Thursday 11 February 2016 15:52, UK
It looks like the pivotal weekend of the Premier League season with the top four all in action on a blockbuster Super Sunday.
It's going to be fast and furious, and absolutely crucial to the outcome of the the title race.
All four teams are 5/1 or less with Sky Bet to win the title. As things stand Leicester are their 15/8 favourites, Arsenal 2/1, Manchester City 10/3 and Tottenham at 5/1. Expect a big shake-up on Sunday.
First up, it's third against first. Arsenal against Leicester. All the pressure is on the Gunners. It's D-Day for them - if they lose surely it's all over. Win and it really is game on with the gap at the top reduced to just two points.
Sky Bet clearly expect Arsenal to do that as they are odds on at 7/10 to win in Sunday, with Leicester 7/2 and the draw a 3/1 chance.
The onus is on Arsenal so Leicester can sit back, let the home side dominate possession and then try and pick them off as they have done repeatedly this season. The less they have of the ball, arguably the more dangerous they will be, which gives Arsene Wenger quite a tactical conundrum. Do they trust their quality and go on the attack, which could play in to Leicester's trap, or do they play with caution?
The games where Leicester have struggled have been when teams have sat back and forced Claudio Ranieri's side to break them down. Aston Villa and Bournemouth are the two most recent examples. That is not Wenger or Arsenal's way. I can't wait because this is going to be absolutely fascinating.
How big a mental barrier is getting over the line in a title race and winning the pivotal matches? On the last 11 occasions Arsenal have faced a team that was top of the table, they have won just once (D4, L6) and scored only four goals (conceding 18). The win against Bournemouth got the Gunners back on track and now they have to show they've got the metal to be champions.
Leicester will have plenty of backers at 7/2. Wasn't it great to see them making headlines on bulletins as the new favourites for the title having been 5,000/1 at the start of the season?
It's one of the great stories and them winning would be one of the biggest shocks in sporting, not just football, history. It's not one fluke punch, goal or shot. It's been consistent brilliance over seven months, which has taken everyone by surprise. It's brilliant for the game.
Arsenal must prove mental strength against Leicester, says Alan Smith
What makes it all the more remarkable is that after 25 games last season Leicester were bottom of the table with 17 points, and were staring down the barrel five points from safety. At the same stage this time around they are five points clear at the top.
They may be title favourites but they're still 15/8 despite the fact six of the last seven and ten of the last 12 teams to have led the Premier League table after 25 games have gone on to win the title (Arsenal led in 2007-08 but Man Utd won title, Chelsea led in 2013-14 but Man City won title).
In any other year Tottenham would be a sensational story in their own right. Mauricio Pochettino has done an incredible job. They were a massive price themselves at the start of the season and are now down to 5/1 with Sky Bet to be crowned champions.
I was a big Pochettino fan from his time at Southampton and put Tottenham up in this column to finish in the top four at the start of the season. Now I'm wishing I'd tipped them to win the title!
They have a great opportunity, which they've not had for a long time as this is the first time since the 1984-85 season that Tottenham have been in top two at this stage of a season. Win on Sunday and they really are in business.
They could also be catching Manchester City at just the right time. Graeme Souness, Thierry Henry and Alan Smith discussed in the Super Sunday studio the effect the news that Pep Guardiola will replace Manuel Pellegrini in the summer has, and will have, on the team and dressing room.
Graeme said it should be a positive with players desperate to impress ahead of Pep's arrival. From the evidence of Saturday's defeat to Leicester, it seems to have had the opposite effect. It's hard to see too many punters steaming in on City at even money.
They have not produced this season in the key matches. Incredibly, City have not won against any of the other sides currently in the top six. In fact, their last win against a top six side was all the way back in May 2015, and that was against Tottenham.
They are so reliant on Sergio Aguero right now, who has scored seven of City's last nine league goals, including each of the last four. His shoot-out with Harry Kane is going to be vital.
For all their troubles, City still have the best home record in the Premier League this season with 28 points from nine wins, one draw and three defeats. One of those defeats came last weekend but they haven't lost successive home league games in over seven years.
Tottenham haven't won at the Etihad since May 2010 and have lost on their last five visits, but this current Spurs side have been lethal on the road and are currently on a club-record 11 Premier League away games unbeaten.
Spurs could be popular at 13/5 as could the draw at 13/5. Pochettino's team are so hard to beat. However, it's a fixture City usually win - they have won eight of the last ten meetings scoring 29 goals in the process - but Tottenham broke the spell, winning the first meeting this season 4-1 at White Hart Lane in September. Kevin De Bruyne put City ahead before Eric Dier, Toby Alderweireld, Harry Kane and Erik Lamela launched a Spurs onslaught.
Sandwiched between those two matches we also have Aston Villa looking to win again to keep their great escape alive against a Liverpool side and manager who badly need a boost.
What a day it promises to be. I hope you can join us live from the Etihad at 11.30am on Sky Sports 1.
