Cesc Fabregas makes a prediction for the big clash between Man City and Arsenal | Football

The Gunners, who are looking to win their first league title since 2004, travel to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday to face the Premier League champions.

Arsenal made a strong start to the new season, picking up 10 points from a possible 12 and beating north London rivals Tottenham last weekend with a depleted squad.

Manchester City, on the other hand, are yet to drop a point in this impressive and dismal start to the season and will hope that this will end with a fifth consecutive Premier League title.

This game ended goalless last season, but Fabregas is “pretty sure” there will be goals this time and predicts Arsenal will return to the English capital with three points.

“I'm predicting 2-1 for Arsenal,” said the Premier League legend, now coach of Italian club Como, on the Planet Premier League podcast. “There will be goals. I'm pretty sure there will be goals.”

While Fabregas hopes his former club Manchester City can spring a surprise on home soil, he says a defeat would not be a disaster for either club.

“I think a loss this weekend will not have much of an impact on the players for the rest of the season as there are still so many games to be played,” he added.

“Losing this game in March is a big deal. We might see a little difference in the teams' approach.

“It was always a 50-50 game, you know, because they respect each other, they know each other's weaknesses, they know each other's strengths.”

“I think the game plans of both teams are so good that it will be a very even game, sometimes with not many chances. But yeah, I'm really looking forward to it.”

Despite forcing Manchester City to a goalless draw in March, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was criticised for his team's approach during the match.

Fabregas does not expect Arsenal's tactics to change much this weekend, but believes they can afford to be “a little more direct”.

“Look, it’s difficult for me to say what’s going on in Mikel’s head,” said Fabregas when asked what he expected from Arsenal.

“I don't know if they're going to do what they did last year. I don't know if you remember us discussing here when they just dropped into a low block and tried to get them on the counter.

“Sometimes they didn't even put pressure on us. They just waited for City to come and make a mistake. It almost worked, but we discussed it here.”

“Is this the right way? Are Arsenal doing the opposite of what they should have done compared to what they have done all season?

“Listen, they didn’t manage to win the league and people can say, oh, if they had won that game, those two points…

“But Mikel is too smart for that. He knows exactly what he's doing. He has a game plan.

“He obviously always does that and adaptability is important in terms of whether he can be aggressive or not. I don't think he will go full pressure against City.

“That's just my opinion. Can they be a bit more direct? Yes, because they have two really fast strikers plus [Kai] Havertz, who is in very good shape at the moment.'

Arsenal won their home game against Manchester City in the Premier League last season, but Guardiola's team beat the Gunners in the FA Cup.

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