EPL Preview: Manchester City v. Arsenal Is Going To Be A Cracker

With the transfer window shut and internationals out of the way for now, it is time for the English Premier League to get back to business, and what a lineup is in store.

The meeting of current high fliers Tottenham Hotspur and champions Manchester United has caught the eye of many.

However, two other teams from the same cities will meet before Spurs and United lock horns in what is bound to be a cracking match.

At 1500 GMT on Saturday, Manchester City will host Arsenal at the City of Manchester Stadium.

The teams served up two lop-sided affairs last season, with City carving Arsenal open with ease last season to win 3-0 at home while the Gunners returned the favour at the Emirates by easing home 2-0.

Saturday should be a very different affair.

Although a loss wouldn't by any means be catastrophic for either club, Mark Hughes will want to keep his side on a winning roll while Arsene Wenger will not want to lose any more ground to the front runners following the defeat to Manchester United.

Manchester City

The side who every one is keeping an eye on this season have started well, albeit without playing to their full potential.

Their records states: played three, won three.

With a host of top new signings joining the club in the summer window, it has been Gareth Barry and Emmanuel Adebayor that have caught the eye to date.

Former Aston Villa player Barry has settled with ease into the City midfield, spraying around passes to his attacking colleagues while also doing his lion's share of the donkey work.

However, it has been the £25 million signing from Togo that has stolen all the headlines with his three goals so far for City.

Following his acrimonious exit from the Emirates, Adebayor will be chomping at the bit to prove his worth for his new club.

This game offers both Adebayor and Kolo Toure a chance to get one over their old club.

Indeed, Kolo Toure will take the captain's armband for Manchester City for the first time against his former club. Toure takes over captain duties from the departed Richard Dunne.

He will be joined in the heart of defence by fellow new signing Joleon Lescott who is making his second start in the blue of City.

The international break has claimed one big casualty for Mark Hughes with Carlos Tevez been ruled out with a knee injury.

There is also questions marks over the fitness of Brazilian Robinho who will be assessed before a decision is made.

Arsenal

City's opponents on Saturday have also got off to a good start in the EPL before it was ended by a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.

Unlike City, Arsenal were quiet in the transfer window with only Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen joining the North London club.

The former Ajax Captain has impressed in his apperances to date, so much so that he has been named Arsenal Player of the Month for August.

Vermaelen has brought an added steel to Arsenal's defence, forming a good partnership with the rejuvenated William Gallas.

Arsenal's form has been aided by the coming-of-age of Cameroon international Alex Song who has grown in stature since last season.

The new 4-3-3 formation favoured by Arsene Wenger sees Song play in front of the back four, much like Yaya Toure does for Barcelona, while he also fills in for Vermaelen or Gallas when they venture up field.

Wenger has also asked for increased work rate from his players, with the likes of Robin Van Persie, Eduardo Da Silva, Nicklas Bendtner and Andrey Arshavin pressurising the opposition from the front.

The international break has gone well for Arsenal players involved with no reports of any injuries.

Making his return from injury, Cesc Fabregas played an important role in sealing Spain's place in South Africa by scoring the opening goal against Estonia.

Eduardo and Bendtner joined Fabregas on the score-sheet for their respective countries while Arshavin shrugged off any injury doubts by playing ninety minutes for Russia.

An added bonus for Arsene Wenger comes in the shape of long term absentee Tomas Rosicky playing over 50 minutes for the Czech Republic in their 7-0 hammering of San Marino.

"Mozart" is expected to make the bench for Arsenal on Saturday, as is England's Theo Walcott who is returning from a back injury.

Samir Nasri, Johan Djourou, and Carlos Vela are the only confirmed absentees to date.

Prediction

This is one of those games where you can see either of the teams coming away with the win.

Manchester City have got off to a flier without ever have reached top gear.

However, they have yet to be tested by a top team and their new defence will be put under pressure by Arsenal's attacking threats of Van Persie, Fabregas, Arshavin, Eduardo, Bendtner while also having the option of calling on Rosicky and Walcott from the bench.

City too will have firepower in numbers and Adebayor would dearly love to score against his own club.

This one is hard to call, but one thing is for sure, it won't be a 0-0 bore.

Edit: Andrey Arshavin has been confirmed as injured and will miss Arsenal's next three games at least.