Arsenal sit at the top of the table with 35 points, while Manchester City find themselves in 4th place behind Liverpool and Chelsea, with 29 points. Manchester City have been devastating around goal this season however, scoring 41 goals so far. Arsenal are going to have to lean on their defensive line, especially Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny to stop Sergio Aguero (12 goals in the Premier League), who has made the argument thus far that he should win Premier League Player of the Year.
Arsenal, however have the edge against Manchester City with total goals against this season, only allowing 11 goals. It’s the most lethal attacking team versus, you could argue, one of the best defensive teams in the league.
Here are my players to watch:
Manchester City
Sergio Aguero, Forward, #10 – How can he not be a player to watch? One of the league’s most dangerous players in front of goal, having scored 12 goals so far this season in the Premier League. Arsenal need to mark him tightly throughout the game or he will take advantage of his chances.
Samir Nasri, Midfield, #8 – Nasri will be playing against his formal club and it’s a reason to watch him on Saturday. He’s having a good season, scoring 4 goals and setting up 3. Nasri will have to battle against a new looking Arsenal midfield than he was used to back when practiced at the Emirates. We’ll see how he stacks up.
Arsenal
Wojciech Szczesny, Goalkeeper, #1 – Szczesny has been playing very well this season for Arsenal, having piled up 48 saves and 6 clean sheets so far this campaign. Arsenal’s defensive line has played well all season, easing Szczesny’s goalkeeper duties but when he’s called to action, he does his job extremely well. He’s going to have to play very well against this offensive minded Manchester City team.
Lukas Podolski, Forward, #9 – He’s finally healthy! Lukas Podolski is back after being injured in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Fenerbahce. Obviously, he won’t get the start against Manchester City but he will be available off the bench. I’d watch to see if he comes off the bench and gives the Arsenal team a spark. After being out for so long, he’ll be excited to get back on the pitch.
Theo Walcott is also available and Bacary Sagna might be available for Arsenal, says manager Arsene Wenger.