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Manchester City logo
Premier League
Dec 14, 2013 at 12.45pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

6-3

Aguero (14'), Negredo (39'), Fernandinho (51', 88'), Silva (66'), Toure (90' pen.)
FT(HT: 2-1)
Walcott (31', 63'), Mertesacker (90')

Preview: Manchester City vs. Arsenal

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Premier League clash between Manchester City and Arsenal.

Manchester City will have the chance to trim the gap between themselves and leaders Arsenal to three points in the Premier League when they host the Gunners on Saturday.

Manuel Pellegrini's side will head into the clash at the Etihad Stadium placed fourth in the table with 29 points from 15 matches, six points behind the North London club.

The Citizens have a perfect record at home in the league, having won seven out of seven, scoring 29 goals and conceding just two in the process.

City's away form has also shown signs of improvements over the past week or so, as they staged a 3-2 comeback victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday.

On the other hand, Arsene Wenger's Arsenal will go to Manchester on the back of a 2-0 away defeat to Napoli in Europe that still proved to be enough for them to sneak into the last 16 of the Champions League.

In the domestic arena, though, the Gunners are in impressive form, having gone five points clear at the top of the table after 15 rounds of matches.

Victory over City at the Etihad will see the London outfit extend their advantage to eight points at least for a few hours and will also see them stretch their unbeaten run in the Premier League to five matches.

However, Arsenal will have to do so without a number of injured players, including Abou Diaby (knee) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee), although Bacary Sagna and Lukas Podolski are likely to be back from their respective hamstring injuries.

City have no new injury or suspension worries, while Stevan Jovetic could find himself back on the bench after recovering from a calf problem.

Manager Pellegrini is likely to recall Sergio Aguero to his first XI after leaving him on the bench at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, while Costel Pantilimon is expected to replace Joe Hart in goal.

Recent form

Man City: WWWWDW

Arsenal: WWWWDL

Possible starting lineups

Man City: Pantilimon; Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Kolarov; Milner, Fernandinho, Toure, Nasri; Negredo, Aguero

Arsenal: Szczesny; Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Flamini, Ramsey; Wilshere, Ozil, Cazorla; Giroud

Sports Mole says: 2-1


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Manager Arsene Wenger of Arsenal celebrates after Olivier Giroud of Arsenal equalises making it 1-1 during the UEFA Champions League Group F match between Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund at Emirates Stadium on October 22, 2013
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
2Arsenal32225575264971
3Liverpool32218372314171
4Aston Villa33196868491963
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle321551269521750
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd32155124748-150
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham33139115258-648
9Chelsea31138106152947
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32127134651-543
12Fulham33126154951-242
13Bournemouth32119124757-1042
14Crystal Palace3289153754-1733
15Brentford3388174758-1132
16Everton3298153248-1627
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3379174258-1626
18Luton TownLuton3367204670-2425
19Burnley3348213368-3520
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3237223084-5416


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