MANCHESTER CITY VS ARSENAL MATCH PREVIEW EXPERT ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION

MANCHESTER CITY VS ARSENAL MATCH PREVIEW EXPERT ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION

Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is likely to be out for several months after suffering knee ligament damage against Watford.

Ilkay Gündogan suffered knee ligament damage in Manchester City's 2-0 win over Watford in midweek and is expected to be sidelined for a few months. With Fernandinho also suspended, it leaves Pep Guardiola short of genuine central midfielders, with Fernando and Yaya Toure expected to fill in.

Sergio Aguero still has two matches left on his own four-match suspension. Nolito was played as the central striker against Watford, with Kelechi Iheanacho on the bench, so it remains to be seen how City will line up on Sunday.

John Stones was rested in the win over Watford but should return to the side here.

Chuba Akpom, Santi Cazorla, Mathieu Debuchy, Yaya Sanogo and Shkodran Mustafi are still long-term absentees for Arsenal. Per Mertesacker and Danny Welbeck are back in training but this match should come too soon in their recovery from long-term injuries, while Aaron Ramsey is still a doubt.

No serious changes are expected in the wake of Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to Everton on Tuesday, although Alex Iwobi and Olivier Giroud are pushing for a start here.

MANGERS OPINION

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on the injury to Ilkay Gundogan: "He will be out for a long time.

"It's so so difficult for him, it's sad for him, we're going to miss him a lot, it's unlucky, but that's football.

"Now we need him to feel we are there and wait and come back safe. He's going to be operated (upon) and be back as soon as possible."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:

 "[Guardiola] brings his philosophy through. You expect him to put his print into his team.

"What you want of a top-level game is that it reaches the expectation quality-wise. I think that will happen because I am a positive man."

Head-to-head

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last six games with Manchester City in all competitions (W3, D3).

City's last victory in this fixture was 6-3 at home in December 2013.

The last six Premier League meetings have produced 24 goals - an average of four per game.

Manchester City

Manchester City's 2-0 victory over Watford on Wednesday was their first win in five league games at home (D3, L1).

It was also the first time they had scored more than one goal during that run.

City have not been lower than third in the table on Christmas Day since 2009-10, when they were sixth.

They could keep consecutive Premier League clean sheets for the first time since March 2016,

Kevin De Bruyne has provided a league-high eight assists this season. However, he has failed to score in his last 10 league appearances, his longest goal drought in the Premier League.

Arsenal

Arsenal's defeat by Everton on Tuesday was their first in the league since the opening day of the season.

They haven't lost consecutive Premier League away games since April 2014: 0-6 v Chelsea and 0-3 v Everton.

The Gunners are the only Premier League side not to be losing at half-time in the Premier League this season.

Petr Cech has failed to keep a clean sheet in his last seven Premier League appearances; he has never gone eight successive games without a clean sheet in the competition.

Alexis Sanchez has been directly involved in 17 league goals this campaign (12 goals, 5 assists), already equalling his total from last season (13 goals, 4 assists).

WHAT WE THINK

Manchester City recorded their first win in four matches with a comfortable 2-0 win against Watford in midweek. They now have the chance to close some ground on a title rival when they welcome Arsenal to the Etihad on Sunday. They are only one point behind second place Arsenal ahead of the last round of matches before Christmas.

Arsenal slipped to a surprise 2-1 defeat away to Everton on Tuesday, but they haven't lost consecutive away matches in the Premier League since April 2014. They are also unbeaten in their last six matches against City, which should give Arsene Wenger's side a huge amount of confidence.

PREDICTION - BOTH TEAM TO SCORE.