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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
MANCHESTER CITY  Hart Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Zabaleta Milner, Toure, Barry, Silva Balotelli, Aguero | ARSENAL  Szczesny Djourou, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen Song, Ramsey, Arteta Walcott, Van Persie, Gervinho |
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will not be able to call upon the services of full-back Gael Clichy as the former Arsenal player is suspended for this game. With Aleksandar Kolarov out with a groin injury, Pablo Zabaleta would be expected to fill in at left-back while fit-again Micah Richards will take the right-back slot after missing two games with a calf problem.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has no more new injuries to deal with, but his full-backs are all still out of action. This means that Thomas Vermaelen is likely to continue playing in the left-back position, while Johan Djourou should man the right-back spot.
Abou Diaby (muscle), Lukasz Fabianski (knee), Kieran Gibbs (hernia), Carl Jenkinson (back), Ryo Miyaichi, Bacary Sagna and Andre Santos (all ankle) are all sidelined with injuries.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Manchester City are currently on a run of 12 consecutive victories at Eastlands in the Premier League.
- Roberto Mancini's men fell to their first defeat in the league this season when they were beaten by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the last round of games.
- City have had trouble keeping clean sheets in recent times, having conceded one goal in each of their last four league games at home.
- Arsenal have gone undefeated in their last eight games in the Premier League, winning seven in the process. The lone draw was a 1-1 result against Fulham at the Emirates Stadium.
- The Gunners have kept a clean sheet in four of their last five league games against City.
- Robin van Persie (pictured right) has managed to hit the back of the net 33 times in 32 games in the Premier League in 2011. Alan Shearer holds the record for the most number of goals scored in a calendar year, having netted 36 times in 1995.
Arsenal may have done well so far, but a wounded Manchester City will want to recover from their defeat at the hands of Chelsea by securing a strong victory over Arsene Wenger's men.
While the visitors are no mugs with the ball, it appears unlikely that the Eastlands club would lose two consecutive games in the Premier League. And home advantage should ensure that three points are the order of the day for City.
While the visitors are no mugs with the ball, it appears unlikely that the Eastlands club would lose two consecutive games in the Premier League. And home advantage should ensure that three points are the order of the day for City.
Editor's Prediction
Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal 
