Arsene Wenger puts on a positive spin ahead of their daunting trip to face Manchester City tomorrow.

Arsenal suffered a major jolt on Wednesday when a 2-0 defeat by Napoli cost them top spot in their Champions League group and confirmed the prospect of a tough tie in the last 16.

The heat is rising on the Premier League leaders who face City and Chelsea in successive league matches - two fixtures that will test their mettle as the season careers towards the hectic Christmas and New Year schedule.

Wenger's thoughts are focused firmly on what he thinks is a perfect chance for his side to build a nine-point lead over the side many view as Premier League title favourites.

"Let's not forget that if you are in City's position and they lose, then they're nine points behind, so they have more negative pressure than we have," Wenger told a news conference today.

"We have a positive pressure that we can make a big difference with them, so let's look at it like that,"

City have won seven out of seven at home in the Premier League, scoring 29 goals and conceding two and will be oozing confidence after Tuesday's 3-2 victory at European champions Bayern Munich.

Wenger is waiting for a fitness report on right back Bacary Sagna and said Theo Walcott could come into the reckoning at City after coming on as a substitute in the 1-1 home draw with Everton last weekend having recovered from an abdominal injury.

Arsenal's only away league defeat this season was at Manchester United.

Second-placed Liverpool play at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday and Chelsea, who like Liverpool are five points behind the Gunners, face Crystal Palace later on Saturday.