Preview: Arsenal v. Manchester City

Pic via Guardian. Caption mine, naturally.

Emirates Stadium, London

Saturday, April 24

17:30 BST, 12:30 p.m. EDT

• Referee: Mike Dean
• This Match, Last Year: Arsenal 2 - 0 Manchester City
• All-Time in All Competitions: 91 Arsenal wins, 45 Manchester City wins, 38 draws
• Arsenal's Recent Form: W-W-D-W-L-L
• Manchester City's Recent Form: W-L-W-W-W-L

Predicted Line-Up

guesses italicized

Fabianski

Sagna - Campbell - Silvestre - Clichy

Rosicky - Song - Diaby

Nasri - Bendtner - Van Persie

Subs from: Mannone, Traore, Eastmond, Merida, Eboue, Eduardo, Walcott

Out: Denilson (groin), Almunia (wrist), Arshavin (calf), Vermaelen (calf), Fabregas (leg), Gallas (calf), Ramsey (leg), Gibbs (foot), Djourou (knee)

Arsenal News and Notes

• Andrei Arshavin expected to return from his calf injury for this match, but Wednesday suffered a setback in training and has now been ruled out.
• Alex Song could return to the line-up, but that's it. Manuel Almunia is still out with a wrist injury and Denilson is still out with a tight groin.
• In terms of long term injuries, Vermaelen, Fabregas, Gallas, Ramsey, and Gibbs all remain out for the year. Johan Djourou has a slim chance of returning before season's end.
• An Arsenal win, coupled with a Spurs loss at Old Trafford earlier in the day, will clinch at least a third place finish for the Gunners, and automatic qualification to the group stage of the 2010-11 Champions League.
• Arsenal have now picked up four points out of a possible 12 in their last four Premier League matches, including a draw at Birmingham and losses at Tottenham and Wigan.
• Across all competitions, Arsenal have won one match over their last six. They have lost three straight.

Manchester City News and Notes

• Micah Richards could return from a knee injury, while former Gunner Sylvinho could return from a calf problem as well.
• Joleon Lescott likely remains out with a hamstring injury while Michael Johnson and Martin Petrov are both out for the season with knee injuries.
• Before their 1-0 derby loss to Manchester United last weekend, City had won three straight matches by the combined score of 14-2.
• City are unbeaten in their last five away fixtures in the league. Their last loss away from home came in shocking fashion at Hull City, 2-1, in February. They did lose in extra time at Stoke in the FA Cup since then.

Match Facts

• Manchester City has won both prior meetings with Arsenal this season, both matches in Manchester. City won 4-2 in league play in September and 3-0 against a weakened Arsenal side in the League Cup quarterfinal in December.
• Arsenal defeated City 2-0 at the Emirates last season, but it was Emmanuel Adebayor who had the brace.
• Manchester City has not actually won at Arsenal since a 3-2 win on October 4, 1975. They have drawn six matches in North London since.
• The referee is Mike Dean, who has worked nothing but disastrous games for Arsenal this season, including the 2-1 loss at Old Trafford, the 1-1 draw at Burnley's Turf Moor, and the 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge.
• City, however, has not lost a match officiated by Dean this year, winning against Blackburn, Chelsea, and Manchester United in the home leg of the League Cup semifinal. They've also drawn against Aston Villa and Birmingham City with Mike Dean as the referee.

Around the League

• Saturday: Manchester United v. Tottenham Hotspur; Old Trafford, Manchester 
• Saturday: Bolton Wanderers v. Portsmouth; Reebok Stadium, Bolton
• Saturday: Hull City v. Sunderland; KC Stadium, Kingston-upon-Hull
• Saturday: West Ham United v. Wigan Athletic; Boleyn Ground at Upton Park, London
• Saturday: Wolverhampton Wanderers v. Blackburn Rovers; Molineux, Wolverhampton
• Sunday: Aston Villa v. Birmingham City; Villa Park, Birmingham
• Sunday: Burnley v. Liverpool; Turf Moor, Burnley
• Sunday: Everton v. Fulham; Goodison Park, Liverpool
• Sunday: Chelsea v. Stoke City; Stamford Bridge, London