City bid to prove title credentials

Manchester City have a golden opportunity to prove their credentials as contenders for the Premier League on Sunday when they host title rivals Arsenal.

For a brief period this week it appeared Wayne Rooney was willing to consider joining City after the Manchester United striker signalled his intention to leave Old Trafford.

City fans were drooling at the prospect of signing their rivals’ star player but the saga came to an abrupt conclusion when Rooney opted to sign a few five-year contract with United.

Even without Rooney, City should be title challengers this term as Roberto Mancini’s side are currently just two points behind leaders Chelsea, who face Wolver 24 hours before Arsenal visit Eastlands.

Depending on the outcome of events at Stamford Bridge, Mancini’s team will take on Arsene Wenger’s side knowing victory could take them top or, at the very least, open up a six point gap between themselves and the Gunners.

The campaign may still be in its infancy, but City’s season has steadily gathered momentum and having beaten Chelsea last month, another win against one of their principal rivals would send out a telling message that Mancini’s expensively acquired squad mean business.

Key to victory will be the form of David Silva, who produced an impressive display in the midweek Europa League win over Lech Poznan and is beginning to show signs of the form that persuaded Mancini to sign the Spain winger from Valencia.

However, Silva is under no illusions about the threat posed by Arsenal and his compatriot Cesc Fabregas.

“Arsenal play very good football, they have young players with a great desire to play,” Silva said.

“They are a threat, no doubt about that – they will be fighting for the title with Manchester United, Chelsea and of course, Manchester City.

“But if we win, we will be six points ahead of them. That’s a good distance at this stage of the season, and also it would keep the pressure on Chelsea.

“Cesc and I get on very well, we are good friends. We played together in the Under-17 team for Spain and from then on we have been close.

“We talk and text each other. But I won’t be sending him any texts before the game, because I don’t want to tempt fate – and I hope that I will be passing on my sympathy to him afterwards!”

Emmanuel Adebayor struck a hat-trick against Lech Poznan and is eager to face his former side having scored in the corresponding fixture last season.

Adebayor’s reaction – he ran the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the Arsenal fans – drew heavy criticism but Mancini has indicated the Togo forward could start.

Like City, Wenger’s side enjoyed a comfortable outing in Europe this week, with the Gunners comfortably crushing Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1 at the Emirates Stadium in the Champions League.

That came after last weekend’s victory over Birmingham had halted a run of back to back league defeats and another win at Eastlands will confirm the Gunners are over their recent jitters.

Right back Bacary Sagna returns but fellow defenders Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Koscielny are out while midfielder Jack Wilshere starts a three-game ban.

Marouane Chamakh will again lead the Arsenal attack and City defender Vincent Kompany is well aware of the threat posed by the Moroccan.

“Chamakh is a good player, I rate him,” he said. “I’ve played against him once, but I mainly know him from his time in France.

“He’s a top striker for a top team, so you always have to be careful.”