Arsenal vs. Manchester City: Picking a Gunners Side for Victory

Arsenal will look to rebound from a very disappointing loss at Queens Park Rangers with a confidence-boosting victory over Manchester City.

But winning will be a very difficult task. Even though City are mightily struggling right now and are beginning to fall behind Manchester United in the title race, the Citizens are loaded with quality all over the pitch.

With news that Sergio Aguero will surprisingly be returning to Roberto Mancini's starting XI, the Arsenal defence will have as difficult a time keeping their opponents out of the net as the attack will have putting the ball past Joe Hart.

For the Gunners to get a crucial win in the race for third place, Arsene Wenger will have to make the right tactical calls, which he failed to do against QPR.

Here is the lineup that the boss should pick if he wants to give his team the best chance of victory.

Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczesny

By far the easiest selection that Wenger will make on Sunday, Wojciech Szczesny has given some of his best performances of the season in recent matches, and shows no signs of slowing down.

He is the commanding presence that Arsenal have lacked for so long between the sticks, and the whole defence seems to be more secure and organized when Szczesny is giving the commands than when someone like Lukasz Fabianski is in charge.

He will need to be on top form against the potent City attack, but the Pole in goal has shown that he is more than capable of getting the job done.

Full-Backs: Kieran Gibbs and Bacary Sagna

Now that Arsenal have both of their fullbacks fully fit and on top form, the defence has measurably improved.

Bacary Sagna has been his usual consistent, stable, reliable self on the right side, locking down his flank and even getting forward very well to support Theo Walcott and the rest of the attack.

Kieran Gibbs, meanwhile, is having something of a renaissance at left-back since his return from injury, keeping Andre Santos out of the first team with very balanced displays. His defensive ability seems to have improved recently, and he is as effective in attack as ever.

He was very exposed against QPR because he had no support on the left due to Aaron Ramsey's instinctive tendency to drift into the middle of the pitch. But we'll get to that later.

Center-Backs: Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Koscielny

Arsenal's two center-backs certainly did not have their best game of the season against QPR, but it should be remembered that a series of admirable performances preceded a very poor showing last weekend.

Thomas Vermaelen, in particular, was extremely poor. Both of the goals that the Gunners conceded last weekend were the result of the Belgian's errors. The first came when he flailed at air trying to strip Adel Taarabt of the ball, and the second was the result of an unfortunate slip just outside the box.

Koscielny, meanwhile, has been a defensive stalwart, turning in quality performance after quality performance and even getting forward when he isn't cutting out attacks.

Even if the pair had been inconsistent lately, Wenger has little choice but to play his two best central defenders. Based on past performances, that should not be an issue.

Midfield: Alex Song, Mikel Arteta, Tomas Rosicky

Selecting this trio in the center of the park has been and should continue to be an effortless decision by Arsene Wenger.

Alex Song continues to protect the back four with strength and tenacity. And he has proven to be an even more valuable asset in attack, where his incisive through balls wreak havoc among opposing defences. It is often a joy to see the Cameroonian pass the ball.

Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, continues to act as the metronome and fulcrum of the midfield, rarely giving possession away, finding time on the ball, and allowing his teammates to pour forward while he dictates the play.

And Tomas Rosicky should easily beat out Aaron Ramsey for a place in attacking midfield. The Czech is having a renaissance this season, and drives forward with impetus and effort that is unmatched in this Arsenal side.

Forwards: Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Robin van Persie

In my opinion, the team picks itself, with the exception of the trio of forwards that the manager chooses to employ.

Arsene Wenger must avoid repeating the mistake of playing Aaron Ramsey on the left. The Welshman is clearly not a winger, and provides no width or cover to Kieran Gibbs on the left wing. His presence, or lack thereof, is a major reason why Arsenal's attack lacked any real drive against QPR.

In his place should be either the sublime Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or the improving Gervinho, who I believe is just now beginning to recover from his disappointment at the African Cup of Nations.

Personally, I would select the former, as he has been the more consistently excellent of the two players in the time he has had on the pitch.

And the other two places really select themselves. Theo Walcott might finally be turning a corner and getting more consistent in his wing play and goal-scoring ability, and anyone who would start Marouane Chamakh over a healthy Robin van Persie is clinically insane.

If Wenger makes these and other intelligent selections on Sunday, Arsenal will have a very good chance to take Manchester City down another peg or two.

Follow @charliemelman