Arsenal vs. Manchester City: Full Preview, Live Stream, Start Time and Schedule

Arsenal and Manchester City will take their English Premier League druthers to the pitch in a slightly less meaningful, though still intriguing, match when they meet at the Emirates Stadium in London Carling Cup quarterfinal action. Both sides figure to rest most of the regulars amidst the intensifying domestic schedule and their remaining group fixtures in UEFA Champions League play.

Nonetheless, Tuesday's tilt between the Gunners and the Citizens will give footie fans a sneak peak of what's to come when they meet under more pressing circumstances at the Etihad Stadium in mid-December.

Don't be surprised if you hear plenty of derision toward Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy as they make their "triumphant" return to North London after chasing after City's oil money over the summer.

Where: The Emirates Stadium, London, England.

When: Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 3:00 p.m. EST

Watch: Fox Soccer Plus, Sportsnet World, Sport TV1, Sky Sports 2/HD, ESPN +, ESPN + Andina, SuperSport 3, SuperSport HD 2, Sky 3D, SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport Maximo 2

Live Stream: FoxSoccer.tv

Player to Watch for Arsenal: Gervinho

With so many of his principles "in the red," Arsene Wenger will lean more heavily on Gervinho while the likes of Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott rest. The new boy from Lille has been as maddening as anyone in the EPL, simultaneously demonstrating tremendous pace and on-ball skills along with a frustrating reluctance to finish in the box.

If the Gunners are to advance to the next round of Carling Cup competition, they will need Gervinho to not only put pressure on City's solid defence, but also put the ball through the net when he's in close.

Player to Watch for Manchester City: Edin Dzeko

Roberto Mancini sat Edin Dzeko for most of Man City's draw with Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, which means the big Bosnian should have somewhat fresh legs for Tuesday's match. Dzeko has been superb for City this season, notching 13 goals in all competitions while playing a pitch-perfect "target man" up front.

He'll give the Gunners leaky back line fits all afternoon with his imposing size and pique positional awareness.

Key Matchup: City's forwards vs. Arsenal's rearguard

Arsenal's attack have hardly constituted a goal-scoring machine during the current campaign, though the defence has been the greatest concern throughout. The Gunners have been perpetually unsure of themselves whenever the ball has been played into their box, regardless of who's around to play it out (or not). Even Thomas Vermaelen, as reliable a defender as Arsenal have had all season, fell victim to this team-wide plague, registering an own goal against Fulham on Saturday.

The Gunners simply cannot afford their back line to play so lackadaisically against an attack with as much firepower as City's. Chances are, they won't have to see too much of Sergio Aguero, Mario Balotelli or David Silva, but the seemingly never-ending well of talent at Mancini's disposal ensures there will be at least one world-class forward on the pitch at all time crooning "Blue Moon."

What They're Saying:

Wenger is well aware of just how tired his first-team squad is and, more importantly, how the wear-and-tear of a busy early-season schedule will play out as timing grows even more hectic in the week to come.

As such, the Arsenal boss will be forced to fiddle with his starting XI against Man City so as to rest his more injury-prone players while still fielding a competitive lineup. As he told Arsenal Player:

""We have a few players on the edge like Van Persie and Walcott, who had a hamstring alert, and Aaron Ramsey. We'll have to see how they respond to 24 hours of rest. It will be easier for you to pick the Man City team because you can look in the stand and on the bench (against Liverpool) and you will see who plays on Tuesday. We have red alerts on a few players but I will pick as strong a team as I can.""

Meanwhile, the three-ring circus known otherwise as Carlos Tevez continues to distract Man City from the task at hand. According to ESPN Soccernet, the international interest in the AWOL Argentinian is waning, with Juventus removing themselves from the tepid bidding war and fellow Serie A power AC Milan expressing interest, but only in a loan deal. Rossoneri legend Alessandro Costacurta suggested that Tevez would be a good fit for Milan, but only if handled properly:

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"Tevez would be perfect to substitute Cassano. I get the impression that he could create some problems if he is left on the bench though - and that will happen at Milan when you consider the forwards they have in their squad. He would have to be managed properly. Nevertheless, he is the ideal attacker for Milan."

 

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Prediction: Arsenal 2, Manchester City 1

The Gunners youngsters, including Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Emmanuel Frimpong, will be tested by City's reserves, but their fresh legs and the support of the attendant Gooners at the Emirates should help Arsenal to stand tall against the "noisy neighbors" from Manchester to move one step closer to the Carling Cup.