The mercurial Russian has been playing somewhat under the radar this season, scoring five goals and creating goal scoring opportunities for fun. Yet you feel there is plenty to come from him. After being replaced with twenty minutes to go against Birmingham last Saturday then only playing for the last 18 on Tuesday you would feel that he has sufficient energy in his legs to give 100% when the kick off starts at 4pm

After the European fun and games, the Gunners are back on domestic soil with a big obstacle standing in the way. Manchester City have started the season strongly and have only lost one game so far this season. A Darren Bent penalty in stoppage time has ruined what would have been an unbeaten start to the season.

The City of Manchester stadium has been a bit of a fortress so far this season, only Blackburn Rovers have managed to come away with a point but one thing is for certain, Arsenal will not be going there for only a point, we will want all three and I guess that we will be on the front foot from the very beginning. Manchester City have set their stall out against the bigger teams, they will be very well drilled, play a very combative midfield and try to deny Arsenal time and space to pick passes. They will have plenty in their side to cause us problems on the break.

Carlos Tevez is in sensational form and will give everything he has from the start until the end. Adam Johnson will cause Clichy problems by cutting onto his right side. I have been very impressed with David Silva’s last few appearances. He looks like another player who would fit into an Arsene Wenger side without much fuss. Quick footballing brain, and has the ability to play the final pass.

After picking up only one point from Sunderland, West Brom and Chelsea we have won our last two games, both domestically and in Europe so we should be going to Manchester full of confidence. I have almost begun to lose the feeling of winning a big game, our recent form in the last few years has not been good enough but this is a perfect time to put an end to that. We should have picked up a result at Stamford Bridge but we shot ourselves in the foot, this time we will have our captain and assist king Cesc Fabregas back in the starting eleven which should make a big difference.

I cannot imagine the game being allowed to take place without one of the Manchester City players following Cesc around the pitch, this is where I think our midfield rotation will be very important. I suspect that Abou Diaby will come back in for the suspended Jack Wilshere and he will partner either Alex Song or Denilson, depending on Song’s freshness after a few consecutive games.

Do not be surprised to see Cesc as the last midfielder when we have possession in the City half. Song may be given the job of switching with Cesc to take out one of their midfield players.

Tomas Rosicky could drop back down to the bench with Andrey Arshavin being restored to the left side of the attack. He has not scored in his last three games for Arsenal as well as two blanks for Russia, you would think he is due a goal. If there is a player to pop up in the right area in a tightly contested battle then it would be Andrey Arshavin.

Mean Lean’s Predicted Line Up

(Click image to enlarge)

One to watch: Andrey Arshavin

The mercurial Russian has been playing somewhat under the radar this season, scoring five goals and creating goal scoring opportunities for fun. Yet you feel there is plenty to come from him. After being replaced with twenty minutes to go against Birmingham last Saturday then only playing for the last 18 on Tuesday you would feel that he has sufficient energy in his legs to give 100% when the kick off starts at 4pm.

Mean Lean’s Match Prediction

Manchester City 0 Arsenal 1 (Arshavin)

I am expecting a tight and tense match. I am guessing that much of the game will be played in midfield as it was at Stamford Bridge. Abou Diaby could be another key figure in the Arsenal engine room. It could be his ability to run past players that could open the space for one of the wide attackers.

With our treatment room emptying out somewhat, Arsene has a relatively strong bench to choose from regardless of which players step onto the pitch at the kick off. I would imagine that Theo Walcott will start from the bench once again. Nicklas Bendtner is also another added fire power if needed.

Whatever happens we need to work very hard off the ball to deny them space, the eleven players in blue as well as their substitutes will have goals in them so it will be down to us to protect Lukasz Fabianski’s goal. We need to keep the ball and create openings, they may not be regular but a few must come Arsenal’s way. And when they do, this time we need to take them.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS