Silva: City experience crucial in title race

Arsenal take on Manchester City at the Emirates on Monday night with both sides looking to close the gap to Leicester City at the top. “We are seeing that unless you are 100 per cent you can lose a game and the intensity and the fact that everyone is able to win makes the league very, very interesting”. “The bigger the team the better”. They have only had fractionally more shots than Arsenal this season (193 v 188) but they have a higher conversion rate having scored 32 goals to the Gunners’ 29, and a deeper look at the stats highlights their more clinical touch in front of goal.

The Gunners are undefeated in their last five outings, that include vital wins in the UEFA Champions League.

Arsenal fans have been nervously gathering in the Transfer Tavern ahead of Monday’s crunch clash with Manchester City, as they nurse their hangovers after a busy mad Friday at the bar. It is nice if you can play through teams with the consistency of a Barcelona or Bayern Munich but, for the rest of the club football world, another way is also needed.

Anfi ambassador David Silva was unveiled as a “Secret Santa” in Manchester City centre last week, giving out Christmas gift holidays to surprised local residents.

At first glance, there appears to be little to separate the two sides in terms of creativity, with Arsenal making 216 scoring chances to City’s 209.

On December 21st, Arsenal welcome Manchester City to the Emirates in a match that could help shape the title race.

Meanwhile, Liverpool defender Nathaniel Clyne says Jurgen Klopp’s vibrant personality has infused his side with the belief they can win the Premier League this season. Mesut Ozil fed the winger near the left-hand corner of the penalty box and the England man cut onto his right foot before beating Joe Hart with a curled strike into the far corner. “Playing away is always a bit more hard”.

Opening goalscorer Walcott lavished praise on Ozil, who ended the game with another two assists.

De Bruyne accidentally kicked the corner flag as he went to take the resulting corner and he had egg on his face again moments later when he shot narrowly wide after Aguero’s pass had put him clean through.

“The second goal was very important, in the last minute, and it was a mistake from our team. We showed more confidence, more hunger”.

‘Basically, we are the only team who has beaten Leicester in a convincing way.

Pellegrini sent on Raheem Sterling for Delph at the break, but despite an improvement in City’s play, Aguero sending a couple of tame efforts at Cech, they remained alarmingly porous at the back.

Redknapp thinks it will be an open game and one that will suit us more than the visitors and let’s hope he is right. They’ll also be without Fernando, who will be out until the new year, and ex-Arsenal player Samir Nasri, who will be out until April. Arsenal plays the first leg at home but it is the Spanish team that is the overwhelming favourite.

Toure has once again become his menacing self after the dip in form last season.