Manchester City vs. Arsenal: 5 Battles the Gunners Must Win

Arsenal face a stern test of their new-found resiliency and determination this Sunday, as they travel to the Etihad Stadium to take on league leaders Manchester City.

The mega-rich Citizens have been the class of the Premier League so far this season. But cracks in the armour have appeared in recent weeks.

A single point from away trips to Anfield and Stamford Bridge proves that City are not quite ready yet to assume full control of England's top flight.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have continued to scrape past mid-table teams. But regardless of the opposition, the Gunners do have the winning habit and appear better equipped to grind out tough results than in recent seasons.

Taking points off City away from home will be a tall order for Arsene Wenger's team. But Arsenal still possess enough quality to pose City plenty of problems.

Here are five individual battles the Gunners simply must win if they hope to secure what would be a hugely significant result.

5. Alex Song vs. David Silva

Controlling David Silva's influence on the game has to be a priority for the Gunners. Alex Song has been in inspired form in recent weeks and will need to be at his best to corral the cerebral Spanish maestro.

Silva has quickly become for City what Cesc Fabregas used to be for Arsenal. He is the one player who can quickly transform steady possession play into a genuine scoring opportunity.

His technique, awareness and eye for a through pass have been flawless this season, and Arsenal's midfield must do all they can to ensure Silva is given only limited opportunities to expose the back line.

Song took it upon himself to play a more advanced role against Everton. The Cameroon international was outstanding in carrying the fight to the Toffees.

His persistence eventually paid off when he floated an inch-perfect ball over the top for Robin van Persie to expertly guide into the net for the match winner.

But Song will have to discipline himself to play deeper and with more restraint against the Citizens. He possesses the pace, anticipation and physicality to track Silva's movement and stifle his creative output.

Eradicating Silva's influence altogether is likely too much to hope for. But Arsenal must do their utmost to keep the crafty and stylish playmaker at least contained.

4. Aaron Ramsey vs. Gareth Barry

As Arsenal's most advanced midfielder, Welsh starlet Aaron Ramsey will need to outwit City's defensive shield Gareth Barry.

The England international is a disciplined presence in front of the City back four, and Ramsey will have to rely on intelligent movement to escape him.

Ramsey will be looking to rebound from an indifferent showing against Everton last week. The ideas were there, but the execution was sadly lacking and Ramsey gave away possession several times.

He must be more accurate and efficient against the league leaders. The Gunners need Ramsey to release speedy wide men Gervinho and Theo Walcott as often as possible.

3. Theo Walcott vs. Aleksandar Kolarov

With former Gunner Gael Clichy set to serve a ban following his red card against Chelsea, Arsenal must target more attack-minded replacement Aleksandar Kolarov.

Pacy England ace Theo Walcott up against the forward thinking Kolarov provides Arsenal with a natural advantage which must be exploited.

Kolarov has failed to truly convince since his big-money move from Lazio in late July 2010. Citizens boss Roberto Mancini has frequently opted for a more defensively-solid option in the bigger games this season.

Walcott should look to make plenty of runs inside Kolarov, and Arsenal would also be well-served firing several passes over the top, to allow Walcott to get behind the Serbian international.

This is a matchup that could reap plenty of rewards for Arsenal. Walcott has become a crucial and consistent supply line for van Persie and should have the opportunities to provide the Dutchman with lots of fresh chances in this game.

2. Robin Van Persie vs. Joleon Lescott

Just as Walcott vs. Kolarov offers Arsenal an advantage, the Gunners will have a similar edge any time they can isolate Robin van Persie against Joleon Lescott.

The former Everton central defender is prone to lapses in concentration, and van Persie's clever and fluid movement should expose Lescott's vulnerability.

Van Persie will get more joy targeting Lescott, rather than going after outstanding Belgian stopper Vincent Kompany.

1. Laurent Koscielny vs. Segio Aguero

Arsenal's alarming list of injuries at the full-back positions means that Laurent Koscielny will most likely remain in central defense for this crucial encounter.

The Frenchman has become a key figure for the Gunners this season and is the perfect shadow for skillful and mobile City frontman Sergio Aguero.

The Argentinian striker is a tricky source of creativity for City in forward areas. His pace, intelligence and technique allow him to drag defenders out of position and open up space for others to exploit.

Koscielny has often excelled against quicker ball players. His anticipation and instincts are excellent, and he has learned to time his tackles extremely well.

Koscielny's composure and assurance will be vital against an active forward like Aguero. If Koscielny can keep Aguero quiet, the pressure will increase on the temperamental Mario Balotelli to try to beat Arsenal's defense by himself. 

Arsenal Simply Cannot Afford to Lose More Ground in the Race for 4th

This game marks the beginning of a congested period of tough fixtures for Arsenal. They will follow up their visit to Manchester with a trip to Birmingham to take on Aston Villa.

The Gunners can't lose more ground in the race for a top-four finish. They are two points behind Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, and their North London rivals have the luxury of a game in hand on Wenger's team.

Arsenal must also be mindful of Liverpool and Newcastle Untied. The Gunners hold only a three-point advantage over the two clubs.

So despite how daunting the task may seem, Arsenal simply must take points from their next two away games.

Manchester City have been very impressive at times this season, but some frailties have been revealed recently.

Wenger's teams have sprung impressive upsets in the past, and if they can avoid a disaster start, Arsenal have the ability to catch the league leaders cold.