Arsenal face a tough test against Manchester City today

Arsenal players train ahead of their clash with Manchester City on Saturday

Arsenal will travel to face Manchester City today in what promises to be one of the matches of the season. Both the teams are completely different than they were last season and will stop at nothing to achieve the top spot in the Premier League. Arsene Wenger will take his team to the Ethiad stadium today to face a team that is brimming with confidence after they recently beat German heavy weights Bayern Munich in the Champions League while Arsenal went down 2-0 to Napoli in the same competition. Manchester City are almost impregnable at home, and today’s match will certainly be a powder keg.

The Gunners head to the match with a number of pros and cons. The defense department is sound, with Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny currently the best defense partnership in the Premier League. The defensive duo will do all they can to keep Manchester City’s deadly strike force at bay and will be a force to reckon with against their opponents. Barcary Sagna could return for the game which is a big boost for Arsenal. The Frenchman has been one of the most consistent performers this season and can be extremely effective in protection the right flank against the speedy City wingers.

The midfield is Arsenal’s biggest trump card against Manchester City today. Manchester City and Arsenal currently have the best midfields in England, and it will be a treat to watch the battle at the center of the park. Record signing Mesut Ozil has given Arsenal a completely new look along with some superb creativity. Manuel Pellegrini’s team will have to watch out for the German today. Aaron Ramsey has returned as a different player this season, with 13 goals to his name so far. The Welshman is poised to give the Citizens some trouble today. Jack Wilshere is also having a good season and will hope for a win today. Mathieu Flamini has also been a revelation this season and is sure to keep the defensive half of the midfield secure.

The striking department is where Arsenal’s weakness lies. Olivier Giroud is without doubt a talented forward but he badly needs a strike partner. The France international was often isolated in the match against Napoli and cannot carry the burden all by himself. Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott have recently recovered from injuries and have not gained full match fitness yet. The only other strike option is the unreliable Nicklas Bendtner. The Gunners need to buy a world class striker in the mold of Robin van Persie if they want to be a complete team capable of winning not only the Premier League but the Champions League too. The shortage of strikers could hurt them today and turn the tide in Manchester City’s favor.

Every football fan will wait with bated breath today to see which of the two titans managed to trounce their opposition.