Rob Green
Former West Ham goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

Manchester City have been there before. They know it. Pep Guardiola's been there. He's won more than we can even remember, so the pressure is on.

Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira was brought in to keep them up but he has a 0% winning ratio in the Premier League this season after 10 games in charge of Wolves and now two defeats with Forest.

It's hard to see that changing at Etihad Stadium - City are going to win comfortably, whether or not Erling Haaland is back from injury to lead their attack.

Pereira was moaning about the way Forest pressed in their defeat by Brighton at the weekend, but if you keep bringing in different managers and changing the way you play, then it is going to end up biting you on the backside.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter at St James' Park

Image source, Getty Images

It is rather telling that the only unenforced change Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has made tonight is between the sticks.

Goalkeeper Nick Pope was at fault for Everton's second goal in his side's 3-2 defeat at the weekend, and has conceded 17 goals since he last kept a clean sheet in January.

Pope has so long been a key player for the club - and a vocal figure in the dressing room - but Howe has sent a message of sorts by dropping a member of the old guard.

It's a huge opportunity for Aaron Ramsdale.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

There were nerves in Sunday's 2-1 win at home to Chelsea, but Arsenal have responded to throwing away a 2-0 lead at doomed Wolverhampton Wanderers with that result, following on from an emphatic 4-1 triumph in the north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur.

This was show of character demanded by outside observers, yet more brickbats came their way for scoring both goals from corners.

It was fresh ammunition for those decrying Arsenal as one-dimensional, but Mikel Arteta will be within his rights to point out he is using what almost amounts to a lethal (and legal) weapon through the work of French set-piece coach Nicolas Jover and Declan Rice's superb delivery.

The day of destiny may come in April when Arsenal face City at Etihad Stadium.

Now, however, Arsenal are currently in a magnificent position, but remain largely unloved outside their particular part of north London.

The bottom line is this – if Arsenal win the title (other pieces of silverware are available) there would not be a single unhappy Gunners fan. No-one will be discussing how many set-pieces they scored from, or whether they were pleasing on the eye, if the celebrations start.

Arteta's job is to please his Arsenal superiors and their supporters, not to satisfy connoisseurs or make opposition fans like them.

It is to win. And he is doing that.

The qualification is that Arteta must now win – with the Premier League crown being the one that matters most – because if Arsenal go another season without the title then he will be questioned.

One more season without the title is one season too long.

Read more about Arsenal's critics here

Rob Green
Former West Ham goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

West Ham have got a rough few games and if they're still in this position in a couple of games time then I think West Ham fans would snap your hand off.

We've talked about Spurs and Nottingham Forest struggling, West Ham have had that bit. I think they've had that mental reset and think they're bang in this. Nuno's got them sorted out and you're looking at a team that know what they're about now. They know how to get results and they'll try and use tonight as an opportunity.

This is the point now where they can take advantage, it's just about whether they can.

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal restored their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League with Sunday's 2-1 win against Chelsea in a game where all three goals came from corners. That took the total number of goals scored from corners in the top flight this season to 138 – already three more than last term's final figure.

For better or worse, set-pieces have never been as important to success in English football and Mikel Arteta's side are setting the standard right now. The Gunners have already scored 16 times from corners in 2025-26, equalling the Premier League record for a single season, and have 19 goals in total from dead-ball deliveries (excluding penalties).

Arteta's side are clearly not one-trick ponies and have netted more goals from open play since Christmas than any other team. However, set-pieces remain invaluable in how they manage games.

Arsenal have taken a 1-0 lead in 20 Premier League matches this season, with the opener coming from a set-piece or penalty in 13 of those. Once in front, it becomes easier for the Londoners to find space and eventually pick off rivals who commit men forward in search of an equaliser.

Opponents Brighton have been one of the top-flight's better sides when it comes to defending corners this term, conceding only five such goals – although that includes one in their 2-1 defeat at the Emirates on 27 December.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at The Amex Stadium

Arsenal's nerve was questioned after they surrendered a 2-0 lead to doomed Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux - but the response has been strong.

The Gunners swept to a 4-1 victory in the north London derby at Spurs then ground out Sunday's 2-1 win against Chelsea.

It was not easy on the eye but it is the sort of victory those who want to be Premier League champions must achieve if they want to reach their goal.

Now they go for a third straight win here at Brighton.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter at Villa Park

The debate will be whether Unai Emery should have started Tammy Abraham over Ollie Watkins.

England striker Watkins has one goal in his last 11 games and struggled again in Friday's 2-0 defeat at Wolves.

Abraham has started once in the league - last month's 1-0 home defeat to Brentford - since signing from Besiktas in January.

Watkins has always delivered for Villa since joining from Brentford in 2020 and has 83 Premier League goals in 211 appearances but has just eight this season - with four of them coming in three games at Christmas and New Year.

Two were against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in December - Watkins having been dropped to the bench before a second-half double - so he will be hoping for a similar impact from the start this time.

Chelsea's lack of discipline in matches this season is costing them. Here's what former England defender Matthew Upson had to say about it on BBC Radio 5 Live.

"It is costing them. I don't think it is something you can address at this point - you're in March.

"It is something that is said in pre‑season. It is cultural and you build it into the club. The players buy into it and they police it. It is about being measured and controlled at the right moment.

"Again, they are young as well. The younger you are, the more susceptible you are to those situations."

Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter at St James' Park

Aaron Ramsdale starts as Newcastle United make two changes for the visit of Manchester United.

The goalkeeper replaces Nick Pope in the starting line-up after his team-mate's made a costly error in the 3-2 defeat against Everton at the weekend.

Harvey Barnes also comes into the side in place of club-record signing Nick Woltemade, who misses out with a sickness bug.

Newcastle XI: Ramsdale, Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Ramsey, Joelinton, Elanga, Gordon, Barnes

Subs: Pope, Botman, Wissa, Osula, J.Murphy, Willock, A.Murphy, Shahar, Neave

Shamoon Hafez
Football news reporter at Etihad Stadium

The return of Erling Haaland provides a huge boost for Manchester City not only tonight but with Real Madrid on the horizon too.

City's star striker was unable to make the trip to Leeds after sustaining a knock in training last week but it looks like the issue has cleared up for the visit of Nottingham Forest.

January signing Antoine Semenyo needed to step up in the absence of Haaland on Saturday, but the duo line up together alongside Rayan Cherki in a formidable front three.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter at St James' Park

Noussair Mazraoui replaces Diogo Dalot at right-back for Manchester United as Michael Carrick makes one change to his starting line-up from Sunday’s win over Crystal Palace.

It is the Moroccan’s first start since December, when he went on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire have recovered from the illness that forced them off against Palace. Dalot is on the bench where he is joined by 18-year-old defender Godwill Kukonki.

Manchester Utd XI: Lammens, Mazraoui, Yoro, Maguire, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha, Sesko. Substitutes: Bayindir, Dalot, Zirkzee, Malacia, Amad, Ugarte, Heaven, T Fletcher, Moorhouse.

Image source, Getty Images

Under Pep Guardiola, Manchester City have won 24 of their 26 Premier League games on a Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium (two draws and no defeats), averaging 2.85 points-per-game.

That's the best of any club under a single manager on a specific day of the week in the competition’s history (10+ games played).

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

After a run of one win from 13 league games, Brighton have regained momentum by beating Brentford and Nottingham Forest, meaning Albion have the chance to claim three consecutive victories for the first time this season. If they are to manage that feat, the predatory instincts of Danny Welbeck are again likely to be key.

The evergreen 35-year-old scored his first league goal from open play since November in the 2-0 win against the Bees and was also on target in Sunday's 2-1 triumph versus Forest. That took the Englishman's tally to 10 Premier League goals this season, equalling the career-best figure he set last term.

Welbeck has consistently proved a thorn in the side of former club Manchester United, scoring eight times in all competitions since leaving his hometown team in 2014. But it has been a different story when reunited with Arsenal, where he spent the next five seasons.

He has managed only one Premier League goal against the Gunners since departing in 2019, with that strike coming in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates during his single season with Watford. The veteran has not netted a league goal against the north London side since joining Brighton in 2020.

Image source, Getty Images

During his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola spoke about the increased focus on set-pieces in the Premier League this season.

"I remember as a young boy every time in Spain people would say 'in England when there's a corner people would celebrate like a goal'. So nothing has changed," Guardiola said.

"I am a manager. I can't say 'I don't like set-pieces'. I adapt and do it. Football is not being played in one way since football was created.

"Football in England is different than Spain and Italy. That's why the Champions League is nice - everyone plays in a different way.

"How boring would it be if everyone plays the same way. If I don't like it, it's my business. If I don't like, I don't watch but I have to adapt."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Chief Sports News Reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Can Manchester United really catch Arsenal?

It is a question that keeps being asked by United fans amid the club's current impressive form under head coach Michael Carrick.

Deep down, most realise it is virtually impossible but there is a feeling among some United supporters that Arsenal crumble under pressure and therefore it cannot completely be ruled out, even though the present gap is 13 points, although United do have a game in hand.

Many have not forgotten in 2012, their own side had an eight-point lead on Manchester City with six games left and ended up losing the title to Sergio Aguero's memorable injury-time goal.

Part of that collapse did include a City win over United and Carrick's side do not have to play the Gunners again.

The question was put to Carrick ahead of the trip to Newcastle. It would have been defeatist to say it can't happen. But he thinks the odds are stacked against United.

"Listen, you can't rule anything out in football, but we've got to be realistic," he said.

"We've just got to try and keep winning games and see."

Aston Villa are on a terrible run and are going to fall out of the top four at this rate.

Chelsea are not exactly flying at the moment either, but their biggest problem is that they can't keep 11 players on the pitch - they probably would have got something against Arsenal on Sunday if not for Pedro Neto's silly red card.

It's hard to back either team to get the win, so I am going to sit on the fence here.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport

Chelsea are enduring their own slump in form, albeit not to the extent of Villa's. They won their first four league fixtures under head coach Liam Rosenior but have since drawn at home to promoted pair Leeds and Burnley, despite leading late on in both games, and then paid for errors and ill-discipline away to Arsenal on Sunday.

Pedro Neto's red card during that match was Chelsea's seventh in the Premier League this season – three more than any other club in the division – and their ninth in all competitions. Rosenior subsequently warned his players that he will not pick those he cannot trust to "stay disciplined".

Sunday's defeat highlighted two other areas the head coach must quickly address if he is to guide Chelsea to Champions League qualification through their league placing. Firstly, the Blues conceded two soft goals from corners against Arsenal and have let in seven overall from such situations in Rosenior's 13 matches in charge.

It also means they have only once beaten a current top-six side this season – Liverpool back in October – and have the worst head-to-head record of those teams, with Aston Villa having the best. With four games still to play against sides currently above them, Chelsea's top-five prospects may rest on whether they can significantly improve their results in those fixtures.

Bukayo Saka is set to make his 300th Arsenal appearance tonight at 24 years and 180 days old - becoming the fourth youngest to reach this milestone in the club's history.

Image source, Getty Images

Rob Green
Former West Ham goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

Every performance like the game against Chelsea where the narrative comes about Arsenal not being great and it's set-pieces, it just cranks up that little narrative again, that tension again.

It'd be interesting to see tonight playing at Brighton who have won the last couple of games themselves, and they'll be really keen to give it a go. You feel for Arsenal there's still such a long way to go and it has started.

I was at the game against Manchester City, and it felt like that pressure in that game was immense and that was in September.

We're only at the start of March and the emotional energy that's gone on there has been incredible. They've kept it going which has been fantastic with one or two little creaks along the way. If they can grind out a couple more results they'll think they can do it and should do it.