Five classic Premier League title deciders as City prepare to host Arsenal

Arsenal's trip to Manchester City is shaping up to be a classic Premier League title decider.

Only five points separate the top two, with City having two games in hand on the Gunners ahead of the clash at the Etihad.

We have looked back at five other classic encounters between two sides scrapping it out to win the English top flight.

1995-96: Newcastle 0-1 Manchester United

Kevin Keegan’s great entertainers welcomed Manchester United to St James’ Park knowing victory would go a long way to securing the league title.

They were four points ahead of the Red Devils, had not lost a game at home all season and had a game in hand on their nearest rivals.

But after Peter Schmeichel produced a classic display to keep them out in the first half, Eric Cantona netted the winner in the second.

It moved United within one point of the Magpies and they would go on to lift their third title in four seasons by four points.

That only came after Keegan’s famous "I will love it" rant as he succumbed to some classic Alex Ferguson mind games. 

1997-98: Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal went into this March clash at Old Trafford nine points behind the Red Devils, albeit with three games in hand.

Marc Overmars' winner was enough for the Gunners who dominated proceedings and deserved all three points.

Ferguson said: "If they win their games in hand they will go ahead of us, but they will find out they start dropping points towards the end of the season, there's no question about that."

But the Scot was proven wrong as Arsene Wenger's side won the next eight games to secure their first title under the Frenchman.

It was the start of a classic rivalry between the two clubs as over a seven-year period the Gunners won the league three times compared to United's four.

2007-08: Chelsea 2-1 Manchester United 

The fixture list threw up a tantalising meeting in April 2008, as top of the table United visited Chelsea in the third-last game of the season.

Just three points separated the two sides, though United did have a far superior goal difference.

Michael Ballack's first-half header was cancelled out by Wayne Rooney, before controversy struck with four minutes remaining.

The assistant referee adjudged Michael Carrick to have stopped a cross with his arm and Ballack stepped up to give the Blues all three points.

Despite the defeat, United recovered to win the final two games of the season and ended up two points clear of Chelsea, who could only draw against Bolton on the final day.

2009-10: Manchester United 1-2 Chelsea

Chelsea visited Old Trafford in April 2010 one point behind Ferguson's leaders in a tight battle for the league.

Joe Cole gave the visitors a 20th-minute lead as injured United talisman Rooney was forced to watch from the stands.

They doubled that advantage with 11 minutes left in controversial fashion, when a clearly offside Didier Drogba found the back of the net.

Federico Macheda’s response shortly after set up a grandstand finish but the Red Devils could not force an equaliser.

Despite defeat to Tottenham two weeks later opening the door for a potential United recovery, Chelsea won the league on the final day with an 8-0 thrashing of Wigan.

2011-2012: Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United 

United were three points ahead of neighbours City as the two sides met at the Etihad, just three games before the end of the season.

A draw would have suited Ferguson’s men but Vincent Kompany’s thumping header on the stroke of half-time proved enough for Roberto Mancini's side.

It moved them level on points with United but crucially ahead of them on goal difference.

And it was the precursor for the most famous final day of them all, when Sergio Aguero’s 94th-minute winner against QPR saw City pip United to seal their first Premier League crown.