The biggest game of the season is finally upon us. Manchester City welcome Arsenal to the Etihad Stadium in what promises to be a Premier League classic.
Mikel Arteta's side are currently five points ahead of the current champions, although Pep Guardiola's men do have two games in hand. While the match is not a title decider, it could prove to be crucial in deciding who lifts the Premier League trophy come May 28.
Arteta, however, is not getting ahead of himself. "We knew from the beginning that City was the team to beat with Liverpool because of what those teams have done in the past few years," the Spaniard said in his pre-match press conference.
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"They fully deserve that credit and to be at the top. We wanted to close that gap as much as we could and we’re toe-to-toe with them.
"We knew we had to go to the Etihad, we know that after that we’re going to have five more difficult games. We know tonight is going to be a massive game. Is it going to define the season? The answer is no."
Arsenal come into the fixture on the back of three consecutive draws, while Man City have won six league games in a row. Form somewhat goes out of the window, however, in a game of this magnitude and it will be fascinating to see how both teams cope with the pressure.
Will Erling Haaland continue his fine goalscoring form? Will Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka or Gabriel Martinelli be the Gunners' hero? To try and predict what will happen, football.london editors Sam Truelove, Hush Kerai and Lee Wilmot have their say below.
Sam Truelove - Content Editor
Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta both said in their pre match press conferences that the outcome of tonight's fixture won't define the Premier League title race. While that is somewhat true, we will have a pretty good idea as to who will be crowned champions come 10pm.
For the Gunners to get something at the Etihad Stadium it's vital they stay in the game as long as possible. Aaron Ramsdale, Thomas Partey and Oleksandr Zinchenko have all made mistakes which have led to goals in recent games and that is something which cannot happen tonight.
City have shown they do concede chances and goals themselves - Guardiola's side have failed to keep a clean sheet in their past three league matches - and the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus will all fancy themselves to score. I believe it will be a high-scoring game with Martinelli and Saka both getting on the scoresheet for the Gunners.
However, City themselves have plenty of firepower in attack and stopping Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne will prove to be too much for the north Londoners. I predict Haaland to score Premier League goal number 33 and 34 this evening, with Grealish also getting on the scoresheet.
Truelove's prediction: Man City 3-2 Arsenal
Hush Kerai - Content Editor
After the tentative start against Southampton, I expect Arsenal to actually begin the game against Manchester City on the front foot and I believe they could even potentially take the lead. Arteta's side have shown throughout the season they have the capability to start really well, especially away from home when Gabriel Jesus is leading the line.
However, across the entire 90 minutes I cannot see the back line avoiding the individual errors that have been evident in the pressure of the title race in recent weeks. With Rob Holding in place of William Saliba and Granit Xhaka potentially unavailable, it seems fanciful to think that relentless pressure from Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne will not force a mistake from the back five.
Unfortunately, if the floodgates do open for City, it will be the night when Arsenal's flailing title chances finally drown. The Gunners, without two of their key players and in a run of relatively poor form, have to be perfect to get a result, whereas City simply need to match their recent standards.
If the defending champions do hit top gear, I fear it may turn into an emphatic victory for the hosts and a damaging one for the visitors.
Kerai's prediction: Man City 4-1 Arsenal
Lee Wilmot - Head of football
There will be goals, I can assure you of that. There have been 14 goals in Arsenal's last three matches. In City's last three matches - 14 goals. Get ready for a thriller.
Both managers have said the title race will not be decided by this and I'm inclined to agree with them, I still think there are twists and turns to go.
Given the way Arsenal have played this season, I would not be surprised if they turn over Man City tonight, but it's not what I'm expecting. I think City have too much for the Gunners and will take the points in a high-scoring affair.
I'm expecting Erling Haaland to bully Rob Holding and score a brace, but at the other end I think Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka will bag goals themselves. With Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Jack Grealish, Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden in and around Haaland - with at least two of those to come off the bench, there are more goals in it for City, I believe, given the way both play.
Wilmot's prediction: Man City 4-2 Arsenal
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