'City will smell blood against Arsenal'

[BBC]

[Getty Images]

I'm not too nervous for Arsenal's visit at the moment but ask me again when I'm getting ready to head to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

I'd almost reluctantly accepted the fact that it was Arsenal's title when they could've gone 12 points ahead. Now the gap has been cut to six, it feels like an opportunity too good to miss for City, especially with the momentum in our favour.

It feels like it means the absolute world to Arsenal. It's been a long 22-year wait for them to bring the Premier League title home – that trophy has never even seen the Emirates Stadium! Mikel Arteta is being judged on one trophy in seven years too; this is the one where they've fallen short and this has to be the season for triumph. If it isn't, it could cost him his job. Will this game decide the title? It feels more like a must-not-lose for City when it comes to the title race.

In terms of the match itself, you can't look past set-pieces when it comes to Arsenal. That's their gameplan. They've mastered the art and, while it may be divisive, it has worked for them – so far. Will it be prove to be enough though?

City have generally been hopeless at corners, so we could learn a trick or two from them in that department. Victor Gyokeres has settled into Premier League life well too – he's a constant threat. They'll be desperate to get the job done on Sunday – a win would do it. A draw could even seal it.

But the question is - will Arsenal come to east Manchester and be brave? Will they play without fear? It may help not playing in front of the expectant Emirates crowd, but the Etihad will be a cauldron of atmosphere and it's about how they handle that.