Crunch time for City as Arsenal visit Eastlands
Saturday’s game is golden opportunity for Manchester to reduce gap with table leaders
Pablo Zabaleta admits Manchester City’s showdown with Premier League leaders Arsenal on Saturday is crucial as they bid to cut the Gunners’ advantage at the top of the table.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side sit fourth, six points behind Arsenal, but they have a golden opportunity to reduce the gap with a victory at Eastlands, where they have a 100 per cent record so far in the league this season.
It is a huge test of City’s ability to regain the title they won last year and Argentine defender Zabaleta believes their 3-2 win over European champions Bayern Munich on Tuesday will give them the belief to shoot down the Gunners.
There is still a long way to go in the Premier League. We want to win it back again and Saturday is a crucial game for us
“Beating Bayern was such a huge confidence boost,” he said. “We know Arsenal are six points on top of the moment.
“They have been the most consistent side so far this season and that is why they lead, but we play at home where we are very good and we know we have a team to beat them. We need to get three points to close the gap.
“There is still a long way to go in the Premier League. We want to win it back again and Saturday is a crucial game for us.”
Meanwhile, City midfielder James Milner believes December will be a decisive month for their chances of winning the title again.
“With the gap they have at the top, if they win or we win, the league will look very different at the weekend, so it’s important that we win,” Milner said.