Arsene Wenger leads Arsenal to Wembley once again this weekend as the FA Cup winners take on the Premier League champions, Manchester City, in the traditional curtain raiser of the top-flight English season (Sunday, 9.30am ET on FOX Sports 1).

Manchester City have been tipped as the team to beat this season with Manuel Pellegrini adding steel to his midfield with only a new centre-half still to be brought in, although Eliaquim Mangala is expected to finalize his move to Eastlands in the coming days following a number of third party ownerships issues.

Arsenal on the other hand may not be considered many people’s favorites for a Premier League title challenge. However the London club have enjoyed their best preparations for a season since arguably 2007.

No player of great note has left the club as yet, although Thomas Vermaelen is set to complete a medical with FC Barcelona this weekend according to BBC Sport’s David Ornstein but perhaps more significantly, Arsene Wenger has managed to complete the vast majority of his transfer business before the start of the season with Alexis Sanchez joining Calum Chambers, David Ospina and Mathieu Debuchy as Arsenal new-boys.

One of the main criticisms of Arsenal over the past few seasons has been their poor performances in the big matches. Manchester City recorded a dramatic 6-3 victory over the Gunners last term and Arsene Wenger will be hoping his new-look defence will be able to cope with City’s wealth of attacking options far more competently on Sunday.

Arsene Wenger confirmed he would utilize a similar squad to the one that represented the club at last weekend’s Emirates Cup with Theo Walcott still an injury doubt until September and Arsenal’s German contingent of Mesut Ozil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski still not fit enough to play having been granted an extended rest period following their World Cup triumph in Brazil.

Bacary Sagna is expected to make his Manchester City debut following his free transfer to the Premier League champions from Arsenal this summer whilst it is doubtful that Frank Lampard will be fit enough to take part after signing his six month loan with the club.

Sergio Aguero is also missing following his injury hit World Cup campaign as is Alvaro Negredo who suffered a foot injury in pre-season which is likely to keep him out until October.

Arsenal’s big-money signing of the summer, Alexis Sanchez, is likely to play despite Arsene Wenger suggesting he wasn’t fully fit following his cameo in the Emirates Cup matches last weekend.

Whilst the match isn’t of any great importance, victories breed confidence and Arsenal will be looking for a much better start to the campaign than they were afforded last term.

With Arsenal and Manchester City undoubtedly two of the better footballing sides in the Premier League Sunday’s meeting will certainly be an interesting clash however with City’s injuries up front there is a lot of pressure likely to be placed on Edin Dzeko which could hand Arsenal the advantage as both teams look to best set themselves up for the start Premier League next weekend.