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Manchester City v Arsenal
Etihad Stadium, City of Manchester

Saturday 14 December 2013
Kickoff: 12:45 PM

Referee: Martin Atkinson
Assistants: S Burt & H Lennard
Fourth Official: Robert Madley

TV Coverage in UK: BT Sports 1 HD (Sky 413) and BT Sports 1 (Sky 426)
Coverage starts at 12:00 PM

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- We last played Tue, they play today (Wed), we've had an extra day's rest over them - Check!
- We went to Munich (706 miles), they flew out to Naples (1008 miles), so an extra 604 miles round trip for them - Check!
- We played a dead rubber, they still have an important clash, but our main players well rested - Check!
- Our home record is 100% while last time they came to Manchester even the Rags beat them - Check!
- We self-motivate against big teams (Scum H, Spurs H, even Chelsea A), so wake-up issues not a problem - Check!
- Komp's back for us and so is Merlin, so all major player injuries sorted in time - Check!
- We've been scoring goals for fun at home and have only conceded twice, game's at Etihad - Check!

Sure they have nothing to lose, they are sitting 5 points clear (off Liverpool and Chelsea, and 6 clear off us) ... even if they lose here, and everyone else won they'll still be top ... BUT their very next game after us is Chelsea and if they lose here and lose to them too, they know they could potentially fall to 4th within two weeks. So from 5 clear at the top to 4th place isn't something they'd want to happen ... and given the pundits on TV (and even the bookies) are still refusing to call them title favorites and everyone is just waiting for them to slip ... they'd be coming to Etihad and not want to lose. It'll be very interesting to see how Wenger sets them up ... he'll traditionally come here to win and given their position and form that's what they should do ... but I have a sneaky feeling, even they'd be scared of us after what we did to the Scum and Spurs here (and of course LAST NIGHT)... If they come at us, they'll go back with a new one freshly drilled for them ... so I think they'll sit back and be more than happy with a draw here. Will try and counter us and nick one in somewhere and would want a 0-0 or a 0-1 game. They won't even mind losing 1-0 as long as they don't get a 4-1 or a 6-0 kind of thrashing from us ... but with Silva back in the side and our front four of Silva, Nasri, Aguero and the Beast all on song, and the whole squad buzzing from last night's result ... all their senses will get tested. Our only issue will be our defence snoozing during the game and getting complacent which it has the tendency to sometimes so getting caught on the counter will be something we need to watch out for ... in any case, I think they might score an odd goal but we'll still rip them.

Line Up Prediction:

Panti
Zaba - Komps - Demi - Kola
Yaya - Ferdy
Nasri - Merlin
Aguero - Negredo

Score Prediction: 5-1 and a big fuck you, thank you very much!

Absolutely fucking buzzing for this game!!

I want the lineup to be

Hart

Zabs
Kompany
Lescott
Clichy (if fit)

Yaya
Fern

Silva
Nasri

Sergio
Negredo

Possibly our hardest game at home this season ... we'll win 3-0

Arsenal have too many good players not to score and City are too slack defending not to let them. 3-2 City.

BobbyJ1956 wrote:Arsenal have too many good players not to score and City are too slack defending not to let them. 3-2 City.

Yes and therefore he must play kompany and lescott

I cant wait.

4-2

The goal Bayern/Muller have scored twice, is the same goal Arsenal scored pre season. Looking to get a ball inside the fullback. We were totally bossing them all around midfield, then 'bang'. Then they hit another long ball behind Kompany & did it again.

It is bad team defending & needs cutting out, or they will hit us with it when we think we are ontop or have eclipsed their passing game. Very easy to stop if you are concentrating, but if you're not..

We have been warned.

Play it smart we will win 3-0 our forwards should be to good for the back4 of the Arsenal.

Hazy2 wrote:Play it smart we will win 3-0 our forwards should be to good for the back4 of the Arsenal.

Forgot to add 90mph winds on Saturday.

Confidence will be sky high and no math necessary to know the score to win.

Very much relishing the chance to knock Arse and their fans down a level or two. What we saw vs Bayern + Komps, Yaya, Aguero, and Nasri = a convincing win if everyone keeps their heads and follows the plan

IMO we'll take this with relative ease if we have Costel betwen the posts because he has better positioning and the trust of the defence - put Joe in there and we're likely to suffer a not so amusing calamity as he'll be out of position and the defence will be skirting around him nervously aware that he's as unpredicable as pitbulls around children . . everyone loves 'em until they do the unexpected . . again.

Hmm. I'm a bit worried that "typical City" will re-emerge. Would be just like us to follow (near) triumph with total misery!
On the more positive note then if we can win it then I'd be really hopeful for our chances this season.

I think it's gonna be a score draw again, maybe even 2-2. Can't see where a clean sheet would come from but we deffo have goals in us. Hope Sergio keeps up his good form

Moonchesteri wrote:I think it's gonna be a score draw again, maybe even 2-2. Can't see where a clean sheet would come from but we deffo have goals in us. Hope Sergio keeps up his good form

Don't think it will be a draw, confidant that we're getting better, can see us winning 3-1 or more.

why is everyone writing Jesus off for this one. I think he is really staring to blossom, and contributing nicely. (only a few weeks back the majority on here couldn't see why we bought Fern for such a high price, and now hes the muts nuts - it takes a while to settle in).


For my tuppence, I would play:

Pants

Zab
Skipper
Dem (same argument as above for him too)
Clichy

Navas
Yaya
Ferdie
Merlin
Samir

The Beast (Aguero's been looking a little tired latedly)

Would dominate the Arse and result in a straight forward and less risky win to us

I would much rather see a team playing really dominating football and wining by the odd goal or two as oppose to going for it everytime and conceding the odd one or two

tc6828 wrote:why is everyone writing Jesus off for this one. I think he is really staring to blossom, and contributing nicely. (only a few weeks back the majority on here couldn't see why we bought Fern for such a high price, and now hes the muts nuts - it takes a while to settle in).

For my tuppence, I would play:

Pants

Zab
Skipper
Dem (same argument as above for him too)
Clichy

Navas
Yaya
Ferdie
Merlin
Samir

The Beast (Aguero's been looking a little tired latedly)

Would dominate the Arse and result in a straight forward and less risky win to us

I would much rather see a team playing really dominating football and wining by the odd goal or two as oppose to going for it everytime and conceding the odd one or two

Would agree with line up away but think we must play 2 up front at home. Whether Nasri can do a job as a false 9 might be worth a dabble but do feel the partnership between Aguero & Negredo is one which will give Arsenal al sorts of trouble

5-1 - Aguero hat-trick.

Can't wait to hear the worse chant in the league. Ozil ozil ozil. Unimaginative bitter cunts.

watching higuain score tonight has me looking forward to neggers vs mertesacker on saturday

Nigels Tackle wrote:watching higuain score tonight has me looking forward to neggers vs mertesacker on saturday

I thought exactly the same when I watched Higuain turn and score ...