Manchester City vs Arsenal. Premier League.
Etihad StadiumAttendance54,409.
Sunday 18 December 2016 16:00, UK
Two Premier League heavyweights clash on Super Sunday as title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal meet at the Etihad Stadium, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 3.30pm.
Both teams have been left in Chelsea's wake in recent weeks as Pep Guardiola's side have won just four of their last 10 league matches while Arsenal were defeated 2-1 by Everton on Wednesday, which ended an unbeaten league run that stretched back to the opening day.
These recent results have left City in third and Arsenal in fourth and if Chelsea beat Crystal Palace on Saturday, then Antonio Conte's men could be nine points clear at the top of the table.
City's 2-0 win over Watford on Wednesday was just their second clean sheet in 18 games in all competition as defensive frailties have blunted their progress under Guardiola.
The Citizens are looking for their 50th win against Arsenal but the Gunners haven't lost consecutive away Premier League games since April 2014.
Manchester City are without midfielder Ilkay Gundogan after the German suffered cruciate ligament damage in midweek.
Midfielder Fernandinho sits out the final match of his three-game ban while striker Sergio Aguero is also suspended for two more fixtures.
Captain Vincent Kompany (knee) remains on the sidelines and midfielder Fabian Delph is not yet back to full match fitness after a groin operation.
Arsenal have no fresh injury concerns.
Hamstring issues rule out Aaron Ramsey and Shkodran Mustafi, while Danny Welbeck and Per Mertesacker (both knee) are also out, as is Santi Cazorla (Achilles).
The last six Premier League meetings between these two sides have produced 24 goals - four per game, on average.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last six games with Manchester City in all competitions (W3 D3 L0).
Olivier Giroud has scored in four successive appearances against Manchester City in all competitions.
Manchester City have been given eight red cards in the Premier League against Arsenal; more than they have against any other opponent.
Arsene Wenger has won just two of his previous eight competitive meetings with Pep Guardiola (W2 D2 L4), all in the Champions League. Away from home, his record versus the Spaniard is W0 D1 L3.
Only Chelsea (7) have won more Premier League games away at the Etihad than Arsenal (6).
Petr Cech has failed to keep a clean sheet in his last seven Premier League appearances; he has never gone eight successive games without a clean sheet in the competition.
Alexis Sanchez has had a hand in 27 goals in his last 27 Premier League appearances for Arsenal (19 goals, 8 assists).
Sanchez has scored 41 goals in 81 Premier League appearances for Arsenal. The only players to reach 41 goals quicker for the club in the competition were Thierry Henry (74 apps) and Ian Wright (77 apps).
Manchester City are the 23/20 favourites with Sky Bet to win at home to Arsenal in a huge game at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Gunners can be backed at 11/5 to secure the three points and the draw is on offer at 13/5. Sky Bet have Correct Score Group Betting available for this match.
You can get 5/2 for City to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 and 7/2 is the price for Arsenal to win by any of those scorelines. There a mountain of specials available too with Sky Bet, including a penalty to be missed in the match at odds of 11/1.
