LONDON (Reuters) - Having had their armour pierced for a initial time this deteriorate leaders Manchester City face a large exam of their solve when Arsenal come gunning for them in a Premier League on Sunday.
Until Monday's 2-1 improved by Chelsea Roberto Mancini's side seemed all though chaste during a tip though that initial retreat has supposing a existence check for City and fuelled a faith of a side's perplexing to keep gait with their lightning start.
Throw in their Champions League exit during a organisation theatre a week before and a series of defensive injuries, a revisit of a rejuvenated Gunners will strew some-more light on a continuance of Mancini's expensively fabricated machine.
By a time they face Arsenal (1610) they could even find themselves replaced from a limit by Manchester United who play during Queen's Park Rangers in an progressing kickoff (1200).
City, who have 38 points to United's 36, have looked down on everybody else given mid-October.
Full-back Micah Richards is prepared to lapse after blank a final dual matches to palliate City's defensive predicament though they will be though Aleksandar Kolarov -- sidelined for a month with a groin damage -- and Gael Clichy, who will offer a one compare anathema opposite his former bar after being sent off in City's improved during Stamford Bridge.
The compare is a pivotal one for both clubs and comes 3 weeks after a mostly shade City side kick Arsenal 1-0 in a League Cup quarter-final during a Emirates Stadium.
BOUNCE BACK
With Richards behind after recuperating from a calf injury, manager Mancini will be anticipating to margin his strongest starting choice opposite a in-form Gunners who have climbed to fifth (29 points) on a behind of 7 wins from 8 joining games.
Mancini was unworried by City's dominant run ending.
"After 15 games we are on top, with dual some-more points than United," Mancini said, adding: "We are clever adequate to start winning again and one outcome doesn't change anything.
"We don't have a problem bouncing back," he added, "I am certain we will. At this moment, Arsenal are personification really well, it will be formidable though we need to start again."
RECOVERED WELL
Arsenal, who were 15th 9 weeks ago after a bad start, have recovered good and would adore zero improved than to repeat final season's 3-0 win during City when Samir Nasri, now of City, scored one of their goals.
Robin Van Persie was out harmed during a time and did not play, though he has returned to full aptness in character given then, and is now probably a one-man conflict for a Gunners, and is a League's heading scorer with 15 goals.
Another intriguing London v Manchester fight is also holding place on Sunday when QPR face United during Loftus Road.
United, like City, were dumped out of a Champions League final week, and will be seeking to extend their dominant League run to 7 and build on final week's enlivening 4-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers when Nani and Wayne Rooney scored twice any to finish prolonged scoring droughts.
QPR have hold their possess in their initial deteriorate behind in a tip moody for 15 years though have struggled during home, winning only one of their 7 games during Loftus Road.
Although United should win, manager Alex Ferguson is struggling with injuries and after a blow of losing skipper Nemanja Vidic for a deteriorate with a cruciate knee vinculum damage final week, United reliable this week that midfielder Darren Fletcher, Scotland's skipper, has left on extended leave for health reasons.
Victory for United will put them top, during slightest until City play Arsenal later.
The dual other clubs in a tip four, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur (both on 31 points), will also be looking for approaching victories opposite squalid Wigan Athletic and Sunderland respectively.
Chelsea won 6-0 during Wigan final deteriorate and after a spell of losing 5 times in 9 games, have recovered their form with 3 good wins over Newcastle United, Valencia in a Champions League and Manchester City in a final dual weeks.
Tottenham's 11-match dominant League run finished in a 2-1 improved during Stoke City on Sunday, and they will find Sunderland re-invigorated and aiming to say a winning start they done underneath new manager Martin O'Neil opposite Blackburn Rovers on Sunday when they revisit White Hart Lane on Sunday.
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