City could be boosted by the return of Mario Balotelli for the visit of the Gunners. The Italy international has been restricted to just 33 minutes action after suffering a knee injury during his debut against Timisoara in August. However, after emerging unscathed from training, the £23million forward is likely to be on the bench for the Blues, who are looking to consolidate second spot. Full-back Bacary Sagna will return to the Arsenal squad following a thigh problem. Fit-again strikers Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott are again included in the squad, but centre-half Laurent Koscielny (back), fellow defender Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) and goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (elbow) remain out, while midfielder Jack Wilshere starts a three-match ban. Robin van Persie (ankle) and Aaron Ramsey (leg) are on course for a return next month. Man City (from): Hart, Given, Boateng, Richards, Zabaleta, K Toure, Kompany, Lescott, Bridge, Milner, Barry, De Jong, Y Toure, Vieira, Wright-Phillips, Silva, A Johnson, Tevez, Balotelli, Adebayor, Jo. Gunners (from): Fabianski, Clichy, Squillaci, Djourou, Eboue, Nasri, Song, Fabregas, Arshavin, Walcott, Chamakh, Szczesny, Denilson, Rosicky, Bendtner, Diaby, Gibbs, Lansbury.
