Who: Manchester Metropolis vs Arsenal
What: English Premier League (EPL)
The place: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, United Kingdom
When: Sunday, April 19 at 4:30pm (15:30 GMT)
Easy methods to observe: We’ll have all of the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 12:30 GMT upfront of our reside textual content commentary stream.
The Premier League title race might be on the right track for a singular finish to the season, with Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis doubtlessly dealing with a playoff to be topped winners.
Advisable Tales
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It’s the newest intrigue added to the race for the trophy which Arsenal, just a bit over a month in the past, appeared to have wrapped up as they search to finish their 22-year wait to be topped English champions.
A run of poor outcomes, together with final weekend’s dwelling defeat to Bournemouth, has thrown the door large open for a late surge from Metropolis, who’re capitalising on the misfiring Gunners.
Sunday’s conflict on the Etihad Stadium is being billed as the largest Premier League match for years, with simply six factors separating the groups, whereas Pep Guardiola’s Metropolis have a recreation in hand.
Right here’s Al Jazeera’s all-to-know information to the match:
How have Arsenal performed in latest weeks?
Arsenal prime the desk with 70 factors from 32 video games, however head to the Etihad on their worst run of type this season. The North London membership has gained solely one among its final 5 matches in all competitions, beating Sporting 1-0 within the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal in Lisbon.
Mikel Arteta’s aspect misplaced the League Cup ultimate to Metropolis, suffered a shock FA Cup quarterfinal defeat to second-tier Southampton and crashed to a harmful loss towards Bournemouth within the top-flight.
Earlier than final weekend’s spherical, stats supplier Opta gave Arsenal a 97 p.c probability of successful the title, however that dropped to 87 p.c after Arsenal’s loss and Metropolis’s victory final day out.
Metropolis have jumped from a 3 to 13 p.c probability of lifting the trophy.
How have Metropolis carried out in latest weeks?
Whereas the Gunners have stuttered, Metropolis are approaching prime gear, having overwhelmed Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea of their final three video games in all competitions.
Metropolis sit second within the league with 64 factors from 31 video games, with Pep Guardiola’s rejuvenated aspect realizing that victory over Arsenal in Sunday’s showdown would make them favourites to reclaim the crown.
Whereas Metropolis haven’t misplaced at dwelling to Arsenal within the league for 11 years, Arsenal are additionally unbeaten of their final 5 Premier League video games towards Metropolis.
What are the doubtless situations in Sunday’s showdown?
If Metropolis beat Arsenal, they’ll have decreased their deficit from 9 factors to simply three inside per week.
Moreover, in the event that they win at relegation-bound Burnley three days later, Metropolis would prime the desk with 5 video games to go. That would go away Arsenal dealing with the unedifying prospect of a fourth successive runners-up spot.
Nevertheless, a win for Arsenal would restore their nine-point lead, whereas a draw would take the title out of Metropolis’s arms as soon as extra.
How does Man Metropolis and Arsenal run-in look?
Arsenal have six video games remaining: towards title chasers Metropolis, three mid-table groups (Newcastle, Fulham, Crystal Palace) and two relegation-threatened sides (West Ham, Burnley).
Metropolis have seven video games left: beginning with towards Arsenal, three prime eight groups (Aston Villa, Brentford, Everton), two mid-table sides (Bournemouth, Palace) and one towards relegation-threatened Burnley.
On paper, Arsenal have a extra comfy run-in than Metropolis, however historical past suggests the Cityzens are sometimes at their greatest and relentless of their run-in surge.
Since dropping to Leeds United in April 2021, Metropolis have gained 20 of their 22 league video games performed in April since then and drawn two.
What’s the probability of a playoff?
Ought to Arsenal and Metropolis accept a 1-1 draw on Sunday, there’s a slight probability of a playoff to find out the champions.
If on the finish of the season Arsenal and Metropolis are equal on factors, purpose distinction, targets scored, factors gained in head-to-head video games and away targets scored in head-to-head video games – in that individual order – then the title might be determined by the winner of a playoff match.
Arsenal have a +3 purpose distinction, scoring 62 targets to Metropolis’s 63, whereas one other 1-1 draw would rule out the head-to-head elements.
What occurred the final time Arsenal performed Metropolis?
On this season’s first league assembly in September, substitute Gabriel Martinelli scored a stoppage-time equaliser to cancel out Erling Haaland’s early opener, as Arsenal drew 1-1 with Metropolis.
Arsenal cautious of one other Etihad slip-up
Whereas Arsenal are nonetheless within the driver’s seat so far as the title is worried, with even a draw at Metropolis a suitable end result, they’ll want no reminder of what occurred three years in the past.
On that April day, Arsenal arrived on the Etihad Stadium as league leaders, 5 factors forward of Metropolis, albeit having performed two video games extra.
However Metropolis tore them aside in a 4-1 victory that crushed Arsenal’s spirit and propelled Guardiola’s aspect to a 3rd successive league title by 5 factors.
Head-to-head
Metropolis and Arsenal have met a whopping 215 occasions throughout all competitions, courting again to 1893.
Arsenal lead the head-to-head report with 101 wins, whereas Metropolis have gained 66. A complete of 48 video games led to a draw.
Manchester Metropolis crew information
Left-back Nico O’Reilly’s participation had been uncertain after he picked up an harm within the final recreation, however Guardiola confirmed on Friday that he’s match. John Stones, Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias are all confirmed absentees on account of harm.
Predicted Manchester Metropolis beginning lineup
Donnarumma (goalkeeper); Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Silva, Rodri; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland
Arsenal crew information
A number of Arsenal gamers are uncertain, together with Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino.
Predicted Arsenal beginning lineup
Raya (goalkeeper); White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Rice; Dowman, Eze, Martinelli; Gyokeres
