Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck. (Photo : Getty Images)
A high-profile matchup between two of the 2015-2016 Premier League season's top teams, Manchester City FC (19-10-7, 64 points) and Arsenal FC (19-7-10, 67 points), is scheduled to be held at the Etihad Stadium on May 8th, Sunday as the end of the current term fast approaches.
Manchester City is presently settled at the fourth spot of the league table, three points behind third-placed team Arsenal and four points above fifth-running squad Manchester United.
City holds the final UEFA Champions League qualifying slot for next season as the top three teams at the end of the term will qualify directly to the group stage of the said club continental competitions while the fourth-placed club will advance to the playoff round.
The Citizens dropped a sorry 2-4 game to another contending team, Southampton FC, at the St. Mary's Stadium last Sunday to snap a five-game unbeaten run, as per SkySports.
Forward Shane Long opened the scoring for the Saints at the 25th minute of the match before winger Sadio Mane netted the first goal of his hat trick performance three minutes later to double their lead.
The Manchester residents answered with the first goal of striker Kelechi Iheanacho's brace one minute before the break to cut the lead into one point at the half.
Mane then scored two goals in the second half, at the 57th and 68th minutes, to make it 3-1 before Iheanacho netted another one at the 78th for the final count.
Meanwhile, Arsenal nipped bottom three team Norwich City at the Emirates Stadium last Saturday, as reported by Goal.
Striker Danny Welbeck scored the winning goal for Arsene Wenger's side one minute before the hour mark of the match to extend the Gunners' seven-game unbeaten streak to eight.
This match between City and the Gunners is crucial for both teams as they are vying for a direct qualification to the group stage of the 2016-2017 Champions League tourney.
The predicted result is a tough 2-1 win for Arsenal.
Manchester City starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Hart; Zabaleta, Otamendi, Mangala, Kolarov; Nasri, Fernandinho, Delph, Sterling; Iheanacho, Bony
Arsenal starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Cech; Bellerín, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Elneny, Ramsey; Sanchez, Özil, Iwobi; Giroud
