunners lead the Premier League title race by six points with six games to go this season.
Pep Guardiola ’s City have a game in hand on Mikel Arteta ’s men, which they will play against Burnley next week.
Today’s hosts could move to within three points of the league leaders with a victory today.
Guardiola and City know that anything less than a win will not be enough as they look to chase Arsenal down in the final knockings of a thrilling Premier League season.
Guardiola has gone as far as saying that a defeat this afternoon would mean that the title race is over.
The Gunners, however, are in patchy form, having won just once in their last five games.
Man City vs Arsenal latest updates
Mikel Arteta will make a late decision on several players.
Arsenal will be without Bukayo Saka, who has failed to recover from an Achilles injury in time to feature.
Noni Madueke is a doubt with the knee issue that forced him off in midweek against Sporting, with Arteta leaving it to the last minute to make a call.
Arsenal hope that Madueke will be available, though Arteta has indicated he would be willing to throw Max Dowman into the lion's den if required.
Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori also still have to prove their fitness after injury problems of their own.Arteta could opt to bring Kai Havertz into his starting lineup to help Arsenal hold the ball and get up the pitch.
Eberechi Eze is likely to continue at No10, while Arteta must decide between Ben White or Cristhian Mosquera, who impressed on Wednesday night, at right-back.
Mikel Merino remains out, along with Saka.
Manchester City have Nico O’Reilly fit for today’s title showdown, though Ruben Dias will miss out again.
O’Reilly was the match-winner as City saw off rivals Arsenal 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final last month, but had been a doubt for today’s Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium after going off with a hamstring injury after opening the scoring in the 3-0 win over Chelsea.
Dias missed that game in west London as he continues to nurse an ankle problem suffered in the Champions League last-16 second-leg defeat by Real Madrid that saw him also miss out on Wembley in addition to the FA Cup quarter-final demolition of Liverpool.
If O’Reilly is not ready to start against Arsenal, then Rayan Ait-Nouri would take his place at left-back - as he did off the bench against Chelsea.
Marc Guehi and Abdukodir Khusanov should continue as the centre-back pairing in the absence of Dias, with Matheus Nunes on the right of defence and Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal.
Bernardo Silva and Rodri have been impressing in midfield, with Rayan Cherki starring as the central figure in an attacking triumvirate alongside Antoine Semenyo and Jeremy Doku, supporting prolific striker Erling Haaland.
How to watch Man City vs Arsenal
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League, with coverage starting at 4pm BST ahead of a 4.30pm kick-off.
Coverage will begin immediately after coverage of the Merseyside derby, which kicks off at 2pm.
It’s the biggie!
Manchester City host Arsenal in what could be the true Premier League title decider.
Anything less than a win need for City to topple Arsenal, whose nine-point lead is fast evaporating.
Even a defeat today isn’t disastrous for the Gunners, but they hardly cope well with pressure.
Kick-off is at 4.30pm.
Stick with us.
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Source: This article was originally published by Evening Standard
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