“No hope” – Sky Sports pundit offers his predicted score for Man City vs Arsenal

Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas has offered his predicted score ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Arsenal and he doesn’t think the Gunners have any chance of getting a result on Sunday.

Arsenal head to the Etihad Stadium off the back of a 2-1 victory over Cardiff City on Tuesday night that saw them move in to the top four on goal difference from Chelsea so they’re right in the mix for Champions League qualification.

However, defence continues to be an issue for the north Londoners as they’ve conceded 33 goals in their 24 Premier League games so far and have kept just 4 clean sheets throughout the campaign.

Arsenal will be up against a free-scoring Man City side who’re the leading scorers in the division with 63 so far and Pep Guardiola’s men ran out comfortable 2-0 victors in the reverse fixture at the Emirates on the opening weekend of the season.

City will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Newcastle in midweek that saw them fall five points adrift of Liverpool and Nicholas fears his former side will be on the wrong end of a hiding tomorrow.

Nicholas says Arsenal have no hope of getting a result at the Etihad Stadium due to their shambolic defence and is predicting Man City to run out at least 3-0 winners on Sunday afternoon.

Writing for Sky Sports, Nicholas said:

Manchester City vs Arsenal (Sunday 4pm)

I am scared of this one for my former team. Yes we have got into the top four and are doing better than anticipated. But Man City will be angry and will be looking to close that gap before Liverpool play and we all know that City can rip any team apart. And because it is a big team coming to play them, they will be even more up for this, so I see nothing other than a comfortable City win and Arsenal could get a bit of a run around here.

This is the least hopeful I have been for an Arsenal game ever, I fear they could give us a real hiding and I think they will win 3-0, with the title race back on.

It could be more than 3-0 and that is what really worries me as Arsenal have no defence and we will have a full-back in Monreal playing at centre-back, so it is just a shambles defensively at the moment. And that is where I do not have any hope.

CHARLIE PREDICTS: 3-0

Another heavy defeat for Arsenal will be a real blow to their hopes of finishing in the top four, especially if Chelsea move three points clear by beating Huddersfield at home this afternoon.

However, a Man City victory tomorrow will see them regain second spot from Tottenham and move to within just two points of Liverpool ahead of their trip to West Ham on Monday night.