Fern gears up to gun down Arsenal

Date published: 16 January 2015


MANCHESTER City are facing back-to-back crunch games that could go a long way in determining if they retain their Premier League title.

The defending champions welcome fifth-place Arsenal on Sunday, and after a weekend on FA Cup duty, follow that with a January 31 visit to leaders Chelsea.

While City are unbeaten in 12 league matches, an unexpected 2-2 draw with Everton last weekend put them two points adrift of Chelsea.

“We now have Arsenal and Chelsea coming up, but this is the Premier League, you have to play against tough teams and you can’t choose when,” City midfielder Fernandinho said. “We’ll see who is in command after these two games. But it can help to win the title.”

Arsenal are in a crowded fight for a top-four finish and a spot in the Champions League. The Gunners are fifth, a point behind Manchester United and four points ahead of Liverpool in eighth.



CITY will leave the grey of home behind after their clash with Arsenal.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men head for Abu Dhabi for a week of warm weather training. The Blues’ squad will get on a specially-chartered plane right after the Gunners clash.

They will take on German side Hamburg on Wednesday in a friendly at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium before returning to Manchester to take on Championship side Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fourth round next weekend.