The last two matches of Gameweek 37 take place this evening, with Arsenal on the verge of sending Wigan into the Championship. Due to their vastly inferior goal difference in comparison to fellow strugglers Sunderland, the Latics realistically have to win at the Emirates this evening to keep their faint hopes of survival alive, while Theo Walcott will be doing all he can to retain the Gunners’ hopes of Champions League qualification.
Elsewhere, City travel to Reading on the back of Roberto Mancini’s dismissal. Brian Kidd is handed the reins for a couple of games, with the visitors still requiring a point to clinch second spot behind United.
The penultimate Dugout Discussion of 2012/13 is now open for those looking for real time discussion over this evening’s vital matches.
With not long to go before the Emirates kick-off, the team news is in and is as follows:
Arsene Wenger makes a single change from the Gameweek 36 win at QPR as fit-again Kieran Gibbs replaces Nacho Monreal at left-back for the Gunners. Theo Walcott, Tomas Rosicky and Santi Cazorla line up behind lone frontman Lukas Podolski. Wigan are unchanged from the side that clinched the FA Cup against City on Saturday. Roberto Martinez looks set to roll out the same shape, then, with Roger Espinoza and James McArthur as the wing-backs and Emmerson Boyce in the back-three. Martinez also keeps faith in a front trio of Callum McManaman, Arouna Kone and Shaun Maloney.
Brian Kidd names David Silva, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero in the City XI to face Reading this evening. Kidd makes three changes to the back-four that lost against Wigan at the weekend, with only Gael Clichy keeping his place, while Joe Hart retains his place in goal and James Milner comes in for Samir Nasri in midfield. Reading boss Nigel Adkins rolls out the same XI that hit four past Fulham at Craven Cottage in Gameweek 36.
