Mikel Arteta welcomes his former boss Pep Guardiola for a thrilling Premier League duel at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal take on Manchester City in what will be their first EPL meeting this season. The two teams only seat three points apart from each other with the host occupying the top of the table and the visitors currently holding the second position. The Gunners have now gone on two consecutive league games without a victory and they will be aiming to put that behind them when they face the title holders tonight who are in a probable situation to seat at the top of the table by the end of the 90 minutes if they can claim all the three points. 

Arsenal are aiming at lifting their first league title for almost two decades but have experienced somewhat of a blip from their usual high standards in recent weeks suffering a slender 1-0 defeat at Everton before settling for one point in a 1-1 stalemate with Brentford. However, Arteta's side were victims of a 'significant error' from VAR in their game against Brentford which failed to spot either Ethan Pinnock or Christian Norgaard in offside positions, and the latter ultimately teed up Ivan Toney for a 74th-minute equalizer to the disadvantage of the Gunners. Arsenal have been seating at the top of the table since November last year but their ones eight-point lead has just been reduced to three which they must protect at all cost in tonight's match against the reigning champions, a test they have no option of failing. 

The Gunners have failed to win each of their last 13 Premier League meetings with the Citizens and recently lost 1-0 to them in the fourth round of the FA Cup. A statement victory tonight will provide a major boost for Arteta's side while defeat will be a complete disaster as they will have given the top position to their rivals who have severally proven to be runaway league leaders. 

Manchester City are being accused for breaching more than 100 financial rules by the Premier League and if found guilty, they face unprecedented charges including the deduction of points or relegation from the league. The Citizens responded to the allegations in defiant fashion with a 3-1 victory against Aston Villa in front of a fired-up Etihad crowd on Sunday. Indeed, City players were galvanized by the booing the Premier League anthem and songs that the fans sang in support of the club's owners and manager while displaying numerous comical banners.  

Pep Guardiola now boasts the most wins as a Premier League manager having won 184 out of his total 250 matches in charge. Man City will surely face an off-the-pitch legal battle and Guardiola must be hoping that it will not affect the morale of his squad on the pitch, especially in tonight's game against an opponent who is threatening to snatch the top-flight crown away from their hands. They can, however, draw inspiration from the fact that they have won each of their last six away matches against the Gunners across all competitions. If they bag the three points tonight, they will surely climb at the top of the table albeit on goal difference. Although tonight's game is expected to be epic, it is very possible to see the Arsenal-Manchester City rivalry go all the way to be decided on the last match day of the Premier League. That's if City will be cleared of any wrongdoings in the league. Otherwise if found guilty and action taken against them, we might just be looking at the renewal of the old rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester United as the Red Devils seat currently at position three on the table five points adrift of the Gunners. 

(Image: The Sun)