English Premier League: City take aim at fragile Arsenal

Important clash a stepping stone for keeping title hopes within reach .

LONDON: Manchester City will look to kill two birds with one stone this weekend by keeping the heat on Premier League leaders Chelsea and definitively dashing Arsenal's title hopes.

City's 3-0 win at Manchester United on Tuesday took them to within three points of Chelsea and with two games in hand; they are the bookmakers' favourites to finish the campaign on top of the pile.

Arsenal are only three points behind Manuel Pellegrini's side, but having played two games more, they cannot afford to lose when the teams meet at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Humiliated 6-0 by Chelsea last weekend, Arsenal conceded a stoppage-time equaliser in a 2-2 draw at home to Swansea City on Tuesday, and defeat by City would likely end their title challenge for good.

Arsenal Midfielder Mathieu Flamini says they cannot afford another sloppy start.

"We have to be strong defensively; first of all because that is very important when you play against a big team who are a very offensive side," the Frenchman, whose own goal handed Swansea a share of the points in mid-week, told the Arsenal website.

"When you play a big game, you cannot lose it in the first 10 or 15 minutes because it is not good for the rest of the match. So we have to be focused and be ready because these kinds of games are battles.”

City's win over United will give them a spring in their step as they head to the Emirates, but with a trip to second-place Liverpool coming up in a fortnight, captain Vincent Kompany is not getting carried away.

"We have momentum, but who doesn't have momentum at the moment?” he said. “Liverpool have momentum and Chelsea have momentum, too.

"We have a game against Arsenal and that's good in a way because you don't have to make a big effort to get the lads focused again."

Chelsea look to flex muscle in Palace trip

Having decided to contest a Football Association charge of improper conduct, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho turns his attention back to preserving his side's lead in the Premier League this weekend when they take on Crystal Palace.

The recent 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa – during which Mourinho was sent to the stands, for which he received his FA charge – confirmed that the leading teams can take nothing for granted.

And Andre Schurrle, the Chelsea attacking midfielder, has warned against complacency if Chelsea are to maintain their challenge.

"When you want to be champions you have to win every match; not only against the top teams," said the Germany international.

Meanwhile, Manchester United manager David Moyes will hope the faltering English champions can stem the rising tide of criticism coming his way against Aston Villa in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29^th, 2014.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.