Arsenal face Manchester City at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki on Saturday evening. The game will be the final pre-season fixture for both clubs, ahead of the start of the 2013/14 Premier League season next weekend.

The Gunners open at home to Aston Villa and Manuel Pellegrini makes his competitive debut against Newcastle United.

James Milner (R) and Lukas Podolski
Reuters

Where to Follow

Kick-off is scheduled for 3pm BST. Live audio commentary is available on Arsenal Player, on www.arsenal.com (for registered members). A delayed telecast will be available on the website from approximately 5pm BST. Manchester City are also showing the delayed telecast, at http://live.mcfc.co.uk.

For more details, click here.

Overview

Arsene Wenger slipped to a first pre-season defeat after Turkish champions Galatasaray beat the hosts of the Emirates Cup on 4 August. Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba continues to be a nemesis for the Gunners; the former Chelsea star scored twice in the final 20 minutes to overhaul Theo Walcott's opener.

The defeat ends a five-match unbeaten streak - four wins on the Asia Tour and a 2-2 draw against Serie A club Napoli in the first game of the Emirates Cup.

Arsenal finished the Emirates Cup winless and third of four teams; they beat Napoli in the standings on goal difference.

Despite the Gunners' impressive pre-season form in Asia, uninspiring (and inconsistent) performances in their last two games have raised doubts about a title challenge this year. In Napoli and Galatasaray, the north London club faced, arguably, two of Europe's top clubs... and they failed to convince.

Another draw, or worse, a defeat, in Finland, will cast serious doubts over the team's ability to end an eight-season trophy drought, particularly since Wenger has once again failed to inspire in the transfer market, so far at least.

Despite promises of marquee signings (and a reported £70m budget), Arsenal have only signed France U20 International Yaya Sanogo on a free transfer - a textbook Wenger signing. Talk of club record bids for former Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain remained just that and although they have pursued Liverpool's Luis Suarez with a bit more intensity, the deal is unlikely to happen.

The Frenchman has confirmed that the team selected will be very close to the one that will start against Aston Villa on 17 August, bar injuries. Tomas Rosicky has not travelled with the squad owing to an injury but should be available for the game at Villa Park next week.

Meanwhile, in stark contrast, City have been extremely active in the market, with the 2012 Premier League champions shelling out over £100m on Spain internationals Jesus Navas and Alvaro Negredo, Brazil midfielder Fernandinho and Montenegrin striker Stevan Jovetic.

And also in stark contrast, their pre-season results bode well. Pellegrini may have lost two games but those were at the very start of pre-season and more recent triumphs include a win over former Champions League winners AC Milan.

They come into this game after a 2-1 defeat to German and European champions Bayern Munich but that will not have spoilt their Chilean boss's mood too much.

Team Form

Arsenal

  • Last Five (all competitions, most recent first): L D W W W
  • Last Match: Arsenal 1 - 2 Galatasaray

Manchester City

  • Last Five (all competitions, most recent first): L W W W L
  • Last Match: Bayern Munich 2 - 1 Manchester City