Arsenal-Manchester City Preview

Title-chasing Manchester City will be desperate to secure all three points Sunday when they play top-four hopefuls Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.

City (14-5-2) have fallen behind leaders Chelsea in the race for the Premier League crown after dropping four points in their last three matches.

They were held 2-2 at home by Burnley on Dec. 28, but then edged Sunderland 3-2 at the Etihad on New Year's Day. A 1-1 draw at Everton last weekend saw City lose ground to Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, who go into Matchday 22 with a two-point advantage.

Brazil midfielder Fernandinho, who scored his first City goals in last season's thrilling 6-3 home win against Arsenal, is relishing the chance to face the Gunners again.

"Both City and Arsenal are attack-minded sides and that is good for us because when we meet teams with a similar mentality to ourselves we know we will have space to create chances - but by the same token, they are capable of doing the same because they have some great players, too," Fernandinho told his club's website.

"It's not in our make-up or in Arsenal's to play defensively and I'm sure it will be an open game, but I obviously hope our strikers make the difference and score the goals we need to win the game."

City manager Manuel Pellegrini bolstered his already free-scoring squad with the signing this week of Swansea City striker Wilfried Bony in a deal reportedly worth up to 28 million pounds. Bony is currently on international duty with Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Fifth-place Arsenal (10-6-5) bounced back from a 2-0 defeat at Southampton on Jan. 1 with an impressive 3-0 victory against Stoke City at the Emirates Stadium last Sunday. Alexis Sanchez was outstanding for the Gunners as the Chilean provided the cross for Laurent Koscielny to head the hosts into an early lead and then scored twice himself to take his goal tally for all competitions to 18.

City are undefeated in five league matches against the Gunners (2-3-0), but Arsene Wenger has downplayed his side's recent struggles against the Citizens.

"The history will not play a big part in this game," the Arsenal manager told his cub's website. "It's the performance of the day that will play the biggest part and the only important part.

"Let's focus on going there and give ourselves a chance to win by putting a great performance in."

City playmaker Samir Nasri faces is expected to be out at least three weeks after suffering a calf injury in training. Midfielder Yaya Toure is on international duty at the African Nations Cup, but captain Vincent Kompany plus strikers Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko are all available.

Fit-again Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil could start for Arsenal after coming off the bench against Stoke, but Danny Welbeck (thigh), Jack Wilshere (ankle), Mathieu Debuchy (shoulder), Mikel Arterta (ankle) and Abou Diaby (calf) have all been ruled out.

The sides drew 2-2 at the Emirates in September, with both teams coming from behind. Aguero put the Citizens in front after 28 minutes, but Arsenal equalised just after the hour mark through Wilshere. Sanchez gave the Gunners the lead 10 minutes later, only to see Martin Demichelis cancel out that goal seven minutes from time.

Arsenal beat Man City 3-0 for the Community Shield in early August at Wembley with goals from Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud.