Arsenal are back in action this evening, and it’s the game we’ve all been waiting for and for some, dreading. 

The Arsenal travel to Manchester for the top of the league showdown, as Manchester City await the Gunners at the Etihad. 

Depending on your optimism, it could be Arsenal’s last chance to really challenge for the Premier League title, after three season shaking draws in the previous three league fixtures. 

Last time out, Mikel Arteta’s side were shocked by bottom of the table Southampton at the Emirates. The game looked certainly lost, being 3-1 down in the 88th minute, however the hosts dug deep and squeezed a draw out of the almost dead fixture. 

It was an inspired come back, but to be down by two goals at home to bottom of the league to begin with flagged warnings in what was an opportunity for Arsenal to reignite the faith in their title charge. 

City are unbeaten in their previous nine Premier League games, and looked fully charged ahead of the fixture that could close the gap at the top to just two points, with Pep Guardiola’s side having two games in hand to their advantage, you’d expect only a win will do for Arsenal tonight. 

Speaking ahead of the fixture, Arteta stressed that a win at the Etihad would not “win Arsenal the league” , a statement that is all too true, with the City game being one of many remaining challenges from here to the end of the season. 

The main talk around team news is the absence of William Saliba, a costly blow for Arsenal who will more than likely field Rob Holding in his absence this evening. The defender was subbed off at half-time in his last game at the Etihad after struggling to contain Erling Haaland. 

It’s arguably one of the biggest fixtures in Arsenal’s recent history, with a win really putting the shift back into the Gunners’ hands and sending out a statement to doubters.

The squad will have to dig deep, considering the last win at the Etihad came back in 2015 when Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud dazzled in yellow to give Arsenal three points. 

Kick off comes at 20:00 with coverage on BT Sports for those not at the Etihad. 

Come on you Gunners.