Gareth Barry is convinced Manchester City can snap Arsenal hoodoo

Gareth Barry: 'They surprised me just how good they were in the 1-1 draw at the Etihad in September'

Gareth Barry is convinced Manchester City can claim their first league at Arsenal in 38 years this weekend.

Goals form Asa Hartford, Joe Royle and Rodney Marsh helped City to a 3-2 success at Highbury in October 1975, and they have not tasted league success there since.

"I wasn't aware it had been so long," the England midfielder told the City website.

"Football is like that sometimes but 38 years is extraordinary. Records like that are rare but are there to be broken.

"We have to go to the Emirates, play as well as we know we are capable of and see if we can put an end to our poor run of league results on their ground.

"They surprised me just how good they were in the 1-1 draw at the Etihad in September. They will be disappointed they've not played as well as that more often this season.

"We know there is a need for us to keep winning games because seven points to leaders Manchester United is not a small gap and we can't allow that to increase.

"But sometimes the pressure can actually flip around to the team in front and the one chasing can go into games more relaxed.

"We're not going to let it overly worry us at this point."