Man City v Arsenal: Why Nasri's absence will be costly for Arsenal

It is with utmost bitterness that I wish Mathieu Debuchy a quick recovery following the 29-year-old's Thursday shoulder surgery, after an awkward following following Marko Arnautović 's stupid challenge in Arsenal's 3-0 win.

Arsenal's captain Mikel Arteta also went under the knife on his ankle and together with Debuchy, will face three months in rehab.



But Debuchy's injury will most definitely prove costly regarding the fact that the former Newcastle man had just played seven matches following a previous lengthy injury, and was on his way to his best.

With Kieran Gibbs still out, Wenger is once again set to play with a make shift right back if only he will let go of the transfer window, having in mind that he cannot re-call Arsenal loanee, Carl Jenkinson from West Ham till the end of the season.

Sunday's super match represents another perfect opportunity for the resurgent Emirates outfit to extend their recent remarkable run and take a huge stride towards chasing the fourth position, or rather allow the likes of Aguero, David Silva and Jovetic run the show like they did in Arsenal's 6-3 defeat last time we played at the Etihad.

The good thing is the fact that we are unbeaten against the Citizens in the last three outings, with Flamini sparing Arsenal the blushes in a 1-1 draw at the Emirates, March last year.

What followed up was the one-sided 3-0 Community Shield win in this season's curtain raiser before the recent two all draw,when Arsenal's poor defending allowed Demichelis to score the equalizer in the game's last minutes.

If only Wenger selected the right army, then we don't care about the designated battle field as long as our cannon is full and our shields well cleaned with the finest of wines. In that case, I don't expect to see the usual Wenger's panic moves where he always alters the team's stability whenever we face the league's big guns, all in the name of tactical appoach.

Of course Ozil is back but apart from the mere ten minutes he got after three months out, what would he do against the likes of Fernando and fernandinho? Ramsey is also fit and so is Walcott, but to be honest if either ended up ousting Rosicky, Cazorla and Sanchez, then we are doomed for sure.
Coquelin has been superb in midfield in a number of past games but with Flamini fit and ready, it should be the perfect moment to rest the young Frenchman since this is where Flamini's experience and no-nonsense nature is dearly needed.

Sanchez has without any doubt, single handedly carried Arsenal to where we are at the moment. A double and an assist against Stoke City was a pure spectacle, which moved the Chilean goal tally to 18 overall with 12 coming in the league.


Cazorla, since the emphatic Galatasaray game, has not settled for less and his influence in Arsenal's midfield will be crucial alongside Sanchez, Rosicky and Oxlade, whose dynamism is incredible. When you look back at Cazorla's goal against City in community shield, you can be assured of another brilliant performance on Sunday.

Arsenal's second biggest traitor, is set to miss the super encounter, with a calf injury something which I think might prove costly to Wenger's men. Why? well every City coach will never hesitate to start Nasri against Arsenal, with the thought that he will be fired up to score or trouble his former employees; but remind me the last or rather that one time Nasri came close to terrorizing Arsenal, with the Frenchman having been forced out of the field after horrible performances well thanks to the gooners constant boos on him.

Now you get my point? Having Samir in City's lineup, it's as good as playing with two goalkeepers on the same pitch, but with the duck out, maybe Milner or Navas will all start and cause us all manner of troubles. But like I always say.. WE ARE ARSENAL! Aguero our seasoned heart breaker is back while captain Kompany is also expected to add some cover in City's back four, again a huge loss to Arsenal, should Mangala, the ever blundering warden, be sacrificed in favour of Kompany.

TEAM NEWS:

The north London club have both right-back Mathieu Debuchy (shoulder) and defensive midfielder Mikel Arteta (ankle/foot) unavailable after surgery this week, while left-back Kieran Gibbs may also miss out with a heel problem.
Defender Calum Chambers, though, should feature having recovered from a recent illness.


MATCH FACTS:

*The last seven Premier League games between City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium have seen 28 goals scored.
*There have been six red cards in the last nine Premier League matches between these two sides.
*Arsenal’s away form this season is patchy with four wins, four defeats and three draws in their 11 Premier League road trips.
*In contrast, City’s home form under Pellegrini has been impressive with 25 wins from 29 Premier League games under his stewardship at the Etihad Stadium (W25 D2 L2).
*Arsenal are the only team to score three goals at the Etihad in a Premier League game during Pellegrini’s reign – but this was in a 3-6 defeat.
*Only Chelsea (11) have won more Premier League games away at City than Arsenal (10).
*Only West Ham (14) have scored more headed goals than the Gunners this season (8).
*City have conceded at least two goals in each of their last two Premier League home games.
*They haven’t shipped two or more goals in three consecutive home Premier League games since October 2002.

My predicted Arsenal lineup: Ospina, Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Sanchez, Cazorla, Rosicky, Oxlade, Giroud.

My MCFCvAFC prediction: City 3-3 Arsenal (Sanchez,Cazorla,Rosicky)





Twitter/IG: @Bryoshavin