Back last summer, with the league only three games old, City crushed Spurs 5-1 at White Hart Lane while Manchester ran riot at Old Trafford, destroying an inexperienced Gunners line-up 8-2.

It is perhaps no surprise then that the two Manchester clubs have led the way for much of the season. But their north London rivals have recovered from those early setbacks to rise back into contention too. Revenge, as well as Premier League points, will be in the minds of Arsene Wenger and Harry Redknapp.

Manchester City’s clash with Spurs was already a significant encounter, but the game at the Etihad has been made even bigger after the two managers traded pre-match barbs (Man City 10/11 draw 11/4 Spurs 3/1).

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp claims City’s rapid rise up the Premier League table in recent seasons in purely down to the generous backing of owner Sheikh Mansour, rather than any managerial skill by Roberto Mancini.

When told of Redknapp’s comments Mancini didn’t mince his words either, responding: “Harry can borrow money from us if he does not have it. If you have a chance to buy good players – you do.

“We have spent in two years to catch up, were we meant to take 10? For Spurs or Manchester United it’s different. When you’re always at the top you only change two or three players every year.”

The war of words between the two respective managers merely adds extra spice to what should be already feisty encounter, with Spurs just five points behind table-topping City in third (A repeat of City’s 5-1 win is priced at 66/1).

City have a formidable league record at the Etihad Stadium, having not lost there in the Premier League for 13 months, winning their last 15 in a row and conceding just six in their last 17 league games in east Manchester.

However, they have lost their last two cup encounters, against Liverpool in the Carling Cup and Manchester United in the FA Cup. Throw in their last gasp defeat to Sunderland on New Years Day, and City have lost three out of their last five in all competitions.

Injuries, suspensions and the upcoming African Nations have stretched even City’s expensively assembled squad, who are showing the first signs of vulnerability after a previously perfect start to the season.

Tottenham meanwhile have lost just once in the league since that their hammering by City and know a win at the Etihad would lift them – for a few hours at least – above Manchester United into second and just two points off the top (Tottenham to win 1-0 17/2).

It appears to be as good a time as any to take on Mancini’s men, though Spurs will be without Emmanuel Adebayor under the terms of his loan deal from City, giving Jermain Defoe a rare chance to start (Defoe 15/2 to score first).

Tottenham have hit 18 goals away from home so far this season – the fourth highest in the division – while City have scored 31 on their home soil, meaning the +2.5 goals is a value bet at 8/11.

Both sides know they cannot afford to lose this one which is why the tip is to go for a score draw, with 2-2 priced at 14/1.

Arsenal meanwhile go into their game with United on the back of two straight defeats, further denting their hopes of a late title surge (Arsenal 7/4, United 8/5, draw 23/10).

The Gunners have been ravaged by injuries, most notably in the full back positions, with Bacary Sagna, Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson, Francis Coquelin and Andre Santos all unavailable.

Thomas Vermaelen is also out; Jack Wilshere remains a few weeks away from a possible return while there are  doubts over Mikel Arteta and Thierry Henry.

The memories of that 8-2 mauling will no doubt still be fresh in the mind, though boss Wenger will be perhaps keen to remind them of  the fixture at the Emirates last season, when Aaron Ramsey’s goal gave the Gunners a 1-0 win (a 1-0 Arsenal win is priced at 13/2).

Manchester United meanwhile have the best away record in the division, though they did crash 3-0 at Newcastle in their previous league game away from Old Trafford.

Chris Smalling and Phil Jones look set to return to boost a defence that has been uncharacteristically leaky so far this campaign, but with the likes Young, Fletcher, Anderson and Cleverly all out, their midfield remains a concern.

With the sheer amount of injuries between both sides expect a far from vintage display, but the value bet perhaps being +2.5 goals priced at 4/5 and a 2-1 United win priced at 17/2.

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Arsenal v Marseille

After a difficult start to their domestic campaign, Arsenal now appear to have turned the corner and Saturday’s impressive win over Premier League title contenders Chelsea was their eighth in nine games in all competitions.

Wenger’s men came in for plenty of criticism early on in the campaign and the 8-2 rout at Manchester United, as well as the subsequent 2-1 defeat at north London rivals Spurs, left some Gunners fans questioning whether the Frenchman was still the coach to lead the side forward.

However, important victories in the past few weeks – including Champions League Group F successes over Marseille in France and Olympiacos at the Emirates – have lifted the pressure on him.

A win over the Le Championnat side on Tuesday (Match Prices – Arsenal 4/6, draw 11/4, Marseille 9/2) will leave them in a commanding position in the group, and a place in the knockout phase surely beckons once again.

The Gunners to be leading at HT and FT looks good value at 6/4, while Theo Walcott to score anytime at 5/2 in the game also looks appealing.

Genk v Chelsea

Chelsea will need to quickly forget about Saturday’s defeat to Arsenal and claim another Champions League victory (Match Prices – Genk 11/1, draw 5/1, Chelsea 1/4) to aid their chances of qualifying from Group E.

An easy 5-0 win over the Belgian outfit a fortnight ago suggests three points should again be straightforward for Andre Villas-Boas’ side but, with the ongoing controversy surrounding skipper John Terry and the weekend defeat playing on their minds, it may not be quite as predictable as that on Tuesday.

Genk are sixth in the Belgian league after 12 games and, like the Blues, were involved in a high-scoring clash over the weekend – but they came out on top, 5-4, at FC Bruges.

It would still be unwise to back against Chelsea in this one, though, but do not expect a similar drubbing to the one they dished out to Genk at home, with 2-0 in the Correct Score market (5/1) looking like a good bet. Fernando Torres has finally looked more like himself in recent weeks and the Spaniard to open the scoring at 11/4 is also worth a punt.

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The afternoon’s biggest game undoubtedly takes place in north London when Tottenham play host to Arsenal for a game in which no love will be lost between the rival sets of fans.

The Gunners’ season – and in fact most of 2011 to date – has been a huge letdown although Arsene Wenger’s men were the only Premier League side to win in the Champions League in midweek courtesy of a 2-1 home victory over Olympiakos.

Spurs were also winners in Europe, although the fact they managed to see off Shamrock Rovers in the Europa League with just a handful of first-team regulars on show bodes well for Harry Redknapp’s men this weekend.

The table shows Spurs are two points and seven places better off than Arsenal with a game in hand so the incentive is there to strike an early blow to a side who will be challenging Redknapp’s for a top-four finish.

Arsenal appear to be the worst off in terms of injuries while Spurs should start with Emmanuel Adebayor, who has a fantastic record of scoring in this fixture during his time at the Emirates so 11/10 about him scoring anytime looks a decent bet.

This fixture has always tended to produce goals – the 0-0 draw in February 2009 aside – so 4/6 for over 2.5 goals is skinny for a reason but the 15/8 about four or more might pay off.

In west London Fulham take on Queens Park Rangers in a rare league fixture – they last met in the second tier in 2001 when the Cottagers were heading into the Premier League and Rangers were heading for administration and relegation.

Times have changed though and Rangers look to be on the up following the arrival of Tony Fernandes while Fulham have found the going tougher in the top flight this term.

Martin Jol has not managed to win a Premier League game for his new club but three draws out of three at the Cottage means they have been hard to beat – just ask Manchester City – however one of those stalemates was against an ordinary Blackburn side.

But even money on a home win looks a sound bet considering QPR will be forced to play centre-half Matthew Connolly at left-back in the absence of Armand Traore, Jay Bothroyd is yet to break his duck for the visitors and Fulham will be able to call on Bobby Zamora after illness.

If Fulham’s start to the season has been slow then Bolton’s have been stuck in reverse – they are rock bottom with five defeats on the spin including three at the Reebok Stadium – ahead of the visit of Chelsea.

The Blues may well be without the suspended Fernando Torres but Daniel Sturridge is fit and available to stick the boot into his former loan club (Chelsea 11/10 – Half-Time/Full-Time).

Like Fulham and QPR, Swansea and Stoke last met in 2001 although it was in the third tier which just goes to show the fluid nature of league football in England.

Fast forward a decade and the Potters are threatening to establish themselves as a Premier League side although the distraction of the Europa League is a new pitfall boss Tony Pulis must negotiate.

It’s tricky to get players up for games so quickly when they are not used to it, but the canny Welshman has bought well and will need his experienced campaigners to keep their eye on the ball at the Liberty Stadium.

Stoke are an inviting 7/4 to inflict the Swans’ first-ever Premier League defeat on them this weekend having held Manchester United to a draw at the Britannia Stadium last time out.

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Man United v Arsenal (4pm)

This tie has often in the past been a meeting of the top two but the Gunners are currently enduring a six-year barren spell on the trophy front, while they have been firing blanks in picking up just one point from their first two games.

United boasted a tremendous record at Old Trafford last term on their way to winning a record 19th title and have opened up with two wins this season, including a 3-0 home thumping of Spurs on Monday night.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men have been installed as the 8/15 favourites in the match betting, which is not surprising given their recent record against the Gunners – unbeaten at home in seven.

Arsenal are not the force they once were and are still trying to come to terms with the departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri this summer, but are on offer at 11/2 to depart Old Trafford with maximum points.

That is a price that will tempt some on the back of a confidence-boosting, come-from-behind win at Udinese in midweek to secure Champions League football.

Arsenal will be hoping that defender Thomas Vermaelen passes a fitness test on Sunday given the way Wayne Rooney has started the season, two in two and 4/1 to open the scoring, but Jack Wilshere, Alex Song, Gervinho and Emmanuel Frimpong are all out.

United could welcome back Rio Ferdinand and Darren Fletcher but the youngsters have been deputising nicely and United have started the season in ominous form.

Tottenham v Man City (1.30pm)

Spurs have been a bogey side for City over recent seasons, winning 19 Premier League matches only bettered by Arsenal’s 20, and taking maximum points from 11 of the last 14 encounters.

The Lilywhites only lost one game at White Hart Lane last term, the second best home record in the league, but everyone is wary that money talks – and City have been doing a lot of talking.

The Citizens look a very real threat for honours this term and at 6/4 in the match betting, many will feel that price is too big to turn down, having opened up the season with two wins, scoring seven goals in the process.

Sergio Aguero (5/1 to score first) blasted on to the Premier League scene in emphatic style but such are the resources at Roberto Mancini’s disposal, the Argentina ace is not guaranteed to start – but who is now for the Blues?

Spurs have not been helped by the transfer saga surrounding Luka Modric and although he is expected to play some part on Sunday, there are still questions to be answered about his mindset.

Redknapp’s men are available at 2/1 to record a home win but Spurs won only three of their last 12 games last season, drew a league high of nine at home and do not keep clean sheets – not great stats going up against the money-men.

Newcastle v Fulham (1pm)

The Magpies are 11/10 favourites in the match betting despite having seen their squad weakened further by the departure of Joey Barton to QPR, but they should be buoyed by last weekend’s derby win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Alan Pardew’s men now have four points from two games and are yet to concede a goal, while Fulham (11/4 to win, Draw 23/10) have had to make the long trip to and from Ukraine in the Europa League.

The Cottagers suffered at Molineux last weekend, having done something similar, so it is difficult to see Martin Jol’s men getting anything from St James’s – especially as John Arne Riise and Simon Davies are on the casualty list.

West Brom v Stoke (3pm)

The fixture list has not been kind to the Baggies but impressive performances against Man United and Chelsea – albeit in 2-1 defeats – see them installed as the 11/10 favourites in the match betting to see off Stoke (11/4 to win, 23/10 the draw).

There has been cause for optimism for Roy Hodgson despite a start that has yet to yield a point but stat gurus will be fully aware that Stoke are very much a bogey side.

The Potters have lost only one (1-0 at the Hawthorns in 2003) of the last 27 league clashes between the two sides, winning seven of the last nine.

This season though could be the turn of the Baggies as Stoke are having to contend with the extra fixtures and travelling etc that participating in the Europa League brings.

Shane Long (11/2 to be the first goalscorer) has made an impressive start to life in the West Midlands with two goals in two games, although Matthew Etherington is back from suspension to boost the Potters attacking options.

Peter Odemwingie is pushing for a return to the starting line-up for Hodgson, who has no injury worries ahead of the clash, while Pulis could recall defenders Jonathan Woodgate and Robert Huth.

Enough has been seen to suggest West Brom should beat a side who needed a goal four minutes into injury time to salvage a point against Norwich but the stats do not lie!

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