Arsenal cannot go to the top of the Premier League with a home win over Man City this evening, because of that pesky Leicester City side of Claudio Ranieri, but we can open up a four point lead over the club that is likely to be our main rivals for the EPL title.
Arsene Wenger has spoken in the build up about this game being an important moment for the Gunners but it os perhaps even more important for the visitors as they have been on a bad run and another loss could really dent their confidence.
So they will be very happy to be able to name Aguero, Toure, Silva and De Bruyne in the starting line up, while Sterling only makes the bench. Our own hoped for returning player, Alexis Sanchez, has not even made the squad so the boss sticks with Walcott and Campbell on either side of the in form Giroud.
While not having the Chilean available is a blow, we have done alright without him and I think that the loss of Kompany for City will prove to be more important, especially if Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey can pick up where they left off and our own first choice defence can stay strong.
Cech
Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal
Flamini, Ramsey
Campbell, Ozil, Walcott
Giroud
subs: Ospina, Chambers, Gabriel, Reine-Adelaide, Gibbs, Iwobi, Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Would we take a point from this big game or is a win vital for Arsenal and our title hopes?