It's a bigger game than Chelsea: Man City Preview

Hi Ho Gooners,

So at last we are approaching normality with only two games a week. After a great start to the year at Birmingham we welcome Manchester City and all of it's overpaid 'stars' to Ashburton Grove.

Fly back to the end of October last year and we'll remember thrashing the sky blue mancs 3-0 with goals from Nasri, Song and Bendnter. It was the first point this season that we proved we had grown as a team and could truly compete with the so called 'big boys' especially when you compared it to our defeat at Eastlands last season.

Wenger is expected to follow a similar game plan to the one we used against Chelsea which will see us pressing every Man City player that dares to touch the ball and really putting on the pressure. That combined with the vision of Fabregas and Wilshere, the skill of Nasri and Van Persie and the pace of Walcott we should be able to cause a lot of problems for our opponents.

Man City travel without Silva or Balotelli who have both suffered injuries and I have to say that's good news for Gooners everywhere. Balotelli gives City a very real goal threat and he seems to be coming into a bit of form of late so his absence is much appreciated. Silva is a player that I believe is very much in the Arsenal mould. He has a wonderful eye for a pass and can cause a lot of damage from cutting in from the wing.

As for our line up, just like Wenger will be following a similar game plan to the Chelsea game, I can't see him changing the names on the team sheet. This has now become a bigger game than Chelsea, a win will move us into second, a point clear of City and with a game in hand.

Goonerfish's line-up:

                       Fabianski

Sagna - Koscielny - Djourou - Clichy

                         Song

              Fabregas - Wilshere

Walcott                 -               Nasri

                     Van Persie

Score: Arsenal 3 - 2 Man City

This game ended 0-0 last year but I can see this year's game being really open, City will start on the defensive but if we score an early goal they will have no choice but to attack and that will lead to a great game.

Just wanted to quickly say that it's good to see Gibbs available for selection again, we're at the stage of the season where games now come on overload and Clichy will not be able to perform in them all so Gibbs' services will be needed. Gibbs is an excellent and exciting talent and I hope he can keep fit long enough to really push Clichy for that starting spot next season.

Sorry for the compacted version of a preview today, I'm sat at my desk at work typing this but ssshhhhhhhhhh, don't tell anyone.

Whether you're at the game or watching it on TV, enjoy it.

Till next time,
Goonerfish.