It's the game that everyone is already talking about - and there's still  four days to go. 

Manchester City vs Arsenal is a heavyweight blockbuster clash of the highest order.

Mike Arteta's Premier League table toppers go into Sunday's match at the Etihad full of confidence, after a stunning run of form prompted by the club's midwinter sunshine break in mid-January. 

Since then, the rampant Gunners have won an incredible eight league matches on the bounce, while also qualifying for the laast eight of the Champiopns League - scoring a whopping 33 goals domestically, conceding a meagre four. 

However, as every Gooner knows after leading the table for a massive 258 days last season - only to be blown away by City's powerplay in the Gunners season-defining 4-1 loss in Manchester last season - taking on Pep Guardiola's treble-winning City side is a tough ask when you compete against the gilded moneybags for silverware. 

Yet, after what was a heartening campaign overall, fast forward 12 months and this Arsenal side seem far more equipped to take on the might of a City side still hungry for more, as they eye a second successive Championsl League title, not to mention hopes of a record-breaking fourth domestic title in a row. 

Here's three key player clashes that Arsenal need to win in order for the Gunners to emerge victorious from the Etihad on Sunday. 

William Saliba vs Erling Haaland

While we all love Rob Holding and his genuine passion for Arsenal, not to mention the way he acted as a senior pro in helping young players settle after being such a club stalwart since appearing in red and white as a callow youth from Bolton back in 2015, the fact that he was the centre-back assigned with stopping the beast that was Haaland last term in this fixture, underlined serious failings in the strength of the Gunners squad.

For those of us who were there during the deeply dispiriting 4-1 defeat to City at the Etihad, Holding's performance against Haaland made for painful viewing. Even if in mitigation the Arsenal defender was up against arguably one of the most dangerous strikers ever to have played in English football - and one riding a crest of a wave, hirtherto yet to be replicated in his second season. 

Top level spot is cruel. Which is why we all felt for Holding after his evisceration last season. No wonder this writer voted for Haaland as the Football Writers' Association Player of the Year last term after a staggering 52 goals in 53 games - which included 36 in 35 in the league, not to mention providing nine assists. 

The flipside of which, is that the Norway striker - who missed a penalty for his country midweek - now faces a fit and firing William Saliba, a stark upgrade to last season's opponent for Erling. 

If you throw in the fact that Haaland has 'only' hit 18 goals - as opposed to 28 this time last year, while faling to register a shot on target during the Gunners two subsequent victories over City since that awful evening at the Etihad - namely the Community Shield victory as well as the 1-0 win over City at the Emirates back in October - then you would have to say plenty has to do with the majestic Saliba. 

Never mind what French boss Didier Deschamps had to say about Saliba in midweek - who cares what the water carrier has to say about our world class centre-back - more fool le porteur d'eau if he can't see how good Saliba is, every Gooner on the planet knows. And if Saliba can keep the bruising behemoth quiet this weekend, it will go a long way to establishing Arsenal supermacy. 

Rodri vs Declan Rice

The first Arsenal player to captain England since Sol Campbell back in 2005 returns in peak form after two tough international friendlies for the Three Lions at Wembley this week.

Leading his country on his 50th England cap was an honour for the top class Rice, who will now be desperately keen to establish his credentials against the world's best No6, Rodri. 

However. quite simply, when Rodri plays, City play. 

The 27-year-old is at the peak of his powers, with the total standing at 60 unbeaten games when he features in the starting XI. The only defeats City have experienced this season have been when Rodri has been missing through injuy or suspension, as he was at the Emirates. 

His positional awareness, his strengths in anticipating danger, in breaking up attacks, in denying time and space to the opposition as part of City's relentless press has been a feature of his game since he arrived at the Etihad from Atletico Madrid back in 2019. 

Yet, incredibly, the Spanish defensive midfielder has also hit 18 goals in the last three seasons. While it can be argued Rice still needs to add goals to his game, we can point to the fact that the club's record signing struck against Manchester United, Chelsea as well as his former club West Ham to already give him six goals for the season so far. 

Rodri vs Rice promises to be a narrative within a narrative, regardless of whether Rice plays a more expansive No8 role, or whether it's No6 vs No6 mano a mano on Sunday. Either way, whatever you thought of redemption man Granit Xhaka, having Rice in the line-up this weekend is an upgrade of immense proportions. 

Ruben Dias vs Kai Havertz 

Four goals and two assists in his last six for Arsenal as an auxiliary striker for the previously maligned Havertz, who also comes into the game fresh from scoring for Germany against France this week. 

Havertz may have suffered due to his versatility in the past, as witnessed by playing left and right flank, not to mention operating in a more defensive midfield role - but it seems Arteta has brought the best out of the former Leverkusen attacker by playing the 24-year-old up top. 

Of course, Dias is one of the world's greatest defenders, another City player I voted for as Footballer of the Year, this time back in 2021.

He has power, he has pace, he is generally strong in the air and has vast reserves of technical ability on the deck, which allied with strong postional awarenes and a deep-seated will to win makes this match-up another mouthwatering vignette.

If Havertz emerges on top, you have to say Arsenal may well do too. 

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