Lacking zeal, Arsenal bank on Ozil

Wenger will hope return of the German midfielder will improve his side’s chances against Manchester City

WHEN THIS season's Premier League fixture list was released, Arsenal against Manchester City in April looked like a potential title decider. In reality, neither team goes into Sunday's game with a realistic hope of catching leaders Chelsea, but instead are focusing on keeping their own faltering seasons on track.

For either side, failure to qualify for the Champions League would be unacceptable, but for third-placed City and the sixth-placed Gunners, this is a genuine possibility. Next month the pair meet in the FA Cup semi-final but right now Sunday's Premier League clash is far more significant.

Victory for Arsene Wenger's Arsenal would end a Premier League win drought of nearly two months, and be their first over one of the 'Big Six' since they beat Chelsea 30 in September, a result which saw the west London side's coach Antonio Conte change tactics and kick-start a charge towards the title. That must seem a lifetime ago to Wenger, who knows another sub-standard showing on Sunday will increase the fans' desire to see the Frenchman leave when his deal expires after the season.

Having had a two-week international break to fix things after a 3-1 loss at West Bromwich Albion last time out, Wenger desperately needs one of his big names to step up against City.

Lack of physicality

Midfielder Mesut Ozil's return to fitness, having played for Germany after missing four of Arsenal's last nine league games, is encouraging, but a perceived lack of physicality in recent games, with players easily outmuscled, must worry Wenger.

Playmaker Santi Cazorla's absence has been felt while Alexis Sanchez's absence on international duty with Chile seems to have done little to calm his dissatisfaction.

Sanchez reportedly had an angry exchange with national team goalkeeper and captain Claudio Bravo - who is likely to be on the bench rather than the pitch for City on Sunday. Pep Guardiola's team are frustratingly inconsistent, sweeping aside inferior opposition before being shown up by a quality side like AS Monaco in the Champions League.

Despite a decent 1-1 draw with Liverpool before the inernational break, City were not at their free-flowing best. Striker Sergio Aguero may be biding his time with a possible summer move on the cards while winger Raheem Sterling, who impressed on England duty before picking up a back injury, continues to exasperate with his fitful displays.

Everton eye win vs Liverpool

Everton will target a first victory over Liverpool in nearly seven years on Saturday knowing that if they succeed an unlikely pursuit of a top-four finish might start to be taken seriously. Spurred by Romelu Lukaku's goals, Ronald Koeman's side have closed steadily on the battle for Champions and Europa League qualification and victory in Saturday's early kickoff at Anfield would, temporarily at least, lift them into fifth spot.

Defeat, on the other hand, would leave them isolated in seventh and struggling to catch the teams above them. Everton were beaten 1-0 at Goodison Park earlier this season when Sadio Mane's stoppage-time goal ensured bragging rights remained in the red half of Merseyside.

Liverpool won the corresponding fixture 4-0 last season and Everton have to rewind all the way back to October 2010 for their last win over their arch-rivals, a 2-0 victory at Goodison. Their last win at Anfield came in a feisty affair in 1999 when Kevin Campbell scored the winner and three players, including Liverpool's Steven Gerrard, were sent off.

Hardly the kind of run to inspire much hope but Koeman's side have lost only one of their last 12 Premier League games compared to Liverpool's rather up-and-down form which has seen them win only three of their last 10. Both sides were dealt blows in the build-up to the 228th Merseyside derby with Everton defender Seamus Coleman breaking his leg during Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Wales.

Liverpool will also be missing Adam Lallana after he suffered a thigh injury playing for England and manager Juergen Klopp will be sweating on the return of Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho from international duty with Brazil.

Fourth-placed Liverpool are six points above Everton, having both played 29 games — two more than the sides separating them Arsenal and Manchester United.

Jose Mourinho's United, who have 52 points, host West Bromwich Albion and are looking up after going 18 matches unbeaten in the league.

File Mesut Ozil (C) has missed four of Arsenal’s last nine games owing to an injury.