(Football news) A blockbuster Premier League clash awaits as Manchester City take on Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium with the outcome potentially deciding the title. Pep Guardiola’s side defeated Sheffield United 3-0 to reach the FA Cup final while the Gunners drew 3-3 against Southampton and desperately need a win against the reigning champions. Arsenal are currently five points ahead of City but have played two games more which means winning against City is the only way they can remain in the title race. 

Arsenal have secured only three points out of a possible nine in their last three games, sharing the spoils against West Ham and Liverpool by letting successive two goal leads slip but managed to stage a stunning comeback against Southampton despite being 3-1 down. The Gunners have some tough fixtures ahead with Chelsea and Newcastle in the next couple of weeks and Mikel Arteta knows his side need to be absolutely perfect in order to win the Premier League after two decades. 

In team news for Manchester City, Nathan Ake is a doubt due to a thigh injury but Pep Guardiola could recall the likes of John Stones, Ruben Dias, Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne to the starting XI. Erling Haaland needs one more goal to break the record for a 38 game season and currently has 32 goals to his name. As for Arsenal, William Saliba is unavailable due to a back injury while Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny will watch from the sidelines after their season ended due to knee surgeries. Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus are expected to line up against their former club.

Manchester City possible starting lineup:

Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Laporte; Stones, Rodri; Mahrez, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland

Arsenal possible starting lineup:

Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Jesus

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