You Bet: Head-to-head battle the key at Etihad Stadium
Sergio Aguero and Alexis Sanchez will be central to who comes out on top in the weekend's biggest tie
Although no match can come down to two individuals, their relative performances could have a decisive effect on the outcome of a match that looks set to be as entertaining and attack-driven as usual.
The reverse fixture at the Emirates in September ended 2-2, with both star players involved in key moments. Aguero gave City a half-time lead, but Arsenal hit back and went 2-1 in front with a Sanchez goal, only to be pegged back late.
Sanchez leads the Premier League with a part in 19 of Arsenal's 37 goals. Aguero has scored or created 17 of City's 45 goals
Aguero, having played the final quarter of last week's 1-1 at Everton, looks set to return to City's starting line-up for the first time since December 6, though City had six wins and a draw in the seven matches when he was out injured.
City's chances may not hinge on his availability, but there is no disputing his potency when he plays. Even after his absence, Aguero is still only one goal behind Diego Costa in the scoring charts with 14 goals. He has started only 13 matches (with three substitute appearances) and his brilliance in front of goal is reflected in the fact that he has scored a goal every 76 minutes in the league this term.
Sanchez scores once every 140 minutes. But the Chilean is not an out-and-out striker and his conversion rate of shots to goals is better than Aguero's, while he has seven assists to Aguero's three.
Sanchez leads the Premier League with a part in 19 of Arsenal's 37 goals. Aguero has scored or created 17 of City's 45 goals. But to some extent that points to a weakness for Arsenal in that they have relied on Sanchez for so much of their creativity.
Interestingly, Sanchez has scored two-thirds of his goals at home (eight out of 12) while most of Aguero's have come on the road (eight out of 14).
Perhaps it would be unfair to criticise Sanchez too heavily for that, as Arsenal have collective problems against the better teams predating his arrival.
Arsene Wenger seems no closer to a solution, however. While Arsenal rank fourth against bottom-half teams this season (City are third), they are only eighth against top-half teams while City are top. Arsenal rank only 10th away to top-half teams.
City have scored in all nine games against top-half teams and it is hard to see Arsenal stopping them. Wenger's side have kept only one clean sheet in 10 against top-half opposition.
City's win rate is very high when they score, especially at home, but Arsenal are rarely shut out either (only two blanks in 21 league games). A City win and over 2.5 goals look good bets.
The best bet of the weekend in the Premier League is Liverpool away to Aston Villa. Liverpool have 10 wins and only one defeat in their last 16 visits to Villa Park, and are sixth on current form with Villa bottom with no win in six.
Next best are City and West Ham, who host low-scoring Hull. The visiting side have yet to beat a top-half team in 10 attempts, with only one clean sheet.
QPR's strong home form gives them a chance of an upset against Manchester United, who have yet to win in six away to a bottom-half side (five draws). Over 2.5 goals looks good.
West Ham, Manchester City, Derby, Middlesbrough
