The Etihad Stadium is set for a blockbuster Premier League showdown on Sunday as Manchester City and Arsenal meet in a title-deciding contest.
Drama feels inevitable given the importance of this fixture, and it will reveal plenty about how much character is imbued in a team.
Arsenal held a nine-point advantage at the start of last week, but the Gunners could see their lead at the summit evaporate by Wednesday evening if Manchester City prevail in this meeting and win against Burnley at Turf Moor.
However, the Gunners' quest for a first Premier League title in over two decades remains in their own hands and Mikel Arteta's men will be desperate to avoid defeat in a season-defining affair.
The Premier League has witnessed many epic title showdowns through the years and we've delved into the archives to pick out some of the greatest encounters.
Newcastle United 0-1 Manchester United, 1995/96
Arguably the Premier League's most iconic title showdown, Manchester United survived a Newcastle United onslaught at a vociferous St James' Park to prevail 1-0 courtesy of an Eric Cantona goal and significantly dent their title rivals' hopes in the process.
Newcastle had possessed a seemingly unassailable 12-point lead in February as they closed in on an elusive top-flight title, but that had been trimmed to four by the time Manchester United arrived on Tyneside in early March. Kevin Keegan's men still had a game in hand over Sir Alex Ferguson's side, but they were intent on making a statement.
The hosts continually peppered the United rearguard, only to find a formidable Peter Schmeichel standing in the way. For every save the Dane made, Newcastle's hopes wilted and Cantona was able to capitalise with a second half strike that won United the game.
It was a seismic moment in the title race and an opportunity United grasped with both hands, winning seven of their remaining nine matches to win the title by four points.
Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal, 2001/02
The situation simple but the challenge difficult, Arsenal just needed to win at Old Trafford to wrap up the Premier League title.
Rather than be overawed by the occasion, Arsene Wenger's side strode into enemy territory and stamped their authority on Manchester United to seal an FA Cup/Premier League Double in style.
Sylvain Wiltord was the match-winner, capitalising on Mikael Silvestre carelessness to find Freddie Ljungberg and after the Swede's shot was saved, Wiltord emerged to produce a composed finish as Arsenal showed the resilience that complimented their silkiness.
Manchester United 1-2 Chelsea, 2009/10
Old Trafford was host to another title showdown at the start of April in 2010 with Manchester United leading Chelsea by a point with six matches remaining.
Four days earlier, United had suffered the major blow of losing an in-form Wayne Rooney to injury, while Didier Drogba was forced to occupy a spot on the bench as he recovered from an issue of his own.
But the Ivorian striker still had a major part to play in the contest and Drogba made his mark with 11 minutes remaining, albeit from an offside position, as he scored the winner after Joe Cole put the Blues ahead before Federico Macheda restored parity.
Dimitar Berbatov wasted a glorious chance to equalise in the dying embers, meaning Chelsea regained control of the title race as they marched towards the title.
Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United, 2011/12
It was a Manchester derby like no other, labelled the biggest game in the Premier League's 20-year history.
United, who were three points clear of City with only three matches remaining, just needed to avoid defeat in this contest to get one hand on the title, while the hosts knew only victory would suffice if they were to realise their Premier League dream.
While Ferguson opted to err on the side of caution, Mancini's side were full of initiative and ambition.
In the end, it was Vincent Kompany's header in first-half stoppage time gave City the win that put them top with an eight-goal advantage. The Citizens just needed to defeat Newcastle United and QPR in the final two matches to lift their first Premier League title; we all know how that season played out.
Manchester City 2-2 Liverpool, 2021/22
Manchester City v Liverpool. Pep Guardiola v Jurgen Klopp. A defining era in the Premier League, and a rivalry that produced several pulsating matches and epic title battles.
The 2021/22 campaign was fiercely contested, and this showdown at the Etihad Stadium lived up to its pre-match billing.
In the end there was nothing to separate the two sides as Kevin De Bruyne's opener was cancelled out by Diogo Jota, before Sadio Mane's second half goal restored parity after Gabriel Jesus had given City a 2-1 lead.
The result meant City retained a one-point advantage over Liverpool with seven matches remaining, and it was a lead they retained until the end of the season to achieve a sixth Premier League title.
Manchester City 4-1 Arsenal, 2022/23
A year later and it was the turn of Arsenal to rival Manchester City for Premier League honours.
However, unlike the aforementioned title showdowns, the meeting billed as a potential title-decider turned into an embarrassingly one-sided affair.
An imperious City put Arsenal to the sword as Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne ran riot, with the latter scoring two and assisting one.
Rob Holding had pulled one back for the visitors but the goal failed to spark any sign of a comeback, with Haaland netting City's fourth in an emphatic triumph.
Not only did the result move Guardiola's men to within two points of the Gunners with two matches in hand, but it highlighted the mental frailties of Mikel Arteta's men which saw them later lose to Brighton and Nottingham Forest as they missed out on the title by five points.
