Wednesday evening sees the biggest match in the Premier League so far this season as Manchester City travel to Arsenal in a pivotal clash at the top of the table. Arsenal have been flying so far this season and have a game in hand over their opponents here but the visitors could draw level on points with the Gunners with a win here. Given that the two sides will play against each other again at the end of April, these two matches could be decisive in the title race. Arsenal will be slightly concerned having not won their past three matches (including a 1-0 loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup) but they know that even a point here would be a massive result. Manchester City have not been so good this season in comparison to their usual lofty standards and will be hoping for a better trip to North London here than their previous away game – a 1-0 loss at Spurs.

Arsenal are flying and they now believe that they can win the title from here and should do as long as they avoid defeat here, as they remain three points and a game in hand ahead of Manchester City. They have dropped points in their last two – at Everton and here against Brentford – which has provided a bit of a blemish on their record but 51 points in 21 games is more than any Arsenal fans dreamt of in their wildest dreams. They are yet to lose at the Emirates this season, and have only dropped points in a stalemate against Newcastle and against Brentford, conceding just 11 goals in their ten home matches and 18 in 21 overall. Former Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus is still a few weeks from recovery which will see his replacement Eddie Nketiah keep his place while Mohamed Elneny is out for the rest of the season. Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson are both “not yet ready to contribute” on the pitch with injuries and Arteta may name the same starting eleven for the seventh consecutive league game here – although Trossard may come in for Martinelli.

Manchester City come into this one in a precarious position and could be heading for a first trophyless season since 2016/17 if they do not win here. Whilst they remain in the FA Cup and have a tie with Bristol City to come, and face RB Leipzig in the Champions League Round of 16, a loss here could rule them out of winning the Premier League – which they have won four of the last five times. They sit three points behind Arsenal and have played a game more but the inconsistency will concern Guardiola. They have dropped points this season when they would not have done so in previous years and will need to keep the pressure on the Gooners. In all competitions they have lost their last three away games – Southampton 2-0, Manchester United 2-1 and Spurs 1-0 – and will be looking to bounce back here. However, they may be without Erling Haaland who was taken off at half-time as an injury precaution against Aston Villa on Sunday and whilst the manager has said that he wouldn’t risk the Norwegian here, the Spaniard will be doing everything in his power to get his top scorer fit. If he is missing then Julian Alvarez will come in up front with Grealish and Mahrez likely to be on both flanks. Defensively, the picture is a bit more unclear with Rico Lewis, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake all hoping to displace one of Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and Kyle Walker at the back.