Premier League preview: Arsenal look to bounce back as City take on 'bogey club'

The title race is as close as it has been for weeks, thanks largely to Manchester United's exploits over the past two Premier League rounds, leaving Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa all keen to keep up the pace at the top. 

The Gunners will look to bounce back from their defeat to Michael Carrick's men as they travel to in-form Leeds, with City and Villa ready to pounce and cut down more of their four-point lead. 

There are some key games at the bottom, too, where West Ham continue their mission to make it more than a forgone conclusion in the relegation scrap. 

Here are the key storylines to look out for in this weekend’s Premier League matches.

Leeds next to dent Gunners' title bid?

It's now just two points from the last nine for Arsenal, and the doubt is beginning to creep in for the Gunners as they look to overcome another title wobble in the second half of the season. 

This shouldn't be the time to panic for Mikel Arteta. His side is still four points clear at the top, in three other competitions, and there was always going to be a blip in the campaign to overcome. However, overcome it they must, before the demons from previous years creep in and another title bid goes up in smoke.

A trip to Elland Road isn't an ideal next stop for the North Londoners. Daniel Fake's side have only lost one of their last 10 games, after really finding their groove in the winter period and have steered themselves away from trouble at the bottom. 

A win would settle things down just when Arsenal need it, but they won't have it easy at Leeds. 

Stu Forster/Getty Images

Are Frank's Tottenham still a problem for Pep? 

Tottenham may well be flying in the Champions League, but it's their Premier League form that has ramped up the pressure on Thomas Frank - especially their home form  - and it won't be a welcome sight to see Manchester City come to town this weekend. 

It's a Manchester City side that suddenly has a way back in to the title race, following Arsenal's recent mini-dip in form, and they can ill afford too many more slip-ups if they have any ambitions of catching the Gunners. 

Spurs have traditionally been a bit of a thorn in Pep Guardiola's side, but that view has been slightly skewed because City have actually won on their last two visits to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 

And, despite Frank getting his biggest result as Spurs boss against City earlier in the season, the visitors should look to take advantage of the tension in North London and heap more heat on the Danish boss and his team. 

Prem's latest grudge match 

Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace isn't a match you'd historically attach a rivalry to, but given the beef between the teams over recent European coefficients, there's now some real needle between the pair. 

There's added spice, too, with the teams locked in talks over Eagles striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, as well as their league placings, where both are looking over their shoulders. 

Forest are closest to the drop zone, with five points separating them from a resurgent West Ham, so a win would give them some breathing space away from the bottom three. 

However, Palace are in a real rut. Winless in their last 11 in all competitions, and in an Oliver Glasner limbo, with the manager leaving at the end of the season, but he looks to be staying in the short-term over a cloud of uncertainty. 

It all points to weeks of struggle for the South London side, so a positive result at The City Ground would be very welcome. 

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Carrick's biggest test yet 

Things couldn't have gone much better for Michael Carrick in his first two games as Manchester United's short-term solution as boss. A win over rivals City in the derby was followed by inflicting leaders Arsenal with their first home defeat of the season, giving United wins over the league's top two. 

However, things are getting a little more interesting this weekend as the Red Devils play host to Fulham, in a game that comes without the hype and history that came with Carrick's opening two affairs.

It's arguably a bigger test for the rookie boss, who will need to get his team 'up' for a battle that they'll need to control and expect to win, rather than going in as underdogs and using emotion as part of his set-up. 

Can United break down a talented Fulham side, in a game that home fans have become accustomed to being frustrated by in recent years? That will be the task for Carrick as he looks to continue to state his case for the job full-time. 

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