Arsenal travel to Manchester City this afternoon looking to get back to winning ways after their 2-1 defeat at Everton on Tuesday.

The Gunners took the lead at Goodison Park courtesy of Alexis Sanchez’s 12th goal of the season, but headers from Seamus Coleman and Ashley Williams completed the turnaround for the Toffees, who deservedly condemned Arsenal to just their second Premier League defeat of the season.

And now Arsene Wenger’s men must bounce back having fallen to third in the table, and what better way to do that than at a title rival this weekend.

Pep Guardiola’s City picked up an important 2-0 win over Watford on Wednesday to get back to winning ways in the league, having lost away at Leicester and at home to Chelsea in the preceding weeks.

However, that was their first win at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League since September 17, and Arsenal may look to play upon those home nerves this afternoon.

The Gunners are a point and a place above their opponents today, but it’s a game both sides could really do with winning, given that Chelsea are already six points clear at the top.

With the anticipation building ahead of today’s game, here are THREE reasons why Arsenal will get all three points at the Etihad this afternoon…

Pace upfront vs shaky City backline

Like many teams in this season’s Premier League, Man City have struggled to defend against pace. And that’s one trait Arsenal have in abundance.

Theo Walcott has been in excellent form this season, while Alex Iwobi and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have also got rewards down the left-hand-side.

However, it is Alexis Sanchez who has been the shining light thus far, netting 12 times in the league, and it’s his presence in the more advanced role which has helped the others, as well as Mesut Ozil, to flourish.

His intelligence off the ball and agile movement creates space for the wingers to run into, while Ozil always knows that he has got someone quick in front of him to pass to and play in.

City have an ageing backline that have struggled this season, and getting at them with their pace and trickery will be the key for the Gunners on Sunday.

City’s home stutters

Up until Wednesday night’s win over Watford, City hadn’t won at home since September 17 when they beat Bournemouth 4-0.

Since then, Everton, Southampton, and Middlesbrough have all picked up crucial points from their trip, perhaps suggesting that the Etihad Stadium isn’t the fortress it has been in past seasons.

Despite the midweek win, this will give Arsenal confidence that they can go there and get the three points.

Questions are constantly being asked about Guardiola and his style of play, and this uncertainty must be rubbing off on the City team, who have won just four of their last ten league games.

Arsenal haven’t lost in their last six meetings with City, and they are well-placed to extend that run on Sunday.

No Fernandinho or Aguero

The suspensions for Fernandinho and Sergio Aguero are going to seriously hamper City, but they are good news for Arsenal.

Brazilian international Fernandinho is one of the most underrated midfielders in the division, and it’s no surprise that City player better and control more games when he is in the side, while Aguero’s scoring prowess in England is clear for everyone to see.

Take those two out, arguably half of the spine of the City side, and you are left with the likes of Fernando and Kelechi Iheanacho in their place and, although both are capable to fill in, neither are as good as their suspended teammates.

Wenger likely won’t be focusing too much on the City side, but deep down he must be pleased that the names of Fernandinho and Aguero will not appear on the team sheet.