Gary Neville makes stark Man City vs Arsenal prediction in major warning for Mikel Arteta

Gary Neville believes Arsenal's Premier League showdown with Manchester City could be defining not only for the season but for Mikel Arteta's squad. The Gunners travel to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday as they go toe-to-toe with the reigning English top-flight champions.

As it stands, City are one point behind Arsenal, who sit top of the table, but behind both the North London club and Liverpool — who are second on goal difference. It will be the latest showdown in the football calendar for the champions after holding Jurgen Klopp's side to a draw earlier this month.

Liverpool came from behind to draw with City but had their fair share of opportunities to snatch all three points, as well as the controversial penalty decision that went against them after Jeremy Doku avoided action for a high boot.

Arsenal find themselves in the same position as they did one year ago, as they face City looking to dent their title aspirations. However, it was Guardiola's men who came out on top in that encounter, winning 4-1 at the end of April.

The defeat for Arsenal saw City eradicate their lead at the top, before going on to win the title for a third successive year. Neville believes Arsenal must win but it is a match that could be defining for the current crop of players at the Emirates Stadium.

He said: «It’s a beautiful game for Arsenal in the sense that you go back 12 months and there’s a direct parallel between last season and this season. I always said at the end of the last season when they struggled, I just want to see them in that situation again on a run-in, against City, against the big teams and see how they handle it.

»We all probably feel the same that they’re going to handle it better than they did last year because they’d already