Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Granit Xhaka returns for the Gunners in boost to Mikel Arteta… as Kyle Walker stars for Pep Guardiola’s side in HUGE clash dubbed Premier League ‘final’
Follow Mail Sport’s live blog for the crunch Premier League clash between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad.ย
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1′ – Gabriel Jesus gets us underway at the Etihad from kick-off.
Ilkay Gundogan and Martin Odegaard lead the two sides out of the Etihad tunnel and on to the pitch, and we’re now moments away from kick-off.
A reminder: Arsenal are ahead by five points at the top of the Premier League table, but Man City are hot on their heels with two games in hand.
Here we go!
The Etihad is bouncing and we’re only minutes away from the much-anticipated kick-off between Manchester City and Arsenal.
Don’t go anywhere!
๐ Locked in and ready to go
Kick off ๐ pic.twitter.com/wyvOZBsH35
Gunners legend and ex-Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira doesn’t feel it’s now or never for Arsenal.
He fully believes his old club has more than enough firepower to win the title this season, but is confident they’ll make another charge next campaign should they fall short.
Do you agree?
"Mikel and his staff deserve a lot of credit."
"If they manage to stick together, they will grow. The future is ahead of them and they WILL win a title."
It's a matter of time before Arsenal win silverware according to @OfficialVieira and @martinkeown5 ๐ฎ pic.twitter.com/WXqylSVXvL
Not too long now until we’re underway at the Etihad…
Time to train ๐ค pic.twitter.com/svamFfVOkI
Pep Guardiola has opted for four right-footed defenders across his back line, perhaps to negate the threat of Bukayo Saka cutting in on his left foot.
That being said, Saka has struggled in the past against Ake and could enjoy more freedom on the flank as a result, particularly if he hugs the touchline in a bid to get round the defender.
It’s not yet clear who will line up at left-back, with Walker, Stones, Dias and Akanji named in the starting line-up.
Regardless, it seems like Arteta is prepared. He said ahead of the match: ‘Kyle Walker is playing in the [Man City] team. They’re playing without any left footers in the backline.
‘For sure, they have worked on something – like we have – and in the end it’s down to the players.’
The Arsenal boss insists his players are up for the fight ahead of kick-off. He urged that they need to improve defensively and avoid conceding sloppy goals.
"This is where we have to be, we have to always be at the highest level."
Mikel Arteta is relishing the occasion this evening as Arsenal take on current Premier League champions Man City ๐ pic.twitter.com/4rfbCsrJVj
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard marks his 100th appearance for the Gunners this evening.
๐ฏ up for Martin! pic.twitter.com/AsGKDguZrB
Zinchenko starts at left-back for Arsenal as Xhaka returns alongside Partey in midfield.
๐ด ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ โช๏ธ
๐ Xhaka returns
๐ช Odegaard makes 100th appearance
โก๏ธ Jesus in attack
ย
Letโs do this – together! pic.twitter.com/0oUpIYvl0o
Guardiola opts to go without Mahrez and Laporte as Gundogan partners De Bruyne in midfield.
๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ช๐ฆ ๐ช
XI | Ederson, Walker, Dias, Akanji, Stones, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan (C), Bernardo, Grealish, Haaland
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Phillips, Laporte, Alvarez, Gomez, Mahrez, Foden, Palmer, Lewis#ManCity | @HaysWorldwide pic.twitter.com/sf5NFOZj98
Pep Guardiola’s men have arrived at the Etihad and are ready for action.
Stay tuned for team news next!
Landed at the Etihad! ๐#ManCity | @okx pic.twitter.com/RxK6lttm4o
All eyes will no doubt be on Manchester City’s title clash against Arsenal tonight, but there’s plenty of action going on elsewhere in the Premier League.
Nottingham Forest host Brighton, Brentford take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and Liverpool travel to London to face West Ham.
We’re also doing a live blog covering the remaining matches in the Premier League tonight, so be sure to head over there first for all the latest updates.
Erling Haaland can expect a celebratory phone call from Norway team-mate Martin Odegaard if Arsenal win at the Etihad tonight, the Gunners midfielder revealed jokingly ahead of the huge six-pointer.
Haaland and Odegaard played alongside each other on 22 occasions for their country – and both Norwegians are dreaming of lifting the Premier League trophy for the first time in May.
In an interview with Gunners icon Tony Adams, Odegaard joked that he will contact the Man City goal machine as soon as he can if Arsenal come out on top.
Real Mail Sport’s full story below…
Manchester City crushed any hope of a dream FA Cup final appearance for Sheffield United last weekend as Riyad Mahrez’s hat-trick inspired the Premier League champions to a 3-0 win at the Etihad.
Mail Sport’s SAMI MOKBEL revealed this afternoon that the cash-strapped club’s £115millon takeover is set for a collapse, amid claims their potential new owner has already invested in the Blades.
Read more on the developing story below…
Gunners legend Ian Wright admits his old club aren’t the ‘juggernaut’ that Manchester City are – but insists Arsenal have dealt with every test so far this season and refuses to write off the visitors.
Meanwhile, Mo Farah and John Barnes also had their say on the clash while speaking to Sky Sports…
๐ฃ๏ธ "Every test that has been put in front of Arsenal they've dealt with it"
Ian Wright, Mo Farah and John Barnes have given their predictions on who will emerge triumphant in the title race between Arsenal and Manchester City ๐ฎ pic.twitter.com/Ukajp6ecjm
Arsenal sit five points ahead of Manchester City ahead of tonight’s clash, but the reigning champions have two games in hand. Therefore, as it stands, the title is still in both teams’ hands.
After the Etihad showpiece, Arsenal must play Chelsea, Newcastle, Brighton, Nottingham Forest and Wolves. Meanwhile, Manchester City have matches against Fulham, West Ham, Leeds, Everton, Chelsea, Brighton and Brentford.
Who’s your money on?
Here's Arsenal and Man City's remaining Premier League fixtures, ahead of a huge clash this evening! โ๏ธ๐ฟ pic.twitter.com/XHS2qwwcSX
Pep Guardiola almost has a sixth sense when it comes to Riyad Mahrez. The winger has a habit of running hot and cold in front of goal – but when the manager gets it right, which he often does – the results can be devastating.
The Algerian superstar stunned Sheffield United with a well-taken hat-trick in the FA Cup last time out and could tempt Guardiola into deploying him again on the right flank against Arsenal.
The Spaniard tends to deploy Mahrez against deep blocks or weaker opposition, simply because his ability to cut inside and create or score for City is exceptional off the right-hand side. His weakness, at least when compared to Silva or Alvarez, is the ability to track back and support the right-back in defence. Guardiola will know all too well the attacking threat Zinchenko poses from left-back.
Despite his hat-trick last time out, there’s no guarantee Mahrez starts against Arsenal. If he does, expect City to make a fast start in attack.
The league leaders have arrived at Etihad with just under two and a half hours until kick-off.
We’re edging closer!
Weโve arrived ๐
๐Etihad Stadium pic.twitter.com/qdROsGws9o
With 32 Premier League goals to his name – and 48 across all competitions this season – Erling Haaland has been a revelation for Manchester City and heads into tonight’s clash as the obvious danger man.
His team-mate Bernardo Silva described the Norwegian as ‘unbelievable’ and has compared him to both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi – who have long been considered the two best players in the world for almost twenty years.
If Haaland scores tonight he’ll break Mohamed Salah’s record for the most goals scored in a single 38-game season – not bad for your first season in the league, eh?
Read Mail Sport’s story on Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland for more…
Arsenal have still yet to keep a clean this season without William Saliba in their back line, which doesn’t bode well ahead of facing off against the Premier League’s best attack tonight.
It’s perhaps even more concerning that their win percentage without the Frenchman drops by almost half, going from 78 per cent to 40 per cent.
Rob Holding has deputised well in his absence, but it’s no doubt Mikel Arteta is missing his star defender. Targeting Holding early will surely be the game plan from Manchester City early on…
A look at how important William Saliba has been to @Arsenal this season ๐งฑ pic.twitter.com/phnP0crvit
Predicting huge title brawls can prove tricky business in the Premier League. Some turn into extremely one-sided affairs while others materialise into cagey low-scoring draws.
Artificial intelligence system ChatGPT has predicted a 2-1 win to Manchester City, with Erling Haaland netting the winner in the 80th minute, but who else does it think will score at the Etihad?
Read Mail Sport’s full story below to take a look…
Hello! Hope you’ve enjoyed Mail Sport’s build-up so far ahead of the huge showpiece at the Etihad tonight.
I’ll be here from now until full-time to bring you live updates, team news and match action, so be sure to stay with us throughout the evening.
We’re a little under three hours away from kick-off and still have plenty of build-up to bring you ahead of this Premier League title clash.
Stay tuned!
The Etihad Stadium has not been a happy hunting ground for Arsenal in recent years. They lost 3-0 there in their first game back after the season was paused for the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, and things went even worse last term when they were thrashed 5-0 and Granit Xhaka was sent off.
That was a particularly low moment in Mikel Arteta’s tenure, but his predecessors also struggled at City, and it has been eight long years since Arsenal last won at the Etihad.
That 2-0 victory in January 2015 shows it can be done, and there is still hope for Arsenal despite their stuttering recent run.
Mail Sport takes a look at what happened to Arsenal’s starting XI and subs that day.
Read the full story below…
A reminder of the state of play in the Premier League.
Arsenal currently hold a five point lead over Man City – something that every Gunners supporter would have bitten your hand off for at the start of the season – but after three successive draws, the title is technically in City’s hands.
Pep Guardiola’s side have two games in hand, meaning if they win tonight they could open up a four point lead if they won these spare games.
But, if Arsenal can win, the title would be back in their hands heading into the final run-in of the season.
Since beating Leeds 4-1 at the start of the month, it has been a tricky period for the Gunners.
First, they threw away a 2-0 lead against Liverpool in what still felt like a creditable draw at the time.
However, they then did the same against struggling West Ham, before they succumbed to a shock 3-3 draw with Southampton last Friday.
Mikel Arteta’s side have seen their lead cut to just five points at the top of the table, having played two games more than their title rivals.
After a dip in form after the World Cup, Man City have returned to imperious form over recent weeks, making up significant ground on Arsenal, while they have also reached the Champions League semi-final and FA Cup final.
They have won six successive games in the league, by a margin of 18 goals to four and are now breathing down the necks of Mikel Arteta’s side.
City also have previous for the run-in, with Pep Guardiola’s side infamously winning an astonishing 18 of their final 19 games in 2018-19 to pip Liverpool to the title by one point.
Similarly, last season, from Christmas onwards, they won 15 out of their final 20 games, losing just once as they again edged out Jurgen Klopp’s side by one point to win their fourth title in five seasons.
Having worked together for three years and won two Premier League titles while Mikel Arteta was Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Man City, it is clear there is a bond between the pair.
It has regularly been discussed how Arteta is Guardiola’s apprentice with many of the traits synonymous with the City boss implemented by his counterpart with the Gunners.
However, could it perhaps be that Arsenal’s superb performances this year have forced Guardiola to evolve and in fact become the apprentice, learning off Arteta’s tactical mastery?
Read the full story below…
Will @ManCity continue their imperious home form against the Gunners? ๐ช
They've won their last six, scoring 17 and conceding just three! ๐ฅ pic.twitter.com/N4iI7SoJ1y
Mail Sport has named our combined XI – but which big names will make it in and who will be left out?
Man City 3-1 Arsenal
City can smell blood and it’s Arsenal’s. Mikel Arteta’s team have had their opportunity to stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League in advance of this game but three draws on the spin have seen them blow it.
City know that victory tonight takes them in to pole position and I can’t imagine the defending champions passing that opportunity up.
Also, how do Arsenal keep City’s attack in check? They have just conceded seven goals in games against Southampton, West Ham and Liverpool? Can they really expect to keep Haaland and Co at bay? I don’t see it.
Having originally joined the Gunners in 2019 from Saint-Etienne, Saliba spent three successive seasons out on loan back in France at his former club, Nice and Marseille.
But since making his long-awaited debut for the club at the start of this season, the centre back has been one of the stars of Arsenal’s campaign.
Mikel Arteta’s side conceded 24 in the first 27 games of the season – with Saliba starting every single one.
However, his last league game was the 3-0 win over Fulham at the start of March and since then the Gunners have conceded nine goals in five games, highlighting his importance.
At his pre-match press conference, Arteta confirmed he would be missing again tonight in a major blow for his side.
Opta data has revealed the fastest players in the Premier League over this season.
Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson is perhaps surprisingly in first place after the Welshman racked up a speed of 22.80 mph against Man City in February.
Three players from Arsenal and one from Man City make the top 10 but you might be surprised to find out who they are…
Read the full story below…
Tonight’s clash could turn out to be one of those iconic games that is looked back on in years to come given its magnitude.
There have been several similar ‘Premier League finals’ in the league’s history and many of these have been memorable.
Mail Sport takes a look at the best ones from the past.
Read the full story below…
One of the many things these two teams have in common is the fact they are spearheaded by a Norwegian superstar.
For Arsenal it is their skipper Martin Odegaard and for Man City it is the goal machine Erling Haaland.
Mail Sport’s DAN MATTHEWS writes on the revolution of Norwegian football that is being driven by these two Premier League talismen.
Read the full story below…
There are several intriguing match-ups tonight in what are likely to be decisive factors in who emerges victorious.
How will Rob Holding deal with Erling Haaland? Will Nathan Ake’s absence mean Bukayo Saka has a field day? And how do the Gunners prevent Kevin De Bruyne dominating the game?
Mail Sport’s MARTIN KEOWN takes an in-depth look at the key tactical battles.
Read the full story below…
Mikel Arteta’s side have been spotted out in Manchester for a morning walk ahead of this evening’s crunch game.
They seemed in a relaxed, but focused mood ahead of the ultimate test of their title credentials.
And in good news for Gunners fans, Granit Xhaka was out with his team-mates after he had been viewed as a doubt for this game.
Read the full story below…
‘Manchester City’s media auditorium was packed to the rafters when Pep Guardiola walked into it on Tuesday just after 1.30pm.
‘Spring sunshine streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows and Guardiola stole a glance through them at the deserted Academy Stadium.
‘He looked on edge. The biggest game of this strange two-part season is upon us, the climax of the duel between City and Arsenal, so of course he looked on edge.’
Mail Sport’s chief sports writer OLIVER HOLT writes on the intense title battle we are witnessing and Pep Guardiola’s experiences across Europe in these exact situations during his managerial career.
With the magnitude of tonight’s game, along with the fact that Arsenal are coming into it after three successive draws, it is perhaps no surprise Pep Guardiola fears a backlash from the Gunners.
‘I always had the feeling that it would have been so difficult to play them at this stage,’ the City manager said at his pre-match press conference. ‘But after three games dropping points it will be much, much more difficult now.
‘I would have preferred it if they had come here with better results. They didn’t win a game. It would always be difficult but with these results it will [now] be much more difficult.’
Read the full story below…
Mail Sport’s DAN MATTHEWS has also had his say on tonight’s game.
‘Manchester City 2-0 Arsenal.
‘Arsenal will cause early problems but City’s control and clinical attack will tell in the second half.’
Man City will be without Nathan Ake, who contained Bukayo Saka so effectively at the Emirates, with the Dutchman an unsung hero for Pep Guardiola’s side this season.
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta could reshuffle his back line and move Ben White to centre back to help deal with the threat of Erling Haaland.
Despite fears about his fitness, Granit Xhaka should return for Arsenal in what will be a huge boost for the Gunners.
We’ve already mentioned the difference in defensive record for Arsenal with and without William Saliba and it is clear the Frenchman’s absence is hurting Arsenal significantly at the moment.
Rob Holding has failed to provide the same solidity in the back line as Saliba and this is something that is costing the Gunners in games.
Mail Sport’s Sami Mokbel delves into the defender’s lay-off.
Read the full story below…
Tonight’s clash has been billed in many quarters as a winner-takes-all tie in terms of lifting the Premier League title.
However, Guardiola insisted that despite the game being hugely important for Man City’s season, it wouldn’t define whether they win the title or not.
‘Perfection doesn’t exist in football,’ he said. ‘Against top teams your standards have to be so, so high, read exactly what you have to do to impose your game.
‘Tomorrow is really important, not decisive because there are many tough games for both sides. We have more tough games to play but cannot deny how important it is.’
Read the full story below…
Mail Sport’s Northern Football reporter JACK GAUGHAN has also had his say on tonight’s game.
‘Man City 3-1 Arsenal.
‘Given the form table, City should have too much in both boxes.
‘Erling Haaland will be licking his lips given Arsenal’s recent defensive record.’
It has been a frankly ridiculous debut season from Erling Haaland since his £51m move to Man City last summer.
The Norwegian currently has 48 goals in all competitions including 32 in the Premier League.
If he scores tonight, he will go ahead of Mohamed Salah as the top ever scorer in a 38-game season, with Alan Shearer and Andy Cole the only players to score more with 34 goals – although that took place across a 42-game season.
You can obviously follow live coverage of Man City vs Arsenal with Mail Sport right here but for details on how to watch it live, team news and more, check out our full story below.
He may have served as his assistant for three years between 2016-19, with the pair helping Man City win two titles in three years, but Mikel Arteta revealed he hasn’t spoken to Pep Guardiola since City beat Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates in February.
‘Exact date? Probably the last time we played,’ Arteta said, referring to the first league game between the teams on February 15 that saw Kevin de Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland all find the net after Bukayo Saka had levelled from the spot.
Arteta was then asked if Guardiola had been in touch with him this week in the build-up to the game, simply responding: ‘No.’
Read the full story below…
Several predictions are flying about for tonight’s clash but Mail Sport’s Chris Sutton has given his backing to Pep Guardiola’s side.
SUTTON: ‘I can only see one winner in this ‘Premier League final’ and that is the utterly relentless, ridiculously talented City.
‘Pep Guardiola will defeat his prodigy Mikel Arteta to take the initiative in this riveting title race.
‘Manchester City 3-1 Arsenal.’
Having originally joined the Gunners in 2019 from Saint-Etienne, Saliba spent three successive seasons out on loan back in France at his former club, Nice and Marseille.
Since making his long-awaited debut for the club at the start of this season, the centre back has been one of the stars of Arsenal’s campaign.
Mikel Arteta’s side conceded 24 in the first 27 games of the season – with Saliba starting every single one.
However, his last league game was the 3-0 win over Fulham at the start of March and since then the Gunners have conceded nine goals in five games, highlighting his importance.
In what is a huge blow for Arsenal, Mikel Arteta confirmed that William Saliba is still absent and will miss tonight’s game.
The French defender has been a revelation this season and had been an ever-present this season before suffering ‘structural damage’ in his back.
There were hopes he may be back for the clash at the Etihad, but the Gunners boss confirmed Saliba has been unable to train, while highlighting Granit Xhaka is also a doubt after missing last Friday’s game with Southampton through illness.
Read the full story below…
A reminder of the state of play ahead of tonight.
Arsenal currently hold a five point lead over Man City – something that every Gunners supporter would have bitten your hand off for at the start of the season – but after three successive draws, the title is technically in City’s hands.
Pep Guardiola’s side have two games in hand, meaning if they win tonight they could open up a four point lead if they won these spare games.
But, if Arsenal can win, the title would be back in their hands heading into the final run-in of the season.
And welcome to the start of Sportsmail’s live coverage of the huge Premier League title clash between Manchester City and Arsenal on Wednesday evening.
Be sure to stay with us for all the build-up throughout the day, before one of the biggest games in Premier League history gets underway at 8PM tonight.
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