Man City vs Arsenal: 3 key battles in Premier League title showdown

Eras come to an end, and Arsenal can ensure that it happens on Sunday when they visit the three-peat champions, Manchester City.

The picture differs somewhat from our last Etihad trip, as the Gunners (still top) are enjoying an eight-match winning run in the league and will be able to unleash William Saliba - not Rob Holding - on the City forwards (hooray!).

Man City vs Arsenal: 3 key battles in Etihad title decider

However, Pep Guardiola boasts a 100% record in this fixture since his 2016 appointment and (miraculously) has some big players just getting back to full fitness, with Ederson, Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland all in contention for the weekend.

This clash could make or break our title dream, and here are three key battles that will help decide it.  

1. Phil Foden vs Jakub Kiwior

Light work to ease him back in after the internationals.

Although Takehiro Tomiyasu is now fit again, Jakub Kiwior has done well in his absence and would be difficult to leave out on Sunday.

The Pole mostly keeps things simple in possession and offers us good attacking choice via his overlapping runs. He also seems better aerially compared to last year and holds the width to allow for backline progression, while decent form of late might see him favoured over other, rustier teammates.

Isolated defensive moments are perhaps his biggest weakness (and a Tomiyasu strength), and that is a particular worry when up against a red-hot Phil Foden - or perhaps Bernardo Silva.

Quick footwork and a velvet touch will cause Kiwior huge problems and even more so if the left-footed City star can drag him into central areas; where he would have to defend on his weaker side. But our man is not one to panic so, despite the dynamic movement awaiting him, he may be quite suited to the task.   

Kiwior did prove his worth versus title-challenging Liverpool last month. Just don’t give him the match-winning chance.

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