Our resident Manchester City fans here in the Transfer Tavern are feeling strangely nervous about this weekend’s game against Arsenal.

It’s a feeling they’re certainly not used to, particularly at home, when they’ve become accustomed to seeing their team steam-roller the opposition more often than not at the Etihad over the last few years.

Even for the big games at home the City fans used to be confident but this season has seen that seeming invincibility get thrown out the window.

Draws at home to Middlesbrough and Everton have seen them drop points in the title race whilst losing in front of their own crowd against Chelsea 3-1 was a real eye-opener for everyone in the league.

Against Arsenal, then, Pep Guardiola’s men need to turn things around and our landlord thinks this is the XI to do just that in what could be an absolutely superb game of football to watch…

GK: Claudio Bravo

The jury is very much still out on Bravo and the worrying thing is if a verdict was needed it would surely come back as not good enough.

The Chilean really needs to improve fast.

RB: Bacary Sagna

It’s become increasingly clear that Man City need more defensive reinforcements in January.

That won’t help them out here, though, and so Sagna should be the one to play at right back.

CB: John Stones

He has a lot to prove.

We haven’t seen Stones become anywhere near the player we thought he could become under Guardiola just yet. There’s still time to improve, of course, but he needs to show signs of that soon.

CB: Nicolas Otamendi

Otamendi is back so at least City will have a recognised centre half pairing for this one.

Whether or not it’s good enough on the day is pretty much anyone’s guess right up until kick-off.

LB: Gael Clichy

Our landlord would always play Clichy over Aleksandar Kolarov at the back.

The Frenchman may not have as good a shot but defensively he shades it and that is all that should matter.

CDM: Yaya Toure

With Fernandinho suspended and Ilkay Gundogan out injured City are looking quite light in this area but thankfully Toure is back in the fold.

He isn’t the player he once was but he’s still top drawer and will be a big player in this game.

CDM: Fernando

With Fernandinho out we could see Fernando come in as the holding midfielder.

Our landlord is very unimpressed by him, though, and can’t see him at the club for much longer.

RAM: Jesus Navas

Navas is another player our landlord doesn’t rate but feels he will play in this game.

He doesn’t offer much except pace and so it’s unlikely he’ll be at the club long too.

CAM: David Silva

The Spanish midfielder is one of the shining lights City have and should always play when fit.

He could be the difference in this game against Arsenal.

LAM: Kevin De Bruyne

De Bruyne didn’t have the best time of it in City’s last big league game against Chelsea and will want to prove a point.

Arsenal had better beware then because he is world class.

ST: Kelechi Iheanacho

The young striker does offer a good goal-scoring threat and that’s all he can do really.

He may not be Sergio Aguero but with him out suspended he’s City’s next big goal-scoring hope and Arsenal will need a plan to stop him.

Agree, City fans? Let us know below!