11:43 AM
11 minutes
Gundogan pops up between the lines and Xhaka is forced into a foul. Free kick for City around 40 to 45 yards from goal.
11:41 AM
9 minutes
Arsenal had enjoyed a decent start but that was dreadful defending, and I’m not sure the goalkeeping was great. Exactly the type of goal you should not concede with a back five on the pitch.
Gundogan pops up unmarked in the box again! This time Leno saves the header.
11:40 AM
GOOOAAAALL! Too easy for City – Gundogan scores a header
That was City’s first meaningful attack. They went long early for Jesus who held the ball up and laid it ff for Bernardo. The Brazilian gets it back and stands a ball up to the back post and Gundogan has a free header at the back post to nod home. Chambers caught under the ball and Leno rooted to his line.
11:37 AM
6 minutes
Arsenal knocking the ball around well, and progress upfield after a good turn by Smith Rowe. Cedric neglects to put the cross in but moments later Tierney delivers and it almost found Saka for a volley at the back post.
11:35 AM
4 minutes
Laporte in strongly with a good challenge on Saka. Most of City’s possession has been in their own half so far. Walker looks to release Torres early over the top but it skips through for Leno to claim.
11:34 AM
2 minutes
City enjoying some early possession but Grealish lets the ball run under his foot. Leno forced to kick long and Dias wins the header against Aubameyang. Looks like Arsenal are dropping into a defensive shape rather than trying to press as they did against Chelsea. Gabriel Jesus is playing wide right.
Saka slips a good ball through for Aubameyang but City clear the cross.
11:31 AM
KICK OFF!
After one last rendition of Blue Moon, Arsenal get us started. Looks like it is indeed a back three of Chambers, Holding and Kolasinac.
11:28 AM
The players are on their way out
No needless kit changes today: City in sky blue and Arsenal in red and white with hooped socks. Pleasing.
11:26 AM
Some stats
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Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 11 league games against Arsenal (W9 D2) since a 2-1 defeat at the Emirates in December 2015. They’ve taken 28 of a possible 30 points against the Gunners under Pep Guardiola (W9 D1).
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Arsenal have lost each of their last eight Premier League meetings with Manchester City, their joint-longest run of consecutive defeats against a specific opponent in their league history (also 8 vs Leeds between 1973-1976).
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Man City have kept a clean sheet in six of their last seven league meetings with Arsenal, including the last four in a row since a 3-1 home win in February 2019.
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Arsenal have lost their last six games against reigning Premier League champions, conceding exactly three goals in each of the last five. The Gunners have won just one of their last 17 away league games against reigning champions (D6 L10), with that victory coming at Manchester City in January 2015 (2-0).
11:21 AM
Warm-ups
11:19 AM
How will City line up in attack?
BT Sport have Ferran Torres through the middle and Gabriel Jesus wide right.
11:15 AM
Guardiola on Ronaldo
It’s good that a player like Cristiano is back in the Premier League.
10:58 AM
Welcome to Manchester
10:49 AM
Today’s venue looking pristine
10:39 AM
Nicolas Pepe out with illness
He does not have Covid though.
10:38 AM
Interesting team news
Manchester City are unchanged and are pretty settled in their system. Looks like it will be Grealish and Bernardo either side of Gabriel Jesus.
In a surprise selection, Arteta has picked Sead Kolasinac to play as a left-centre back with a three. The defence looks short of pace and quality but Odegaard, Saka, Smith Rowe and Aubameyang looks promising going forward for the away side.
10:36 AM
Arsenal arrived at the ground slightly late
Traffic problems, which is not unusual in Manchester. Kick off will remain at 12.30, they are here in time for the a warm up.
10:32 AM
Arsenal team and subs: Looks like a back three with Kolasinac, Tierney and Cedric included
10:31 AM
Manchester City team and subs: Raheem Sterling on the bench
10:30 AM
Arteta’s pre-match thoughts
“I cannot have more energy, more determination and more desire to turn things around,” Arteta replied when asked if exterior criticism fuels him.
“I I think nobody has that more than myself at the moment.
“It is not to do with that, it is because I know I am looking in the opposite way and when we are doing well, when people are enjoying, when people feel part of what we are doing, you get people happy – and when we have that power I just focus on that.
“There is always going to be people that are unhappy. I haven’t see any single fan with a manager, with players, that are happy when we are losing football matches. It just doesn’t happen and it is not realistic.”
10:13 AM
David Silva and Vincent Kompany statues unveiled today
09:54 AM
Another tough afternoon in store for Arsenal
To drop points against one north London club may be classed as misfortune, to do so twice would be carelessness. After losing to Tottenham on the opening weekend, Manchester City do not look like making the same mistake against an Arsenal side without a league point.
They have won nine and drawn one of 10 league meetings against Arsenal under Pep Guardiola, and not even the arrival of his former assistant Mikel Arteta has arrested this grim run. Arsenal did beat City 2-0 at Wembley in their 2020 FA Cup semi-final, but in the Premier League they have not laid a glove on the champions.
Depending on your perspective, Arsenal arrive in Manchester as either a team under heaps of pressure or none at all. City away is seen by most visiting teams as a free swing, and there is an argument Arsenal should just be looking to tick this fixture off before their season starts proper at home to Norwich after the international break.
On the other hand, that may be a little defeatist. Despite their excellence, City did lose four league matches at the Etihad last season, including to Leicester City and 10-man Leeds United. They are also without Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne and have failed to land their desired big money striker signing.
City are favourites for good reason. Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish ganging up on an Arsenal right side without a convincing right-back and summer signing Ben White looks a likey avenue to goal, and Gabriel Jesus was sharp in the thumping win over Norwich. Arsenal are also without key central midfielder Thomas Partey.
Arteta does have Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Martin Odegaard and Alexandre Lacazette available again after they missed the defeat against Chelsea, so Arsenal should carry more threat. Kieran Tierney and Bukayo Saka are also fit, while defender Gabriel returned to training this week.
Full team news on the way shortly.