The English Premier League fans will be in for yet another Super Sunday treat today as champions Manchester City will be hosting their stiffest competitors Arsenal in what will be an early season top-of-the-table showdown at the Etihad Stadium at 5.30pm.
Games are coming thick and fast, as teams have no time to rest with the tight schedule at play. There are also injury concerns in both camps.
For Arsenal, captain Martin Odegaard will be ruled out due to injury, while it is doubtful whether City skipper Kevin de Bruyne will be fit to take to the field after being forced off the pitch at half time against Inter Milan on Wednesday.
Both teams return to action from tough UEFA Champions League encounters midweek, at the back of Premier League duties last weekend, where the two sides had to dig deep to win 2-1 in their respective matches.
Arsenal were locked up in the north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, while Manchester City were tried and tested by Brentford at the Etihad.
One would argue that Mikel Arteta and his Gunners side will be going into the Manchester City game at a disadvantage, as they have been on the road for their last three games.
They travelled to cross-town rivals Spurs, before taking the four-hour flight to and from Bergamo, Italy, to face Atalanta in the Champions League on Thursday.
Pep Guardiola and his charges, on the other hand, have a slight advantage having enjoyed playing at home in their two previous encounters, and it will be the same when they play Arsenal.
However, the stakes will be high as both teams will be vying for nothing but maximum points in their quest to establish an early advantage in the chase for the title.
The Citizens are currently sitting on top with a maximum 12 points, while the Gunners are on hot their heels with 10 points.
Guardiola’s side had a perfect start to their season — winning four matches in as many and scoring 11 goals, with Erling Haaland contributing nine of those goals.
Haaland will undoubtedly be the man to watch and a headache for the Arsenal defenders.
The Norwegian has been tormenting defenders since the start of the season, with two successive hattricks.
He will be looking to get his 100th goal for the club in 105 appearances and equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s record.
