Arsenal to put Citizens in their place

The will he won’t he Wayne Rooney saga is set to continue for the foreseeable future and the club he is favourite to join in the January transfer window, Man City, face another test of their title credentials when they host Arsenal on Sunday.

A clear second to Chelsea in the Premier League reads well for Mancini’s expensively assembled side especially as they can boast a victory over the Champions already this season. However they haven’t always excelled and still look a work in progress and were most fortunate to take the three points from Blackpool last weekend.

Arsenal have consolidated their league position a place behind the top two and trounced Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1 in a midweek Champions League tie and go into this match knowing a win will take them into second spot. Wenger will be anxious to show his critics that his team have what it takes to challenge for top honours and it would be little surprise if the Gunners were able to exploit City’s current limitations.

The Citizens are yet to convince as a team and Arsenal are sure to take the game to them, something that Chelsea never did when they visited last month, and with Cesc Fabregas back they could prove too strong for the home side. A truly fascinating encounter is in store and one for which a draw is favoured by many but at the prices the value is with Arsenal and that just has to be the call.

Leaders Chelsea face a straightforward task at home to Wolves on Saturday but the rest of the weekends’ games look tough to call. I do though like the look of West Ham at home to Newcastle and this would appear a must win for the bottom side.

The same applies to Liverpool who host Blackburn on Sunday and they really do need a win to get out of the relegation places and to signal to their new owners that they’ve not bought a sinking ship. Blackburn won’t roll-over easily but they have failed to keep a clean sheet in any away game this term and the Reds could edge a much needed win.

Man United have failed to win on the road in the league so far this season and face a tough Stoke side at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday. I would not want to get involved with United at present for their problems at the back as much as any concerns over Rooney and this could be another draw.