Arsenal vs Manchester City: Gunners Will Shake Up Table with Resounding Victory

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger doesn't think his club can destroy Manchester City's title hopes altogether when the two sides meet up on Sunday. Even if it does suffer a defeat, Wenger thinks City will have a chance to catch Manchester United.

But even Wenger knows that catching United will be very, very hard for City if it happens to lose at Emirates this weekend.

"It will not be over, but it will make things very, very difficult [if City lose]," said Wenger, according to The Guardian. "City will [fight until the last], certainly, but I believe we should wait and see what happens over the weekend."

This is a classic example of a diplomatic answer, and you obviously can't fault Wenger for choosing to go that route.

The rest of us know better. 

By the time Sunday's match rolls around, City could be looking at an eight-point gap between itself and United for the top spot in the Premier League, meaning earning a victory at Emirates would be absolutely crucial.

With only so many fixtures left, there is precious little time for City to catch United as things stand right now. For all intents and purposes, a loss to Arsenal on Sunday would seal City's fate.

Unfortunately for City, all signs point towards a victory for the home side. This is a match Arsenal should win, and I for one will go out on a limb and say that it's a match Arsenal will win.

There's no ignoring how well the Gunners have played at home recently. They haven't stumbled at home since January, winning six straight matches at Emirates.

City has been trending the opposite direction, of course. They looked unbeatable early on in the season, but City's dominant form has all but disappeared recently, especially away from home. City hasn't won any of their last three away contests, and they've netted a grand total of one goal between the three of them.

The good news, according to ESPNSoccerNet, is that City will be getting Sergio Aguero back on Sunday. Conceivably, his return will bolster City's scoring punch, though, City will still be tasked with penetrating an Arsenal defense that does not have a habit of giving up goals in bunches.

Additionally, City will be tasked with containing a Gunners attack that has been dynamite at home recently. In their last four home fixtures, the Gunners have netted 17 goals, including five against Spurs in late February.

It will take at least a couple goals to get the job done against City, but Arsenal is equal to the task. Expect City's road woes to continue.

Prediction: Arsenal 2, Manchester City 1