Emmanuel Adebayor’s Europa League exploits could persuade Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini to line him up against former club Arsenal in the showcase match in the English Premier League this weekend.

The Togo striker has had limited first-team opportunities this season, with captain Carlos Tevez usually City’s lone striker, but impressed Mancini by scoring a hat trick in the 3-1 win over Lech Poznan on Thursday.

“Now he has a good chance to play against Arsenal,” Mancini said. “For a striker, it is important to play well and his performance was excellent against Lech. It is very important for them to score.”

Adebayor got in trouble the last time the teams met at the City of Manchester Stadium — in September last year — by running the length of the field to celebrate a goal enthusiastically in front of Gunners fans. He received a warning from the Football Association, who cited “extremely provocative abuse” as a reason why the player was not suspended.

At that time, Adebayor was City’s main striker but after an impressive start to life at the northwest club, he has largely disappointed. He had not scored this season before his hat trick on Thursday.

City’s 3-2 victory over Blackpool last weekend lifted the team three points above local rival Manchester United in the standings and to within two points of Chelsea.

After finally resolving the future of Wayne Rooney, who yesterday had a change of heart and signed a new five-year contract with United, Alex Ferguson’s side must now focus on matters on the field as the team looks to re-ignite its title hopes.

United are fourth in the table — level on 14 points with Arsenal — after drawing their last three matches in the league and has shown frailties in defense this season.

“We are lagging behind Chelsea and we have to start making up ground quickly,” Ferguson said.

United are still the only unbeaten team in the league, however.

Chelsea, who host Wolverhampton Wanderers today, have reacted well to losing their first game of the season, 1-0 against City on 25 September, by beating Arsenal and picking up a draw at Aston Villa to consolidate its position at the top.

The defending champions are set to recall Didier Drogba to their lineup after the Ivory Coast striker missed the last two matches — the Villa draw and an away win against Spartak Moscow in the Champions League — through illness.

England midfielder Frank Lampard is still missing as he recovers from a hernia operation but Portugal right back Jose Bosingwa will return after a year out with knee problems.

At the other end of the table, Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson will recall the key players he rested for the 0-0 draw at Napoli in the Europa League on Thursday, such as Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, for tomorrow’s home match against Blackburn.

The Reds are languishing in second-bottom position in the league after a dreadful start to the season — and could be bottom by the time they kick off at Anfield if West Ham avoid defeat against Newcastle today.