England manager Roy Hodgson has just taken his place in the posh seats and now the lights have been dimmed and the music cranked up. I don't think the two are connected.

City fans... quick question: would you rather win the Premier League or the Champions League this season?

Spain playmaker David Silva knows what his answer is.

“If you ask me what I prefer, I prefer the Champions League,” Silva said., external “It is the only trophy I haven't won in my career.

“I have won the Premier League twice. But when you think about it, we play the Premier League every week and it is the first title, the one we all want to win.”

Image source, PA

Here's a good stat...

Sergio Aguero has completed 90 minutes in only 45 of his 112 Premier League starts.

That's a poor record, isn't it?

But if he only plays 60 minutes tonight and scores... City will take that.

Trevor Sinclair
Former England winger on Football Focus

Image source, Reuters

"I've tipped Arsenal to win the league this year. 

"Giroud has scored 11 goals in 13 starts, and he's doing it up front for the Gunners. His moment is superb and in a team with the talent of Arsenal's a player like him is always going to be successful."

It's not just Martin Keown who thinks Arsenal are title contenders. Trevor Sinclair, who is a Manchester City fan, also fancies the Gunners...

Martin Keown
Former Arsenal defender on BBC Radio 5 live

"It's as good a chance as any for Arsenal to win the Premier League. This is almost a normal season for Arsenal as they are often inconsistent but the difference is that the other teams have fallen away, while Leicester are astonishing. 

"But the real contenders you have to say are City and Arsenal. They have the only two managers who have won the league, and tonight could go a long way to deciding it. Who wants it more? Somewhere this season City have a good performance under the bonnet and it could come tonight. But otherwise it's down to Arsenal."

Remember when Manchester City would try and plunder Arsenal's top players as they went about turning themselves into title contenders?

Samir Nasri, Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor, Gael Clichy... the list seemed to go on and on.

"That was difficult at the start to take but we had to survive financially and we had to live with it," said Arsene Wenger ahead of tonight's clash., external

"We are in a much stronger position today.

"I cannot say it will never happen again because you never know, but we are in a position where we do not have to give in."

Bayern Munich got rid of Jupp Heynckes after he won the Champions League/Bundesliga/German Cup treble in 2013 to make room for Pep. 

Luke Reddy
BBC Sport

Phil Neville, assistant manager at Valencia of course, walked in to the BBC Match of the Day edit suite earlier and opened with "what's this weather? I've not worn a jumper in five months."

His tales of adjusting to life, specifically football life in Spain are fascinating. Each day involves a two-hour lesson to master the language and typically an extra hour of homework. He's grasping it though and you can tell he's loving this crucial part of the overall challenge.

His brother and the club's recently appointed manager - Gary - is on an intensive course of lessons which focus more on the language needed for football.

Phil and Martin Keown will be on Match of the Day 2 at 22:40 GMT (an hour later if you're in Scotland).

Trevor Sinclair
Former England winger on Football Focus

Image source, Reuters

"Usually, when you go into a big club as a young player you're hit by the expectancy but Raheem Sterling doesn't have that pressure at Man City, because there are so many galacticos there already. 

"And that will allow him to develop his consistency - it's well known that wingers, like I was, are often the most inconsistent players on the pitch. 

"It's a big statement I know, but I do think Sterling will be one of the best players in the world eventually."

Shay Given
Stoke keeper on Football Focus

"I think part of the reason for Raheem Sterling's form is being at a better team who are making more chances for him. He has been working on his finishing though and it has improved - he's scored more goals this season. 

"Sterling got a lot of stick for the way he left Liverpool, and the money involved, but it's not him that puts the price tag on it.

"People forget he is only 21. I think he's got a huge future at Manchester City." 

Jermaine Jenas
Ex-Spurs & England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

"There was a lot of weight on Raheem Sterling’s shoulders with the way his move went. It wasn’t done in a way that sat well with some people. 

"But he’s done well since he’s been at Manchester City. I think he can score a lot more goals. Maybe that’s why people are holding back on all the plaudits. 

"He’s been very mature with how he’s handled the move – he’s playing well and scoring goals. I know there’s loads more to come from him."

Manchester City

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini:"Sergio Aguero gives us something different, he can make important runs. He gives our team a boost and the other team are never comfortable with him near their box. 

"Fabian Delph is full of dynamism and makes good runs from the left. He is a different player from Raheem who has a lot of one v ones - today perhaps there is less space, but Raheem is still an important player for us. 

"The most important thing in the game is who has more possession, both teams have to try and have as much of the ball to feed their creative players." 

Everton's Gerard Deulofeu and Leicester's Riyad Mahrez lead the long chase back to Ozil in the assist charts with seven each.

I'm just watching the Manchester City players going through their warm-ups. Defender Nicolas Otamendi is sporting a designer beard and a trendy stripe is shaved down the back of his head.

Centre-halves aren't supposed to look so cool. But he wears it well.

Jonathan Pearce
BBC football commentator at the Emirates

"It's too early to call this a title decider. That would be an insult to Leicester City and perhaps Tottenham on current form. But if Arsenal lose, I can't see them finishing above Manchester City, while if Manuel Pellegrini's side are beaten, it will further corrode his position withPep Guardiola lined up as a replacement.

"City need Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Vincent Kompany fully fit and sharp for the rest of the campaign. Without their captain's leadership, the in-form Olivier Giroud could cause City major problems from Mesut Ozil's crafty service. Arsenal need to score early. A draw is the likely outcome."

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech is just one clean sheet away from surpassing David James' Premier League record.

Gary Bowyer
Former Blackburn manager on BBC Radio 5 live

"Pellegrini is faced with this all the time. He just gets on with it. He has conducted himself unbelievably well. He’ll concentrate on trying to win the league with City. 

"But there’ll be these reports with Manchester City’s Barcelona links. The rumours won’t just affect City, it’ll be Chelsea too and other Premier League teams. It’ll be interesting to see what Pep Guardiola has to say next week."

Image source, Getty Images