0'
Arsenal starting XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior, Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Jesus, Havertz.
Subs: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, Zinchenko, Partey, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Trossard, Martinelli, Nketiah.
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Man City starting XI: Ortega, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodri, Kovacic, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Foden, Haaland.
Subs: Carson, Stones, Grealish, Doku, Alvarez, Gomez, Nunes, Bobb, Lewis.
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Man City have injury doubts over Kyle Walker, John Stones and Manuel Akanji in defence after the FIFA break. Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka missed fixtures for Brazil and England respectively and are also question marks coming into this fixture. Gabriel Jesus and Oleks Zinchenko are facing this former club, although neither is expected to be in the starting XI for Arsenal.
0'
City have won 17 of their last 19 matches with the only disappoints being a 1-1 draw vs Chelsea and a fortunate 1-1 draw away to Liverpool. Arsenal have won eight league matches in a row with 33 goals scored, over four per game on average. Something has to give in Manchester this evening and both sides will know the result of Liverpool vs Brighton before this one kicks off.
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The reverse fixture saw Arsenal win 1-0 thanks to a late deflected goal by Gabriel Martinelli. That victory ended a 12-match losing streak in the Premier League for the Gunners against Pep Guardiola's team. Can Mikel Arteta beat his mentor again today or was the reverse fixture an anomoly?
0'
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the mouthwatering potential title decider between Man City and Arsenal in the English Premier League. Kickoff at the Etihad Stadium is at 5.30pm SAST.
1'
KICKOFF! Referee Anthony Taylor blows his whistle and the match is underway.
2'
OFFSIDE! A first flashpoint as Bernardo Silva releases Haaland behind the Arsenal defence. He takes on Saliba and goes down in the box but the flag is raised so we won't find out what would have happened.
3'
Foul: Bernardo Silva twists past Kiwior with ease and is pulled back by Gabriel Jesus. Somehow the Brazilian avoids a 100% yellow card.
4'
De Bruyne delivers the resulting freekick and it's a teasing ball towards Haaland. White puts it behind for a corner and after several phases of pressure, Arsenal finally get it clear.
7'
WIDE! Some good interplay down the Arsenal right sees Saka tee up White for a cross. It reaches Jesus at the back post where he has it down off his chest and pokes a shot a yard wide of goal.
8'
City have had 62% of the possession in the first eight minutes but Arsenal are beginning to get a foothold in the match now.
10'
Now, Raya kicks it straight to Rodri. Bernardo finds De Bruyne on the overlap for Man City but his cross is caught by Raya in the box.
12'
Arsenal are being suffocated here. City are playing very high up the pitch and every time they give it away, they swarm all over the Gunners and get it back immediately. Kiwior has had a tough start and gives it away cheaply for Arsenal.
14'
Jorginho gets some space for Arsenal and releases White with a ball over the top. The right back delivers into the area but Ortega catches it easily. Remember, Ederson is out injured today and City's backup goalkeeper is the veteran Scott Carson.
15'
CHANCE! Gvardiol bombs forward for City and wins a corner. De Bruyne delivers a in-swinger from the left, it reaches Ake about two yards from goal and he can't meet it with his head, instead letting it hit his arm with it going straight at Raya. That was a huge opening for the Dutch defender.
17'
Arsenal win a corner and their set piece coach Nicolas Jover is on his feet. Saka delivers deep to the back post but Ortega catches it well despite being surrounded by opponents.
19'
City have the ball almost permanently in the Arsenal half. Even Havertz is about 40 yards from his own goal. Jesus loses patience and trips Foden with the referee telling him to use his head as a yellow can't be far off.
22'
Arteta must be worried here. Saka has a rare glimmer of a counter but Gvardiol cuts that off. Raya goes long but kicks it straight out of play. City have had 73% of the possession.
24'
Both De Bruyne and Akanji deliver crosses from the right but Jorginho and then Kiwior clear the danger well.
25'
CLOSE! A rare Arsenal counter sees Odegaard release Havertz. He tries a one-two with Jesus and slides to reach a loose ball, colliding with Ortega. He had every right to go for that and actually got first contact on the ball.
26'
SUB, Man City: Ake was moving slowly during that attack and has injured his calf. That's the end of his afternoon with Rico Lewis entering the action. That's City without Ake, Walker and Stones from their usual back four!
28'
Fouls: Gabriel catches De Bruyne on the knee and then Kiwior trips Bernardo Silva. Both of those are definite yellow cards but Anthony Taylor is refusing to dish out any cautions so far.
31'
Wide! Arsenal have come alive a bit now. White delivers a deep cross to Kiwior on the far side, he cushions it down for Jesus but the forward drags his left-footed effort wide of the target.
33'
City's buildup shape today has been interesting. Kovacic has been in a deep area a bit like a left centre back during the build-up phase with Gvardiol and pushing high up.
34'
For all of City's territory so far, they've managed just two touches in the Arsenal box. The Gunners have had six touches in City's box!
35'
Close! A poor Kovacic back pass gives Arsenal a chance. It's worked to Jesus, who works a yard but tries to dribble past too many players. The move eventually breaks down with Kiwior blown offside.
37'
City work the ball side to side, a bit like a possession game. Gvardiol eventually swings in a cross which Haaland meets but he is surrounded by defenders and can only flick the ball wide.
38'
Foul: Rice deliberately trips Haaland off the ball and again, he avoids a booking. The referee may not have packed his cards this evening because that's about four bookings totally ignored.
40'
Wide! Akanji delivers a cross, Rodri gets into the attack but he flicks a header wide. He also caught Gabriel in the jaw as he went for the ball.
41'
Gvardiola's deep cross forces Raya to backtrack and catch the ball under the crossbar. A few seconds earlier, Raya gave the ball away for about the fifth time in this match. His distribution so far has been below par.
42'
Now Raya goes more direct and after Kiwior flicks the ball on, Akanji sloppily puts the ball behind for a cheap corner to Arsenal.
43'
Rice delivers the Arsenal corner but Haaland heads partially clear. The Gunners try to keep things alive but Rice eventually overhits a forward pass. It's been a sloppy passing display by the Gunners with Rice, Saliba and Kiwior the main culprits.
45'
HALF TIME. It's 0-0 at the break after a tight, cagey and sloppy first period. City have had loads of possession in the Gunners half but have lacked any real penetration. Arteta's side have actually looked the more dangerous on their rare forays forward. Let's hope for a more open second half with some goals to enjoy! Join us in 15 minutes to find out. Man City 0-0 Arsenal.
45'
+1' We have had just two shots on target in this half with one effort apiece.
45'
Added time: two minutes.
45'
After Foden has a shot blocked, Havertz draws a freekick to slow things down as we edge towards half-time.
46'
KICKOFF! The second half is underway. Will we see some goals?
47'
WIDE! Kovacic tries a curling shot from distance which goes a few yards wide of Raya's goal. That opening came after Arsenal's tried to press higher up and were bypassed.
49'
Haaland only had seven touches in the first half but he's had two already in the second half. The first was to win a freekick off Gabriel before being caught on the ball himself.
52'
CLOSE! Arsenal rob City in their half. Odegaard slides a pass for Saka and he squares the ball into the area where Jesus can't reach it on the stretch as Akanji does enough.
54'
Arsenal commit three fouls in ten seconds and we see no yellows given. De Bruyne is waving four wingers in the face of the referee... that's how many booking Arsenal should have!
56'
City's shape is all over the place. They now have Gvardiol playing low, Kovacic higher up, Lewis next to Rodri and De Bruyne out on the right. Arsenal are forcing plenty of turnovers from their most aggressive pressing in the second half.
57'
Foden has a corner cleared by White. The ball is worked out to De Bruyne on the right where he is flagged offside. Guardiola is animated and we can see Doku, Bobb, Grealish and Alvarez all warming up.
59'
BLOCK! A cheap Jorginho giveaway leads to a Rodri shot. Gabriel does well to get out and charge down the effort.
61'
SUBS, Man City: Doku replaces Kovacic and Grealish comes on for Foden. De Bruyne has been off colour today and is a bit fortunate to stay on the pitch.
64'
Block! Already those subs see City with more final third possession. Grealish and Doku know how to hang onto the ball in those wide areas. Haaland fires a strike on the turn but it's straight into a defender.
65'
Saka stands on Grealish's foot and City have a freekick. De Bruyne delivers but Arsenal clear it with ease.
66'
SUBS, Arsenal: two alterations to freshen things up defensively. Tomiyasu comes on for Kiwior and Partey takes the place of Jorginho.
67'
Yellow card, Arsenal: Jesus is carded for timewasting. The first caution of this match.
69'
The possession numbers in the first half saw 72% for City. It's 77% for the hosts in the second half. Yet, we've had 24 minutes of football since half time and here we sit on zero shots on target in the second stanza.
71'
Yellow card, Man City: Bernardo Silva cuts down Saka to stop a counter and it given a caution.
72'
SUB, Arsenal: Gabriel Jesus goes off with Trossard entering the action.
73'
Trossard makes an impression right away with a dribble and a deflection leads to an Arsenal corner. Rice delivers but the ball fails to beat the first man.
75'
City are trying to overload down Arsenal's right and they're getting some joy. Saka twice tries to carry the ball out and is caught on it. He is showing signs of fatigue.
77'
Wide! De Bruyne out-runs Partey with ease and his low ball finds Doku. The Belgian leans back and skies a shot well wide. Doku never looks comfortable when playing on the right but how do you accommodate him and Grealish at the same time?
78'
SUB, Arsenal: Saka is taken off for Martinelli. The former was visibly exhausted.
79'
Yellow card, Arsenal: Raya is booked for timewasting.
81'
Arsenal win a corner and Rice has two opportunities to deliver with both of them cleared easily. They've tried the same routine of overloading the back post but it's led to pretty much zilch today.
84'
CHANCE! City win a corner, Gvardiol flicks on a the near post and Haaland somehow fails to turn it home at the back post. He missed the ball entirely as he seemingly tried to square it for Dias instead of going for goal!
86'
CHANCE! Slick football from Arsenal leads to an opening. Odegaard releases Trossard down the left. He has runners but goes for goal himself and forces Ortega into a straightforward save.
87'
Close! Rodri finds the run of Bernardo Silva in the box. He has a chance to shoot but decides not to volley it and instead looking for Haaland so Arsenal can clear. Put your foot through it!
88'
City work a short corner for De Bruyne to deliver. It's floated towards Haaland where Saliba beats him in the aerial duel. Both players took a knock during that challenge and need a little treatment.
89'
That Trossard effort in the 69th minute was the first shot on target in the match since the 25th minute. In fact, the two previous efforts were from Ake with his hand and Havertz with a tiny toe poke on the stretch. We've totally lacked goalmouth action.
89'
Saliba is fine after that piece of defending but Haaland is still down. He may have a concussion, with Alvarez warming up in case he's needed.
90'
FULL TIME. It's ends 0-0 in this tense title clash. We had only three shots on target. Arsenal will be the happier team with that point and Saliba had Haaland largely in his pocket besides an 84th minute chance from a corner. That is City's first 0-0 draw in 76 matches! Pep Guardiola is on the pitch telling Doku and Grealish what they did wrong whilst Gabriel and Haaland put their differences aside with a peace hug. Thanks for joining us for a tactical, tight affair with more yellow cards missed by the referee than chances created. Full time: Man City 0-0 Arsenal.
90'
+5' Rice dribbles out of trouble and launches a long pass for Martinelli. Gvardiol defends excellently though and even wins the goalkick.
90'
+3' De Bruyne delivers another tempting cross but Saliba again beats Haaland to the ball. The Frenchman has defended brilliantly today. It's strange that Didier Deschamps barely uses him in the national team.
90'
Added time: five minutes.
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