Third take on fourth in the Premier League this Sunday as Arsenal head to Manchester City knowing that a win could move them level on points with second-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
While the Gunners will be keen to end their season on a high and challenge for the runners-up spot, City's top priority is pipping bitter rivals Manchester United to fourth position and Champions League football next term.
Manchester City
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City boss Manuel Pellegrini has his work cut out lifting his players for the visit of Arsenal following the Sky Blues' midweek defeat to Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Europe's elite club competition represented the Citizens' last hope of silverware this season, but a toothless performance in the second leg ensured that Pellegrini's final term at the Etihad Stadium will yield only a League Cup triumph.
However, their showdown with the Gunners is by no means a dead-rubber fixture. There is more than pride at stake as City's arch-enemies Manchester United are currently four points behind them in the table, with a match in hand.
There may be just two rounds of Premier League fixtures remaining, but the race for the final Champions League spot could well go to the wire.
With one eye on Europe, City also came undone in the last league outing, falling to a 4-2 defeat at Europa League-chasing Southampton, but their domestic form in the run-up to that match was solid.
They were unbeaten in six in all competitions heading into the Saints clash, notching up four wins and two draws during an impressive run that has fizzled out in recent weeks.
Recent form: WWWDWL
Recent form (all competitions): WDWDLL
Arsenal
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The title race may be over, but for Arsenal, there is still the small matter of challenging North London rivals Spurs for second place and local bragging rights.
Moreover, just three points stand between them and City ahead of kickoff, so the crunch clash at the Etihad could be instrumental in deciding who secures that runners-up spot.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger will be feeling the pressure in the run-up to the match, with two prominent supporters' groups staging a protest about the way the club is being run by the Frenchman and its board during their last home game.
That fixture was a 1-0 win over relegation strugglers Norwich City, but with the club's 12-year wait for a Premier League title dragging on, it did little to silence Wenger's vocal critics.
That said, Arsenal are unbeaten in their last eight league matches and have kept three clean sheets in a row, although four draws in their last six outings saw them bow out of the title race before Spurs.
Recent form: WDDWDW
Team News
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Arsenal have a fresh injury concern at centre-back as Per Mertesacker has picked up a hamstring strain, but the rest of the squad from last weekend's win over Norwich is in contention.
Brazilian defender Gabriel is expected to deputise for the Gunners vice-captain, who will also miss the final game of the season against bottom club Aston Villa.
Danny Welbeck is pushing for a place in the Arsenal starting XI after coming off the bench to score the winning goal against the Canaries, while Olivier Giroud has not found the net in 15 league matches.
Meanwhile, City are still without injured playmaker David Silva but Kevin De Bruyne - who has created an impressive 71 goalscoring chances for the Sky Blues in his debut season, despite appearing in only 23 of their 35 games - could return to Premier League action.
Raheem Sterling could also return to the City lineup after starting the Champions League semi-final in Madrid on the substitutes' bench, while Yaya Toure is expected to retain his place in midfield.
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Hart; Zabaleta, Otamendi, Mangala, Kolarov; Nasri, Fernandinho, Toure, Sterling; Aguero, Bony
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Cech; Bellerín, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal; Elneny, Ramsey; Sanchez, Ozil, Iwobi; Welbeck
Head To Head
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last four matches against City and have won their last two against them, most recently a 2-1 victory at the Emirates with Theo Walcott and Giroud on target.
Furthermore, City have lost 23 Premier League matches to the Gunners, more than against any other side in the top flight, while Walcott has netted three times in two fixtures against them.
The Citizen's last victory over Arsenal came in a 6-3 thriller in December 2013.
We say: Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal
City have a poor record against Arsenal, but will be eager to bounce back from their disappointing defeat to Real Madrid by avoiding a third loss on the spin when the Gunners visit the Etihad.
Pressure is mounting on both sides following their somewhat disappointing campaigns, and with that in mind, we cannot see either one emerging victorious.
Mark Langshaw
