Man City v Arsenal: Scoreline Tip

The Sunday showdown at the Etihad Stadium could have some early significance in the title race and that will particularly feel like the case if we witness an upset. At best odds of 16/1 (Ladbrokes), the bookies don’t see it happening, but I think Arsenal could sneak a famous 1-0 victory in this one.

With ‘both teams to score’ heavily odds-on with every firm, it seems I don’t need to make a case for the Gunners finding the net. The shock would be an away clean sheet. But this belies the fact that the North Londoners boast the best defensive record in the top flight in 2012-13.

There were three shut-outs in a row to begin the campaign against Sunderland, Stoke and then, most notably, Liverpool at Anfield. Arsenal only conceded against Southampton when they were cruising at 4-0 up. Essentially, since Steve Bould took over as Wenger’s number two, the Gunners have become defensively formidable again.

Interestingly, City have failed to score in four of the past five league fixtures between the sides. Arsenal claimed a 1-0 success at the Emirates in April that at the time looked to have shattered Mancini’s title dreams. That didn’t prove to be the case, but it did indicate that a repeat scoreline at the Etihad isn’t nearly as fanciful as odds of 16/1 suggest.