The Manchester City Project

City face their toughest test yet in the Premier League this season when they face Arsenal today. City will be hoping to continue their run of clean sheets against a high scoring Arsenal side.

Kolo Toure will face his old club as captain of City today after the sale of Richard Dunne to Aston Villa. Adebayor also looks certain to start against his former club and will look to build upon his three goals and fine early form. City will be without Carlos Tevez today and Robinho faces a late fitness test after both players picked up injuries in the midweek international match between Brazil and Argentina. City welcome back Vincent Kompany to the squad for the game after his return from injury this week.

Arsenal are not without their injury worries with Arshavin out and Johan Djourou will miss the next six months after undergoing knee surgery. Arsene Wenger will be sat in the stands today after being sent off late in the game against United. Arsenal will get a boost from the return of influential midfielder Cesc Fabregas. Tomas Rosicky is also expected to feature for Arsenal. Theo Walcott is continuing his recovery from a back problem but has resumed full training.

Mark Hughes is expecting a tough game today and rates Arsenal highly, especially after their good start to the season despite losing to United last time out: "They are a very good side, I went to game at Old Trafford and was very impressed with them. I thought they were the best team on the day, and they should have won. I'm sure a lot of Arsenal people must have been scratching their heads after the game, wondering how they lost it, but that can happen in the Premier League."

Manager Mark Hughes is confident that City can continue their own excellent form in the league this season against Arsenal so long as City can manage to hit top form, which he admits they have not done so far: “They have great individual talents within a way of playing that lets them create chances, and if they get it right on the day, they can do a lot of damage. We feel we have that capability as well, but we have not yet showed it this season.”

Manchester City vs Arsenal
City of Manchester Stadium
12/09/2009
15:00 kick off

Probable Line Ups:

Manchester City: Given, Richards, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Barry, Bellamy, Adebayor, Robinho.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Denilson, Song, Bendtner, Diaby, Eboue, Van Persie.