Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC 5 Live

I think the John Stones story for Man City is an interesting one because in 2020/21 there was talk of him being on the way out due to his fitness and form. But then in came Ruben Dias and then those two formed such a strong partnership. I think that's one that Man City fans are hoping to get the chance to see again in this second half of the season.

I think his year has been as complex as other players in this City side, playing in defence.

He's a huge player for Pep and he'd be desperate for him to be available for the second half of the season and now there's a bit more competition. Even though everyone's back does that mean John Stone starts every week? I'm not sure.

Dion Dublin
Former Man Utd striker on Football Focus

Last week Omar Marmoush brought pace and directness and runs in behind. It is so hard as a defender to play against someone that is always looking to get in behind you. You are left looking over your shoulder and running back to your own goal.

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Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC 5 Live

It was at this stage [last year] where Arsenal went on a run where they won seven/eight games, if not more, and they went on a really significant charge.

To put it into perspective Mikel Arteta doesn't want his nine to just be scoring goals, they need to be more than that. That's why last year in the league they scored 91 goals, with this group of players.

People still say 'that's not enough'. By itself they scored 91 goals and conceded nine, in any other season you'd say that's one of the best seasons you could ever have.

Julien Laurens
European football expert on BBC Radio 5 Live

It's a young Arsenal team.

As long as you keep the core of your important players then their good.

Number nine?

If Gabriel Jesus doesn't get injured then they don't look for a striker in January. There is no number nine as Mikel Arteta is happy with the work Kai Havertz is doing.

What's the number nine that Arsenal want?

Kai Havertz, of course could score more goals, but he has never been a Haaland-type finisher - he has a different profile, but his all-round game is so good.

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Will Arsenal sign a striker before tomorrow's transfer deadline?

Could anyone be on the move in or out of Arsenal and Manchester City?

Final Score's Jason Mohammad is joined by Stephen Warnock and Ashley Williams to discuss which Premier League clubs need to do transfer business before the deadline.

The two earlier games are approaching the final stages and you can follow those blow-by-blow here.

Crystal Palace and Tottenham are winning 2-0 at Manchester United and Brentford respectively.

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Dion Dublin
Former Man Utd striker on Football Focus

There is nothing wrong with Arsenal. They just need a centre forward - that is the only thing. Get yourself a Michael Owen type, someone that does nothing else but score, someone that scores goals all the time, and you will be even more potent.

Julien Laurens
European football expert on BBC Radio 5 Live

There's nine points between Liverpool and Arsenal - it's not much of a title race.

City will have Liverpool at the end of the month so they will have played the two title contenders - this is their role in the current season.

City can play a massive role in the title race.

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Dion Dublin
Former Man Utd striker on Football Focus

For me this game will be won defensively. The best defence will win the game. They can both score goals.

When you are in possession and getting organised, in those moments the most concentrated defence will seal the game.

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Mikel Arteta was Pep Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City before he took the Arsenal job in 2019.

Both men have insisted their relationship has not changed amid the escalating rivalry.

"We wouldn't be talking on the phone, talking to each other and messaging each other and willing each other to do the best [if the relationship had changed]," said Arteta.

Reflecting on September's game, he said: "I don't take anything personally with what happens on the pitch.

"Since I have been a player, it stays there. The game's full of emotions. I just leave it aside and move on."

It's a little odd how Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been adamant for so long that he does not need another striker. Then, all of a sudden, we get to the end of January and they put in an offer for Ollie Watkins at Villa.

It all feels a little bit late to me. Why not do it at the start of January? I know they have had a couple of injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus but I don't understand the delay and it feels a little bit like they are making it up as they go along.

This is a huge game for the Gunners - in the past couple of seasons it has been a title decider when they've played Manchester City but this time only Arsenal's title hopes are on the line.

City have improved of late but I still look at them and think they are going to concede a goal, as Club Brugge showed on Wednesday.

It was a great game when these two met earlier in the season and Leandro Trossard was sent off in a 2-2 draw. The readers will probably go for a 1-1 draw this time, I reckon, but I am going to pick a winner.

It is the Gunners who I see taking this, and I wouldn't be surprised if a set-piece proves crucial. Let's hope City striker Erling Haaland can 'stay humble' if his team do end up being beaten.

Prediction: 2-1

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At his pre-match news conference, Guardiola defended Erling Haaland for his "stay humble" comment.

The words have been used against the Norwegian in the months since as rival fans, revelling in City's troubled campaign, have turned the focus back on him.

Having seen what Haaland has to put up with on a weekly basis in the Premier League, Guardiola is surprised the 24-year-old doesn't lose his cool more often.

"For Erling it's not easy," said Guardiola. "Arsenal is a physical team, in a good way, in many aspects.

"For 90 minutes, the central defender, Gabriel, push him, hack him, hug him and kiss him. The Premier League is that way.

"You have to stand up and defend your position. And now I am being asked to adjudicate on what Erling has done? I don't buy it.

"The end of the game was so emotional. In the end, a human being has to react."

John Murray
BBC Radio 5 Live chief football correspondent

We are told that Ederson is not fully-fit.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta makes one change to the side who beat Wolves last weekend as captain Martin Odegaard replaces Ethan Nwaneri in midfield.

Arsenal XI: Raya, Lewis-Skelly, Gabriel, Saliba, Timber, Rice, Partey, Odegaard, Trossard, Havertz, Martinelli.

Subs: Neto, Tierney, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Merino, Sterling, Calafiori, Nwaneri.

There are three changes to the Manchester City side who beat Chelsea last weekend.

Stefan Ortega replaces Ederson in goal while John Stones come in for Abdukodir Khusanov in defence. The other change comes in midfielder where Savinho starts in place of Ilkay Gundogan who drops to the bench.

Manchester City XI: Ortega, Nunes, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol, Silva, Kovacic, Savinho, Foden, Haaland, Marmoush.

Subs: Carson, Grealish, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Reis, Khusanov, O'Reilly, Lewis, McAtee.

Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC 5 Live

Player-wise I think we've seen so many moments across the last few years whether it's the Haaland and Gabriel type thing, the fact that they were both jostling for a title last year. The needle definitely is there.

It's interesting today because from City's perspective now they're not playing there to maintain a title charge. It's almost like they're playing spoiler which, I'd imagine if it does go City's way, could be quite annoying to Arsenal just that little bit more.

Ellen White
Former England striker on Football Focus

It is a huge game for both sides. No one could have predicted what was going to happen to Man City this season, and that probably makes Arsenal slight favourites.

For Mikel Arteta's side it is about keeping things ticking confidence-wise, momentum-wise, keeping in touching distance of Liverpool at the top of the table.

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Pep Guardiola has already written off Manchester City's chances of winning a fifth consecutive title because of the damage inflicted by the run of one win in 13 matches in all competitions at the end of last year.

Although his side have taken 13 points from their past five games and are back in the top four, they are now 15 points behind leaders Liverpool.

Arsenal are nine points behind Arne Slot's men but know defeat by City would badly damage any hopes of reaching the top spot.

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The September meeting between these two was one of the games of the season.

Arsenal led, then went down to 10 men. They then mounted a magnificent rearguard action as they withstood wave after wave of City's attacks before John Stones scrambled home an equaliser seconds from time to snatch a 2-2 draw.

And then it all kicked off.

Erling Haaland threw a ball at a dejected Gabriel's head amid the goal celebrations.

When the final whistle went, Haaland told Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to "stay humble".

The moment went viral swiftly, while Stones and Kyle Walker accused the Gunners of deploying the "dark arts" in their post-match interviews.

Matt Upson
Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

It ended up tasty at the Etihad. It will be hard-fought this afternoon.

It's great to have that needle and rivalry which we have seen in the past with various clubs.