Three key fixtures that could define Manchester City’s season between now and the New Year

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Manchester City v Arsenal- December 18th

City have won just one of the last six Premier League meetings between the sides, and that was all the way back in December 2013 when a Manuel Pellegrini led City dispatched the Gunners 6-3. During the intervening period, City have often been a sluggish outfit with no convincing defensive strategy when they don’t have the ball so Arsenal have enjoyed playing against them. These are usually quite open encounters, and City let Arsenal play more than any of the big teams. This season should be different however, with Guardiola instilling greater intensity into his charges and drilling a coherent system of pressing into them. Arsene Wenger has beaten Guardiola’s Barcelona and Bayern Munich at the Emirates, but hasn’t got close to a result away from home against his teams. This should be one of the most exciting games of the season.