It will be a real Super Sunday on the 13th January 2013 as Arsenal host Manchester City at the Emirates in a highly anticipated clash, whilst current Premier League leaders Manchester United entertain fierce rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Arsenal’s form has been inconsistent as of late and is the main reason why they lie in sixth place in the Premier League table, which is unusual for the team as they are normally always a top four club throughout the season. They have enjoyed high-scoring victories against Reading and Newcastle, but have also suffered frustrating draws against lower opposition such as Southampton and more recently, Swansea. With this in mind, the match against Manchester City will be a real test of their quality and will give the squad a chance to prove their worth to their manager and, more importantly, their loyal fans. On the other hand, 2011/12 Premier League champions Manchester City trail derby rivals Manchester United by seven points and have a lot to do in order to catch them up. They have also been unpredictable recently, losing 1-0 to Sunderland as a result of former player Adam Johnson’s goal and they saw out a nervy 4-3 win away at Norwich. Despite this, back to back 3-0 wins against Stoke and Watford have instilled a confidence in the side once again. However, a midweek training ground brawl involving the crazy Mario Balotelli and manager Roberto Mancini may present signs of rifts within the squad which could affect performance against higher opposition. Sergio Aguero may not play a part in the match as a result of recently suffering a hamstring tear which means Balotelli could be given the opportunity to cement his place at the club by doing his talking on the pitch and putting in a good performance.
This huge match is certainly on the agenda for many people next Sunday and, given the quality of the teams, managers and players involved, it proves to be a potentially enthralling game and it would be silly to miss it!
