Arsenal host Man City at the Emirates Stadium today in what already looks to be a Premier League title showdown. The Gunners, despite trailing the champions, have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the League campaign and can put major pressure on Pep Guardiola’s team with what would be a statement three points.
City’s loss to Wolves last time out and the suspension of key midfielder Rodri raises genuine hope in north London. Though Guardiola’s side were in ominous form at the start of the season, a pair of recent defeats would suggest they are perhaps not as unbeatable as they initially seemed.
Arsenal have confirmed the injury absence of Bukayo Saka and have not beaten City in the Premier League since 2015. If they truly want to be seen as genuine contenders, that needs to change. Follow Arsenal vs Man City LIVE with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog, where Dan Kilpatrick will be providing expert analysis from the ground!
Live updates
Arsenal 0-0 Man City | 4 mins
Earlier possession from the away team to quieten down the crowd, but a short roar emerges after Arsenal win it back.
Poor kick from David Raya gifts it back though and it’s not the first sloppy Gunners touch already.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City | 2 mins
Gabriel Jesus on the right of Arsenal’s attack with Martin Odegaard floating behind him.
City have Bernardo Silva playing quite deep in the midfield amongst Rico Lewis and Mateo Kovacic, and Julian Alvarez on the right wing of a 4-3-3.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City | Kick-off!
Here we go!
A warm embrace between the two managers on the touchline and the camera shows Bukayo Saka sat, contemplating on the sideline. Gabriel Jesus delivers the final words to his teammates in the Arsenal huddle, Ruben Dias likewise in the City huddle.
Michael Oliver blows his whistle and Arsenal vs Man City begins!
Kick-off coming up!
A reminder, Arsenal haven’t won this Premier League fixture since December 2015 when Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud netted for the Gunners.
Joel Campbell and Petr Cech were in the Arsenal XI that day!
Here come the players!
The Emirates is rammed and ready for this huge clash at the top of the table.
Both teams in their preferred home kits, they walk out the tunnel to a huge reception!
Dan Kilpatrick at Emirates Stadium
Goes without saying that the loss of Saka is a huge blow to Arteta, who must be rueing playing the winger in the midweek Champions League game at Lens.
City are missing key players of their own in De Bruyne and Rodri but it is a measure of the strength of their squad that Saka feels like the biggest absence this afternoon.
Man City face another day without Rodri
As the stats show, Rodri is a massive cog in the Man City machine and it shows how little faith Pep Guardiola has in Kalvin Phillips that he’s gone with teenage right-back Rico Lewis in midfield instead.
Lewis is an expert ball carrier but Arsenal will hope to take advantage of his inexperience.
Big test for Arsenal stars
Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are all missing from the XI for the hosts.
Jorginho will have a big job to keep the ball in midfield and isn’t known as a great one for the press, so City may not be too disappointed to see him come up against them today.
Eddie Nketiah is also under a fair bit of pressure to perform, with Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard the chief creative forces.
Arsenal vs Man City: Video preview
Mikel Arteta confirms Bukayo Saka injury latest
“He felt something then obviously you’re tempted to risk him. But he wasn’t able to train yesterday so that put him out of the game.
“It is [a blow] but we’ve lost players in recent weeks and had to adapt to it. He’s an important player for us, no question about that, but the team has to use the resources we have.”
