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Ahead of the Premier League meeting between Arsenal and Manchester City this weekend, we caught up with a couple of fans for their take on the match...
Arsenal fan - Lewis Potton
While it might seem a bit early to be talking about a game as a ‘title decider’, Monday’s game against Manchester City is as close as it gets. Both teams have stumbled in recent weeks, but are easily the main title contenders (sorry Leicester).
All the talk with us in the last few weeks has been about our lengthy injury list, but I think the squad has acquitted itself excellently. Squad players Mathieu Flamini and Joel Campbell have both played their part well, allowing the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Olivier Giroud and Mesut Özil to shine.
If we are to beat Manchester City it’s so important that our centre backs perform well. We’ll create chances up top, but at the back Laurent Koscielny in particular will need to be strong and resilient against the pace and movement of Sterling, Silva and De Bruyne. Seeing as we’re at home, I tentatively predict a 2-1 win for Arsenal.
Show all 17 1 /17The 17 strikers who could move in January The 17 strikers who could move in January Edinson Cavani (PSG) Age: 28
Stats in 2015-16: 22 games, 11 goals
Value: £32million
Teams interested: Man United, Arsenal
- The Uruguayan is reportedly happy to cross the channel once PSG find a suitable replacement. With an excellent hit rate in Ligue 1 this year, Louis van Gaal feels he could provide experienced support for Anthony Martial as the Frenchman settles in to regular first-team time while Wayne Rooney’s form dips. Arsenal tried to sign him last year, but a £50m price tag changed their minds. With the Gunners’ injury crisis worsening, he could pique their interest once more. Cavani has been unhappy at PSG having to play second-fiddle to Zlatan Ibrahimovic in past seasons.
The 17 strikers who could move in January Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli) Age: 27
Stats in 2015-16: 19 games, 18 goals
Value: £40m
Teams Interested: Arsenal, Chelsea
A proven finisher at club and international level, Higuain is enjoying a stellar season in Naples. With Napoli in the hunt for their first Serie A title in 26 years, It would surely take a mammoth fee to steal the Argentine - in the prime of his career - away from Italy.
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The 17 strikers who could move in January Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund) Age: 26
Stats in 2015-16: 19 games, 13 goals
Value: £50m
Teams Interested: : Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea
A player whose name seems to be brought up when any top side’s transfer targets are mentioned, Reus is a world class forward who could give a plethora of clubs in England the 'X Factor' needed to secure league and European titles. Having signed a new contract with Dortmund earlier in the year when Jurgen Klopp was still there, Liverpool are the bookies’ favourites to claim his signature.
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The 17 strikers who could move in January Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund) Age: 26
Stats in 2015-16: 19 games, 25 goals
Value: £40m+
Teams interested: Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool
The Gabonese striker has taken the Bundesliga by storm this season, but will surely be keen to try his hand in a new league while playing in his prime. United seem to be the frontrunners for his services if he opts to move. Is said to have made a pact with Reus that they will leave the club at the same time.
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The 17 strikers who could move in January Mauro Icardi (Internazionale) Age: 22
Stats in 2015-16: 12 games, 4 goals
Value: £35m
Teams Interested: Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool
Icardi is captain of the Nerazzurri at the tender age of 22, and top scored last season as Inter Milan finished 8th in Serie A. He hasn’t quite hit the same heights this season but provides an all-round game that few young players in Europe can match - his off-field antics and temper may be a warning flag for some suitors.
The 17 strikers who could move in January Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon) Age: 24
Stats in 2015-16: 21 games, 8 goals
Value: £20m+
Teams interested: Chelsea
Lyon’s talisman has been unable to repeat his goalscoring heroics from last season, when he top scored in Ligue 1 with 27 goals, as his side whimpered out of the Champions League last week. The French side may still be unwilling to sell one of their most crucial players for anything less than full whack.
The 17 strikers who could move in January Alexandre Pato (Sao Paulo) Age: 26
Stats in 2015: 33 games, 10 goals
Value: £14m
Teams interested: Liverpool, Arsenal
Jurgen Klopp’s first signing in Merseyside could be former AC Milan star Pato. A deal ‘in principal’ is already believed to exist, and he would provide the German with more attacking options, with the Brazilian able to play wide or through the middle. Danny Ings is out for the rest of the season, Daniel Sturridge remains a constant injury concern and Divock Origi has only shown flashes of promise.
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The 17 strikers who could move in January Saido Berahino (West Brom) Age: 22
Stats in 2015-16: 11 games, 3 goals
Value: £20m
Teams interested: Tottenham, Chelsea
A stellar 2014-15 season nearly ended up with the Englishman at White Hart Lane, but the deal was called off after the Baggies asked more than Spurs were willing to pay. With Tony Pulis and Berahino not seeing eye-to-eye, he could make a fine replacement for Diego Costa at Chelsea who is having similar managerial issues at Chelsea, or a decent back-up for Harry Kane at Tottenham.
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The 17 strikers who could move in January Sadio Mane (Southampton) Age: 23
Stats in 2015-16: 17 games, 6 goals
Value: £20 Million
Teams interested: Man United, Chelsea
Though Ronald Koeman is adamant that the African footballer of the year candidate is not for sale, Manchester United and Chelsea are fiercely interested. United offered the Saints £20m in the summer, but were rejected, and though they may try again in the New Year, a similar outcome is likely.
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The 17 strikers who could move in January Charlie Austin (QPR) Age: 26
Stats in 2015-16: 14 games, 8 goals
Value: £15m
Teams Interested: Sunderland, Newcastle, West Ham
It was a surprise that no Premier League sides snapped up Austin after his superb 2014/15 season, when his 18 goals led him to fourth place in the Golden boot charts. £15m sounds steep but Austin is a proven goalscorer in the top flight - so it would be no surprise to see a mid-low table Premier League side take a chance with him.
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The 17 strikers who could move in January Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG) Age: 34
Stats in 2015-16: 19 games, 14 goals
Value: Unknown
Teams interested: Chelsea
Jose Mourinho has supposedly kept good contact with the Sweden superstar since managing him at Inter Milan in 2008-09. Ibrahimovic is out of contract at PSG in the summer, and before he fulfils his plan of retiring in MLS, the striker could be tempted to the Premier League, with a pre-contract agreement on the cards in January to potentially re-unite with Mourinho.
The 17 strikers who could move in January Breel Embolo (Basel) Age: 18
Stats in 2015-16: 22 games, 8 goals
Value: £15m
Teams Interested: Tottenham, Arsenal, Everton
A prodigious young talent, Embolo has drawn many admirers for displays that belie his age in Switzerland and at international level. Comparisons have been made between Embolo and Romelu Lukaku due to his powerful physique and any potential suitors of the Cameroon born striker will hope he develops like the Everton forward.
The 17 strikers who could move in January Gabriel (Santos) Age: 19
Stats in 2015: 30 games, 10 goals
Value: £30m
Teams Interested: Arsenal, Chelsea
Described in Brazil as 'Better than Neymar', Santos’ Gabriel Barbosa- nicknamed 'GabiGol'- has already developed into a fine finisher, with more than 40 goals before his 20th birthday. Chelsea missed out on signing Neymar from the Brazilian giants back in 2010, and could face competition from Arsenal in seeking out the forward’s signature this time around.
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The 17 strikers who could move in January Michy Batshuayi (Lyon) Age: 22
Stats in 2015-16: 17 games, 10 goals
Value: £30m
Teams Interested: Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham
Ahead of Zlatan Ibrahimovic as Ligue 1’s second top scorer this season, Batshuayi has come on in leaps and bounds since his move from Standard Liege in 2014. Comparisons with the likes of Christian Benteke and Romelu Lukaku seem to be part and parcel of being a young Belgian forward, but the Marseille striker looks like he is well on his way to equalling or even overtaking his compatriots.
The 17 strikers who could move in January Nabil Fekir (Lyon) Age: 22
Stats in 2015-16: 4 games, 4 goals
Value: £35m
Teams Interested: Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs
Deceptively strong, with a low centre of gravity and a wand for a left foot, Nabil Fekir’s rise to prominence last season with Lyon drew many comparisons with Barcelona superstar Leo Messi, and scooped him France’s young player of the year award in the process. Despite his current injury problems he should be fit by the January transfer window- his versatility would be a great asset to the number of top sides said to be courting him.
The 17 strikers who could move in January Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo) Age: 21
Stats in 2015-16: 11 games, 2 goals
Value: £10m+
Teams interested: Liverpool
The young Italian is a versatile forward, equally adept at scoring or assisting, who could be an interesting addition to Liverpool’s squad. Sassuolo claim that they will not sell him this January, while Juventus, who previously co-owned the striker, are said to have an option to sign him ahead of other interested parties
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The 17 strikers who could move in January Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) Age: 28
Stats in 2015-16: 16 games, 14 goals
Value: £30m+
Teams interested: Chelsea
The England international has been a revelation this season, scoring in a Premier League record 11 consecutive games for high-flying, surprise package Leicester. As hard a worker and as fast as any player in the top flight, Vardy's stock will never likely be so high. Would the likes of Chelsea really take a risk on his purple patch continuing?
Manchester City fan- Nick Savage
Manchester City are in predictably unpredictable form at the moment and it is so hard to call what team will actually turn up on Monday night's visit to the Emirates. A passionless defeat to Stoke, followed by the lucky 2-1 win over Swansea will hardly strike fear into Arsene Wenger's men going into what can only be described as a title decider.
No other teams look capable of sustaining a challenge for the title (bar Leicester maybe) than City or Arsenal and it will surely be a crucial fixture.
Aguero's timely return will be a boost to City's chances, but Kompany's continued absence is a real problem. Without him and or Zabaleta in the side, the team lacks real leadership and organisation at the back and Arsenal will likely expose this.
I'm unfortunately pipping for a 2-0 defeat.
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