Will Manchester United avenge last year's derby result at Eastlands, and can Arsenal get back in the title race against leaders Chelsea? Let's take a closer look at Sunday's hot double-header:

MANCHESTER CITY v MANCHESTER UNITED (City of Manchester Stadium – kick-off 13.30 GMT)

Manchester City got their first league win in four games at home last week, with a 3-0 defeat of Arsenal. The result also gave City their first clean sheet in four league games, ending a run of leaking two goals in each of those previous four. 

The biggest positive for City is the form of £32.5m summer signing Robinho, as well as Shaun Wright-Phillips and Steven Ireland. The Brazilian and former Real Madrid striker has made a big impression with eight league goals so far, including two against Arsenal, as well as a number of highly-impressive performances.

But he faces a race to be fit after picking up an ankle injury against Arsenal. There is also a doubt over full-back Pablo Zabeleta with a possible thigh strain and City will definitely have to do without Martin Petrov following his knee surgery (3-4 months), as well as the injured Valeri Bojinov (achilles), Michael Johnson (groin) and Nelson Fernandes (hamstring).

Manchester United, the current Premier and Champions League champions, were held to a 0-0 draw by Aston Villa in their last league outing. But they have lost only once in their last nine league games after a slow start to the season.

Cristiano Ronaldo, leading candidate for FIFA World Player of the Year, has been in particularly good form since his return from injury, with eight league goals. Combine this with three consecutive clean sheets in all competitions following a 0-0 draw away to Villarreal in their midweek Champions League game, and the signs show a tightening defence that had previously conceded five goals in two league games prior to the run of clean sheets.

United could welcome back Gary Neville following a spell out injured but will be without Owen Hargreaves (knee), Wes Brown (knee) and Paul Scholes (knee) due to injury and there are further doubts over Dimitar Berbatov following his hamstring strain whilst on international duty with Bulgaria.

Summary and prediction: City won this corresponding game last season 1-0. But their form is unpredictable. United's away form hasn’t been strong so far but they'll be looking to avoid a double derby defeat this time. Two days extra rest over this past week of European action may be in United's favour.

CHELSEA v ARSENAL (Stamford Bridge - kick-off 16.00 GMT)

Chelsea, the Premier League front-runners, are looking to stay top after their 0-0 with Newcastle United last week. They are unbeaten in six games since a 1-0 home defeat by Liverpool, their only defeat in the league so far; however, their home form has been relatively poor in comparison to their away record with just three wins in seven at home compared to seven away wins on the bounce.

Chelsea drew 1-1 away in midweek in their Champions League fixture against Bordeaux, so they’ll be looking to get back to winning ways following two successive draws in all competitions. They will be without striker Didier Drogba as he serves the second game of his three-match suspension, and the injured Michael Essien (knee), Juliano Belletti (ankle) and Franco di Santo (hamstring). There is also a doubt over Ricardo Carvalho (knee).

Arsenal come into this match after two straight league defeats, 2-0 at home to Aston Villa followed by a 3-0 embarrassment at Manchester City. They have won just one of their last five league games, which includes three defeats, although they may be boosted by a midweek 1-0 home win against Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League.

Inconsistency has seen their title challenge almost vanish. Many important players have not been performing at their best. William Gallas has been struck by his captaincy problem and Kolo Toure has not been at his most commanding. And the man Arsenal usually look to for inspiration, Cesc Fabregas (who has taken the captain's armband from Gallas) has also been struggling of late.

Arsene Wenger still has Theo Walcott, Abou Diaby (stomach), Emmanuel Eboue (knee), Toure, Eduardo Da Silva (broken leg) and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) on the injury list, and Samir Nasri, Emmanuel Adebayor and Bacary Sagna have a no better than 50-50 chance of being fit.

Summary and prediction: Chelsea won this one 2-1 last season, but are stuttering at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal are unpredictable at home and away but should be encouraged by that win over Manchester United. But they have a much-depleted team, so the form and strength of Chelsea could prove too much for them. Nicolas Anelka is in great scoring form with 12 league goals so far, and Arsenal’s vulnerabilities at the back will be given a thorough examination.

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