City must end Nottingham Forest's five-month unbeaten run at
the City Ground in the league if they are to maintain their momentum towards a
fifth title in six seasons.
Liverpool's trip to Newcastle could have big implications on
who finishes in the top four come the end of the season, while there is a huge
relegation six-pointer at the bottom as Leeds visit Everton.
AFP Sport looks at some of the key talking points ahead of
the weekend's action.
Arteta still believes
Arsenal's unbeaten home record came to end on Wednesday as
City stormed the Emirates 3-1 and went top for the first time since November in
the process.
After dropping just seven points in their opening 19 league
games, Arsenal have let eight slip away in the last three following defeat at
Everton and a controversial 1-1 draw with Brentford.
"I have more belief than I had before the game,"
said a defiant Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta after losing to City.
"With the performance and the level the team put in, we
had the feeling we could beat them. Until the second goal we had them.
"But we gave them three goals and the game at the end.
Certain errors at this level, you can't make. At the same time, the team put
the level very high."
City lead only on goal difference and Arsenal still have a
game in hand on their title rivals.
Victory at Villa Park would right the ship for Arteta's men,
but there are fears fatigue and injuries are beginning to hamper a young squad.
Influential midfielder Thomas Partey is expected to miss
Saturday's clash due to a muscle injury, while Gabriel Jesus remains out
injured.
Last chance for Liverpool?
Liverpool's first league victory of 2023 against Everton on
Monday night brought the Reds back into contention for a top-four finish.
Jurgen Klopp's men still have a lot of ground to make up if
they are to qualify for the Champions League for a seventh consecutive season.
Liverpool are nine points behind fourth-placed Newcastle but
have a game in hand on the Magpies and the chance to cut that gap at St. James'
Park on Saturday.
Newcastle's only league defeat of the season so far came at
Anfield in August.
But five draws in their last six games have slowed their
charge towards a place in the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.
Everton back to earth
An upturn in form for West Ham, Wolves and Leicester means
it is increasingly likely that one if not both Leeds and Everton face the drop.
The Toffees were brought back to reality in the Merseyside
derby on Monday after shocking Arsenal in Sean Dyche's first game in charge.
Everton's struggle for goals will not be helped by the
continued absence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin due to a hamstring injury.
"The Arsenal game's a reminder of the quality that is
here," said Dyche. "Of course the striking department has got less
options that you would like in the Premier League, and especially for a club of
this size and the expectation of its fans."
Leeds remain in the caretaker charge of Michael Skubala
after failing to land a series of targets to replace Jesse Marsch as manager.
Skubala oversaw two positive performances against Manchester
United last week, but they only reaped one point as Leeds remain without a
league win since November.
Fixtures (all times GMT)
Saturday
Aston Villa v Arsenal (1230), Brentford v Crystal Palace,
Brighton v Fulham, Chelsea v Southampton, Everton v Leeds, Nottingham Forest v
Man City, Wolves v Bournemouth (all 1500), Newcastle v Liverpool (1730)
Sunday
Man Utd v Leicester (1400), Tottenham v West Ham (1630)
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