Home of football statistics and historyManchester City and Arsenal go head-to-head on Sunday in a game which could be pivotal in determining the outcome of the 2023/24 Premier League title race.
The Gunners head into the weekend on top of the table, level on points with Liverpool but with a superior goal difference. City are just one point behind in third place.
Arsenal have been in fine form since the turn of the year, rattling off eight consecutive league victories to boost their hopes of winning the title this term.
Polish international defender Jakub Kiwior has played a key role during that impressive run, helping the team concede just four goals.
His presence in the team has sparked a flurry of wagering activity in his homeland, with Polish bettors clamouring to back Arsenal to clinch the title.
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Despite leading the way with just ten games remaining, the bookmakers rate the Gunners as third favourites to end their 20-year title drought.
While their form in 2024 makes those odds a tempting proposition, many punters believe Man City will be tough to stop as the season reaches the business end.
Pep Guardiola’s side are chasing their fourth successive title and are priced as betting favourites to get the job done ahead of Liverpool and then Arsenal.
Guardiola has no new injury concerns ahead of the game, with Ederson and Kevin De Bruyne both returning to the squad this weekend.
He will be eager to secure a statement victory over the Gunners having seen his side defeated 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium earlier in the season.
City have won ten and drawn four of their 14 outings at home this season and it is difficult to imagine them losing their unbeaten record against the Gunners.
Arsenal have not won a league game at the Etihad Stadium since a 2-0 success in January 2015 and have been comprehensively outplayed on their last two visits there.
Their 4-1 defeat in the corresponding fixture last April delivered a devastating blow to their title hopes and a similar outcome is on the cards this time around.
While Arsenal’s squad is slightly stronger on paper than last season’s, the way they crumbled on the run-in last term is still fresh in the memory.
Midfielder Declan Rice was touted as the ‘difference-maker’ following his big-money move from West Ham United last summer, but he is yet to justify his lofty price tag.
His well-documented penchant for going missing in big games remains an issue – a point evidenced by his anonymous display at Aston Villa in December.
Rice also failed to live up the hype on his most recent outings for England, producing two dismal performances against Brazil and Belgium.
City midfield general Rodri will be rubbing his hands with glee at the prospect of showing Rice exactly what it means to dominate games when the heat is on.
Although Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta should have a fully fit squad to choose from, he will likely witness his team being knocked off their perch this weekend.
With the Gunners facing the toughest run-in of the three title contenders, they can ill-afford to leave the Etihad empty-handed.
However, odds of 10/11 for City to record a valuable victory look excellent value and they are strongly fancied to emerge victorious this weekend.
Prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Arsenal.
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