ARSENAL are taking on Manchester City in a mammoth Premier League clash TODAY!
The big news is Bukayo Saka STARTS for Arsenal. Kevin De Bruyne captains Pep Guardiola’s side today.
Gabriel Martinelli is on the bench for Mikel Arteta’s men while Gabriel Jesus starts.
- Kick-off time: 4.30pm
- TV channel/ live stream: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League
- Man City starting XI: Ortega, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Kovacic, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Foden, Haaland
- Arsenal starting XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Jesus
- Liverpool hosting Brighton first from 2pm BST
Man City vs Arsenal betting: Tips, odds and predictions
35 Man City 0-0 Arsenal
Kovacic creates a dangerous situation for Man City as he gives the ball away at the back where Odegaard is.
However, City manage to avert disaster with an offside trap that Arsenal fall for.
33 Man City 0-0 Arsenal
White has been Arsenal’s most dangerous player so far in the game.
Some really good runs down the wings combined with some sharp crosses to the front three.
31 Man City 0-0 Arsenal
Chance!
Another missed opportunity for Arsenal and Jesus who finds space on the edge of the box to deliver a shot that just misses Ortega’s bottom left corner.
30 Man City 0-0 Arsenal
We’ve reached the half-hour mark in a rather uneventful clash, all things considered.
Both teams appear to be cautious, and sometimes a little too much.
28 Man City 0-0 Arsenal
Man City boss Guardiola has placed Akanji at centre-back and Lewis at right-back.
Very unlucky for the hosts and Ake…
26 Man City 0-0 Arsenal
Substitution
Man City’s injury hell continues as Ake hobbles off with a knock.
Guardiola replaces his defender with Lewis.
25 Man City 0-0 Arsenal
Arsenal create some danger as Jesus releases Havertz in the penalty area from the left.
The playmaker vies for the ball Man City keeper beats him to it.
Havertz goes hard on his compatriot as he appears to go at him studs first.
23 Man City 0-0 Arsenal
Arsenal star Saka has been anonymous so far in the match due to some exceptional marking by Gvardiol, Ake and Rodri.
This is where the Gunners also miss Martinelli on the other wing…
20 Man City 0-0 Arsenal
Arsenal star Jesus receives a warning from the referee after a rough challenge on Silva.
This comes after the striker’s late challenge on De Bruyne earlier one…
18 Man City 0-0 Arsenal
It’s quite an even affair at the Etihad but Man City are enjoying more possession.
However, Arsenal’s midfield and back four are doing a good job keeping the hosts at bay and away from Raya’s box.
16 Man City 0-0 Arsenal
Chance!
Man City come close with their first opportunity of the match as Ake meets a corner-kick in the penalty area.
The defender gets a touch with his head and a deflection from close range but Raya picks it up.
15 Man City 0-0 Arsenal
And here’s how the two teams look like at the Etihad.
Man City playing in their signature sky blue jerseys while Arsenal don their legendary red and white kit.
Credit: AFP 13 Man City 0-0 Arsenal
Man City are dominating possession in the last three minutes and turned the tables on Arsenal with their own high pressure.
This is definitely the battle of midfield, whoever wins this will win the match.
10 Man City 0-0 Arsenal
Arsenal’s high pressure is paying off as Man City are struggling to play out from the back.
The back four finding it quite challenging to link with midfield…
8 Man City 0-0 Arsenal
Chance!
And we have the first opportunity of the match as Rice releases White down the right and the playmaker delivers a cross to Jesus at the far post.
The striker chests it down beautifully and tries a shot that just misses Ortega’s bottom right corner.
5 Man City 0-0 Arsenal
Arsenal are applying pressure high up on the pitch but Man City are still able to play out from the back.
City are fast down the wings with Foden and Silva.
Sky Sports claimed Ake would play at left-back but he’s at centre-back alongside Dias with Gvardiol on his left, as reported by SunSport.
2 Man City 0-0 Arsenal
Arsenal fans’ hearts drop as the referee blows his whistle after Haaland goes down inside the area while under pressure from White.
However, the Man City star is caught offside.
2 Man City 0-0 Arsenal
And another quick reminder:
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola appears to have opted for a 4-1-4-1 formation with two changes to the team that beat Newcastle in the FA Cup quarter-finals two weeks ago.
Stefan Ortega starts between the sticks as Ederson wasn’t passed fit due to a muscle injury.
This comes as John Stones and Jack Grealish are named on Guardiola’s bench.
Manuel Akanji will play at right-back with Josko Gvardiol on the other side, while Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake team up at centre-back.
Rodri covers the No6 role with Kevin De Bruyne and Matteo Kovacic in front of him.
Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden cover the wings on the right and left respectively.
And of course, Erling Haaland spearheads the Treble winners’ attack.
1 Man City 0-0 Arsenal
Here’s a quick reminder:
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has opted for a 4-3-3 formation with only one change to the team that beat Porto in the Champions League Last 16 two weeks ago.
David Raya starts in goal with Ben White at right-back and Jakub Kiwior on the other side, while Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba team up at centre-back.
Declan Rice, Jorginho and captain Martin Odegaard link up in midfield.
Bukayo Saka, ex-Manchester City star Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz lead the attack.
Meanwhile, Gabriel Martinelli has been named in the visitors’ bench.
Man City 0-0 Arsenal
Peep!
Off we go in Manchester!!!
Here come the teams
The Etihad is ready to host what could be a decisive Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal.
City captain Kevin De Bruyne leads his team-mates out to the pitch in front of the homes fans.
The Gunners follow with Martin Odegaard donning their esteemed armband.
Not long to go now…
Credit: AFP
Havertz chases Henry record
Arsenal star Kai Havertz is spearheading Mikel Arteta’s attack against Manchester City.
And Havertz is chasing a very special record at the Etihad which has stood for around 24 years.
If the attacking midfielder scores today then he will become the first player to hit the back of the net in five consecutive Premier League appearances during his debut season with the Gunners since the 1999-2000 season.
The last player to do that at Arsenal is none other than the club’s record goalscorer Thierry Henry.
FT: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
Liverpool completed a comeback to beat Brighton in their Premier League clash at Anfield.
That means the Reds have climbed up to the top of the table with three points ahead of Arsenal and four adrift of Manchester City.
Danny Welbeck opened the scoring for the Seagulls after just two minutes.
But Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah turned things around for the Merseysiders.
Credit: PA Kevin De Bruyne milestone
Manchester City superstar Kevin De Bruyne has been named in the starting line-up against Arsenal.
And De Bruyne will have the chance to make history for City today at the Etihad.
If the talismanic playmaker scores twice then he will register 100 career goals for the Citizens.
The Belgium international is already considered as a club legend amid his stunning nine-year stint with the Manchester giants.
Pep Guardiola chases record
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has beaten Arsenal 16 times throughout his eight-year stint at the Etihad.
That means that if Guardiola beats the Gunners again today he will tie his record of 17 victories against Burnley.
But the Catalan tactician will need the help of City talisman Erling Haaland, who has failed to score in 11 of his past 16 appearances for club and country.
However, Haaland still tops the Premier League scoring charts with a staggering 18 goals in 23 matches.
Credit: Getty
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
