Cape Town - Arsenal won the first-round fixture 2-1 in London... Manchester City desperately need to reverse that state of affairs on Sunday if they are to push the Gunners out of third in the Premiership.
But you don’t get much helpful guidance from the Sport24 “experts”, who offer all outcomes on this key dogfight for European slots next season.
The Gunners also won the corresponding fixture in the north-west 2-0 (Cazorla, Giroud) last year, so there’s plenty of statistical ammo, at least, to motivate City toward a vital, balance-restoring win.
Each round of the 2015/16 Premiership campaign, a group of our staff has a crack at predicting the results - do the exercise yourself, if you like, and see how you compare afterwards.
Compiled by Rob Houwing (Newcastle-partial), the others are Garrin Lambley (Everton), Herman Mostert (Chelsea), and a trio of Manchester United devotees in Tashreeq Vardien, Lloyd Burnard and Maano Nekhavhambe.
Three points are awarded for an entirely correct scoreline, and one for right result.
OUR FORECASTS:
NORWICH v MANCHESTER UNITED
Saturday, 13:45
Rob: 0-1
Garrin: 0-2
Herman: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-2
Lloyd: 1-2
Maano: 0-1
Last season: Not applicable
ASTON VILLA v NEWCASTLE
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: 0-1
Garrin: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-3
Lloyd: 0-2
Maano: 0-1
Last season: 0-0
BOURNEMOUTH v WEST BROM
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: 2-1
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Tashreeq: 1-1
Lloyd: 1-2
Maano: 1-2
Last season: Not applicable
CRYSTAL PALACE v STOKE
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: 1-0
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Tashreeq: 2-2
Lloyd: 1-1
Maano: 2-1
Last season: 1-1
SUNDERLAND v CHELSEA
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: 1-1
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-2
Tashreeq: 3-2
Lloyd: 0-2
Maano: 0-2
Last season: 0-0
WEST HAM v SWANSEA
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: 1-0
Garrin: 2-0
Herman: 2-1
Tashreeq: 2-1
Lloyd: 3-0
Maano: 1-0
Last season: 3-1
LEICESTER v EVERTON
Saturday, 18:30
Rob: 1-1
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 2-1
Tashreeq: 3-2
Lloyd: 1-0
Maano: 1-1
Last season: 2-2
TOTTENHAM v SOUTHAMPTON
Sunday, 14:30
Rob: 2-0
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 2-1
Tashreeq: 1-1
Lloyd: 2-2
Maano: 1-0
Last season: 1-0
LIVERPOOL v WATFORD
Sunday, 17:00
Rob: 1-0
Garrin: 2-0
Herman: 3-1
Tashreeq: 3-0
Lloyd: 3-1
Maano: 2-1
Last season: Not applicable
MANCHESTER CITY v ARSENAL
Sunday, 17:00
Rob: 1-1
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 2-1
Tashreeq: 1-1
Lloyd: 2-1
Maano: 0-1
Last season: 0-2
WEST HAM v MANCHESTER UNITED
Tuesday, 20:45
Rob: 2-1
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Tashreeq: 1-1
Lloyd: 1-1
Maano: 0-1
Last season: 1-1
NORWICH v WATFORD
Wednesday, 20:45
Rob: 1-1
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Tashreeq: 1-1
Lloyd: 1-0
Maano: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable
SUNDERLAND v EVERTON
Wednesday, 20:45
Rob: 1-1
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Tashreeq: 2-1
Lloyd: 1-0
Maano: 0-1
Last season: 1-1
LIVERPOOL v CHELSEA
Wednesday, 21:00
Rob: 2-2
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 1-1
Tashreeq: 3-2
Lloyd: 1-0
Maano: 0-0
Last season: 1-2
*LEADERBOARD:
245 - Maano (3 points in last round)
241 - Garrin (14)
232 - Rob (10)
226 - Herman (12)
225 - Tashreeq (3)
223 - Lloyd (6)