Van Persie returns following his three game suspension, just as we lose Fabregas to a one game ban. Adebayor will probably replace Bendtner in the starting line up

The loss against Villa was an odd one. If it had come in a season where we hadn’t already lost three games, I’d have just said well played Villa. While I hate the way O’Neill sets his side up against us, it was the most effective display of stifling an Arsenal performance that I’ve probably ever seen. Even in a season where we’re not an absolute shambles, we’d have struggled in that match. They closed down every avenue, chased every ball for the whole game, kept eleven men behind the ball at all times (even Agbonlahor was behind the ball most of the time when we had possession, slotting into the right wing position), and took their chances on the counter attack when they came. But because it’s part of this season, such analysis goes out the window and it’s just a fourth game we’ve lost, with the exact same line up that beat Manchester United a week prior. And now Arsene’s personal record of eleven losses in a season from 05/06 is under threat, and we’re back to struggling for fourth, after genuinely challenging on three fronts last season. It’s still early in the season and it seems ridiculous to write us off, but whereas our ‘Big Four’ counterparts are winning the majority of their games comfortably, we’re scraping our wins and losing comprehensively when we do. We’ve only won comfortably (or what I would call comfortably) in two league matches this season, against Blackburn and Newcastle. Out of thirteen games. Anyway, I’m rambling.

Manchester City have been probably our favourite team to play under Arsene. In fifteen meetings in all competitions since he’s been our manager, we’ve won thirteen, drawn one and lost one, the loss coming at the City of Manchester Stadium the season before last. We used to score about five goals against them every game when they had Keegan as the manager. We won this fixture last season 3-1 with goals from Adebayor and Eduardo. City’s form is somewhat patchy at the moment, they’ve won one, drawn two and lost five of their last eight league games, and find themselves twelfth in the league. Not that our form is significantly better, but you get the idea. They’re still a dangerous side with players that can cause our suspect defence problems, like Wright-Phillips, Robinho, and Ireland who is in goalscoring form at the moment.

Team News

Van Persie returns following his three game suspension, just as we lose Fabregas to a one game ban. Adebayor will probably replace Bendtner in the starting line up. We’ve had the inevitable casualties of the international break, mainly with Theo dislocating his shoulder, but Toure is also most likely out after picking up a calf problem playing for the Ivory Coast. So we’ll probably go with a 4-5-1 with van Persie on the left and Song, Diaby and Denilson in midfield. With Sagna out for a few weeks, Eboue still injured, and Toure picking up a calf problem, Djourou will probably slot into the right back position. Rosicky is still six to eight weeks away, but I’ve heard it rumoured that Eduardo could be involved in a closed doors friendly next week, so that’s good news and hopefully we’ll see him back in the first team before Christmas.

Subs: Fabianski, Gibbs, Hoyte, Wilshere, Ramsey, Bendtner, Vela.

Joe Hart injured his ankle while conceding Hull’s first goal at the weekend and will be out for a month or so, Kasper Schmeichel will fill in. Richard Dunne and Gelson Fernandes served one match suspensions against Hull and should return to the side. Petrov has had knee surgery and will be out for a few months. I don’t know what formation City usually play with, looking at previous team sheets it looks like they just stick a load of strikers and attacking midfielders on the pitch and hope for the best.

UPDATE: William Gallas has been axed from the squad and will not take part. Alex Song could take his place at the back with Ramsey playing in midfield.