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You know the score.

[scroll]Come On City!!![/scroll]

Anyone been down to the stadium today, any chance it may get called off?

3 feet of snow outside by backdoor.

Anyway, I do like to read the Beeb's Preview but I have a strange feeling it was written by an Arsenal fan today, if you're interested.
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TEAM NEWS

Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta is set to switch flanks to play at left-back, taking the place of suspended Gael Clichy in the absence of the injured Aleksandar Kolarov.

Fit-again Micah Richards returns at right-back after missing the last two games with a calf problem.

Arsenal have no fresh injury worries.

Kieran Gibbs is recovering well from his hernia problem and could feature over Christmas, while Jack Wilshere is still on course for a February return.

MATCH PREVIEW

Now that City have finally lost a Premier League game, attention turns to how long they can remain invincible at home this season. Played seven, won seven is their Etihad Stadium record, and the only 100% stat left throughout the Premier and Football League.

If they avoid defeat against the Gunners, Roberto Mancini's team will have gone a full calendar year unbeaten on home turf. Some 27 games have been played since Everton won 2-1 at City last December - with City winning an incredible 25 of them. Only Fulham and Napoli have got themselves a draw.

Daunting for the visitors then? Well, most, yes - but Arsenal won't be phased one bit. In fact, I can't think of a more difficult test for City to prove that losing at Chelsea was no more than a minor wobble. Unbeaten in eight league games, taking 22 of the 24 points on offer, Arsenal are a force unrecognisable from the timid bunch that simpered into the new season.

Robin van Persie's goals are quite rightly grabbing the headlines, but behind him there's a bit of long overdue muscle and maturity back in the Gunners ranks. Alex Song, Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta is a wonderful blend of styles as the midfield trio - and having 'the reducer' Emmanuel Frimpong in reserve gives Arsene Wenger an option he doesn't seem to have had for a while.

On a personal note, I'd love to see Frimpong play some part in the game - his feud with Samir Nasri still has some fuel left from the teams' Carling Cup meeting at the end of November, and there's nothing like a bit of extra spice at Christmas is there?

These are two of the most entertaining teams in the land to watch, with the likes of Sergio Aguero, Mario Balotelli, Edin Dzeko and van Persie all scoring for fun... I'm tempted to say that this COULD be one of the games of the season. What a match to finish the weekend with!

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

•The past six Premier League meetings between the two clubs at Manchester City have produced 21 goals, with three wins apiece.
•City have not scored a league goal against Arsenal since a 4-2 loss at home in October 2009, when Emmanuel Adebayor scored against his old club.
•Arsenal have won 10 of the 14 Premier League matches between the two clubs in Manchester.

Manchester City

•City come into the match having conceded goals in their past eight Premier League matches in succession - their worst defensive run for more than three years (since March to August 2008).
•The club have not suffered back-to-back defeats in 67 matches (across all competitions).
•City have won one of their past three league games. Prior to that, they won seven on the bounce.

Arsenal

•Arsenal come into the match having kept back-to-back Premier League clean sheets for the first time since February.
•The club are unbeaten in eight Premier League matches.
•With 15 goals, Arsenal forward Robin van Persie has equalled the highest goals record after 15 matches of a Premier League season (with Thierry Henry, Les Ferdinand and Andy Cole).

Beefymcfc wrote:Anyone been down to the stadium today, any chance it may get called off?

3 feet of snow outside by backdoor.

Where are you mate? We haven't had any snow in Cheadle Hulme and the sun is shining brightly at the moment.

Beefymcfc wrote:Anyone been down to the stadium today, any chance it may get called off?

3 feet of snow outside by backdoor.

Where are you mate? We haven't had any snow in Cheadle Hulme and the sun is shining brightly at the moment.

King Kev wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:Anyone been down to the stadium today, any chance it may get called off?

3 feet of snow outside by backdoor.

Where are you mate? We haven't had any snow in Cheadle Hulme and the sun is shining brightly at the moment.

Between Ashton and Mossley, fair few inches up here. Shouldn't be too bad around the ground then.

Nah no chance. Light dusting around the ground thats all. All the roads are clear

french_tony wrote:Nah no chance. Light dusting around the ground thats all. All the roads are clear

Good to hear, cheers mate.

Suddenly woke up this morning with a vision of a 3-2 win! Come on City!

vulcan wrote:Suddenly woke up this morning with a vision of a 3-2 win! Come on City!

I'd take that, although I'd be very nervous come the end.

Well, that's me done. All's left to say is 'Come On Boys, Back to the Top'!

I've had two texts in a week now from a rag I thought had died during the derby. Come on City, don't feck it up again, let's be top for Chrimbo.

City team: Hart, Richards, Kolo, Kompany, Zabaleta, Yaya, Barry, Silva, Balotelli, Nasri, Aguero.

Bench: Pantilimon, Lescott, Savic, Milner, De Jong, A. Johnson, Dzeko.

I cant help but think thats the wrong team, god i hope im wrong, its nearly 4-2-4, we will either hammer them or will be another napoli job! I would of played lescott and komps also...

why is he playing fucking kolo the clown?????

Dubciteh wrote:I cant help but think thats the wrong team, god i hope im wrong, its nearly 4-2-4, we will either hammer them or will be another napoli job! I would of played lescott and komps also...

Maybe resting Lescott for the coming fixtures.

ant london wrote:why is he playing fucking kolo the clown?????

Beciase Lescott the clown has cost us the last 2 league games mate...hahahah (Ill get you on FB as well !!)

Hhhmm. Remember the last time Lescott was strangely left out against Arsenal.

Cant beat having the same conversation in two places!

I'd rather play 3 at the back...haha

Thank's Mancini for playing our best CB's tonight.
About fucking time you noticed

kennyboy wrote:Thank's Mancini for playing our best CB's tonight.
About fucking time you noticed

true enough Kennyboy....I too relished in that fine display of (10 year old) centreback play when they both converged on the Norwich striker on halfway only to both completely let the fucker get away.

Classic Maldini that was ;-)

FFS i would rather see savic start than kolo!! i'd give even money that kolo gifts a pen to van pussie.