• On Sunday, Arsenal plays Man City in the Premier League.
• Mikel Arteta's team is frantically trying to stay up with league leaders Liverpool.
• In September, the Gunners put up a strong fight in their 2-2 draw with the Cityzens.
Arsenal and Manchester City have been vying for championships in the Premier League for the past two seasons, but this year is a little different.
Hardly anyone anticipated that the current Premier League champions would be the ones facing a disappointing and erratic season, yet Pep Guardiola's victors have relinquished their title as England's top squad this year.
Nevertheless, it isn't Arsenal that has assumed the role, as the Gunners are now competing with Liverpool for top-tier dominance. Mikel Arteta's squad is striving to stay in sync with the league leaders as the season's end approaches.
The clash on Sunday between Arsenal and Man City might have enduring effects on this year's title race, as Arsenal seeks a home win against the Cityzens for the second consecutive season.
With the drama and chaos from September's meeting, here are the crucial clashes that might be decisive at the Emirates Stadium.
Erling Haaland vs Gabriel
The clash at the Etihad Stadium in September was symbolized by the fierce altercation between Arsenal defender Gabriel and Manchester City striker Erling Haaland. The pair engaged in a spirited personal battle for a large portion of the match, and neither emerged victorious as the ten-man Gunners astonishingly allowed a late goal from John Stones, resulting in a 2-2 draw.
The duo often clashed in Manchester, with one notable event where Haaland hurled the ball at the defender's head, and they will rekindle their rivalry on Sunday.
With William Saliba returning for the Gunners, Haaland will again attempt to isolate Gabriel. The centre-back hasn't reached the same level as his defensive partner, even though he has improved significantly in the last 18 months.
Gabriel will face a challenging afternoon as he tries to contain Haaland, who has revived his form by scoring three goals in his last four games. The physical style of both will surely grab the audience's attention on Sunday, and the victor of the fight might indeed celebrate the bra.
Manual Akanji vs Kai Havertz
After witnessing Arsenal make a move for Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins, Kai Havertz realizes his position is in jeopardy. The German has faced criticism in the past month for his goal-scoring inefficiency, and Gabriel Jesus' season-ending injury has added to the burden he bears.
However, Havertz has netted twice in his past four matches and consistently generates opportunities with his astute movements and technical skills. Discovering his scoring form on Sunday will be crucial for Arsenal's success.
Manuel Akanji will be one of the central defenders responsible for containing Havertz, and the strong Switzerland international managed effectively against the ex-Chelsea player in the previous match, restricting him to only one shot and an xG of 0.07.
Kelvin De Bruyne vs Martin Odegaard
There are many resemblances between Martin Odegaard and Kevin De Bruyne. The pair possess several important qualities, such as a smooth gliding stride and impressive passing ability, and both will be crucial to their team's triumph this weekend.
Specifically, Odegaard might have a significant influence. With Bukayo Saka out due to injury, Arsenal will depend even more on the creativity of their captain, who will take on the playmaking responsibilities for his team largely by himself. Positioned in the right half-space that De Bruyne enjoys, he is likely to find success against a struggling Man City defense.
De Bruyne's impact on the current champions is diminishing with each month, but the Belgian remains capable of being a game-changer in north London. Since the beginning of the year, he has delivered four assists and can still be an incredible playmaker on his best days.
Omar Marmoush vs Jurrien Timber
Omar Marmoush may not have been a signing that Man City required, but that doesn't lessen his clear talent. The Egyptian experienced a rapid ascent while at Eintracht Frankfurt, achieving 33 goal contributions in 26 games for the German club prior to his departure in January.
The swift and precise forward, capable of playing as a central striker or winger, made his debut for Man City against Chelsea last weekend and is expected to start on Sunday after missing the Champions League match with Club Brugge midweek.
The Egyptian is expected to face Jurrien Timber at the Emirates, and it promises to be an exciting clash between the two. The Arsenal defender has excelled in various positions this season but will face a tough challenge in stopping Man City's latest signing.
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