Manchester City 4-1 Arsenal: summary, score, goals, highlights, Premier League 2022/23

City 4-1 Arsenal

A real statement performance from Manchester City who outclassed Arsenal in every department.

A brace from De Bruyne, a header on the stroke of half time from Stones and a late fourth from Erling Haaland helped Guardiola's men to secure maximum points against an Arsenal side that simply were not allowed play their traditional brand of football.

Two points behind the Gunners but with two games in hand, City are in pole position and playing with a composure of a team brimming with belief.

This is how the table looks.

City two points behind the Gunners but with 2 games in hand.

The whistle sounds and Manchester City move into pole position.

A predator's strike as the Norwegian runs on to the ball perfectly and slots past Ramsdale.

De Bruyne confirmed as 'Man of the Match'

Last minute of the game.

City have taken their foot off the pedal a little since the second De Bruyne goal.

We'll have five minutes of added time.

Grealish off as Foden comes on.

Well worked from Arsenal as Troussard slips the ball to the defender as he blasts home.

Nketiah fires the ball across the face of the City goal but no player in a red shirt is there.

Bright from the Arsenal sub.

The clock ticks down and Arsenal will just want to get this over with and turn their sights on future fixtures.

All The Gunners can do now is hope that City slip up with their congested fixture list.

Jesus off along with Saka as Nketia and Reiss Nelson are on.

Alvarez on for City. De Bruyne leaves to a standing ovation.

Free for Arsenal as Rodri handles just outside the box.

Saka shoots but drives wide.

Alvarez poised to make an entrance for City.

Grealish is carded as he squares up to Partey.

The Ghana international also has his name taken.

City just managing the game now and inviting a little more pressure from Arsenal.

A 12th successive win for the Sky Blues over the side from North London on the cards.

Mahrez poised to make an entrance. Gundogan makes way.

Smith Rowe the Arsenal sub as Odegaard is the player sacrificed. 

Just the 1 shot on target for the Gunners.

Arsenal have the youngest squad of the Premier League but it does look that this win will hand control to City. 

The future is bright for the Gunners though and the side from London left lacking in too many departments.

Gundogan gets on the ball outside the box but blazes over.

'Are you Tottenham in disguise' taunt City fans !

Jorginho and Troussard to come on for Arsenal.

Martinelli and Xhaka making way.

Arsenal create a half chance but City block and concede a corner.

'Campeones, campeones' is the call now from City fans.

The Premier League does not end tonight....but.....

Who can stop City now? Guardiola's side have hit their stride at the perfect time of the season... the club are alive in three competitions and seem unstoppable.

Haaland is through on goal but once again, Ramsdale is alert and saves well from the Norwegian.

City are first to everything. 

Incredible to see Arsenal second best to another side as they have impressed on countless times over the course of the 22-23 campaign.

Xhaka strikes and the ball is straight at Ederson.

First effort of target for the visitors. 

Arsenal need to be at their best and will look for an early goal as a manner of getting a foothold back in the contest.

City still on track for a FA Cup, UCL and Premier League treble.

Off we go again... City start the action.

'Live' Premier League table

With the current scoreline in Manchester, this is how the league table currently looks. 

Man City are really throwing down a marker tonight.

Kevin De Bruyne has been immense for the home side and that John Stones header just before the interval is a massive body blow for Arsenal.

We've seen little or nothing from the usual flair players such as Saka, Martinelli, Jesus or Odegaard.

The whistle sounds and City are very, very much in control.

Dias carded as he kicks out at White.

'Arsenal are falling apart again' sing the City fans (to the tune of 'Love will tear us apart' by Manchester's finest Joy Division 

De Bruyne assists and Stones scores

VAR also being consulted and there is a degree of debate about the ruling.

Onside is the verdict.

Goal for City

Partey fouls Haaland and City win a dangerous free.

Last minute of the half.

Fr Bruyne and Grealish over the ball as 2 minutes will be added.

Ederson fists away and the ball is ultimately hit behind for a goal kick for City.

Arsenal are simply not being allowed to play their traditional brand of football as City press and force the Gunners into errors.

Corner for the North London side.

City almost make it 2-0 as Ramsdale needs to save with his feet.

Will City regret these missed chances?

Five left in the half and Mikel Arteta will be keen to get his players back into the dressing room for some tactical analysis as it's been a poor half from the Gunners.

If there is any good news, it's that the side from London only trail 1-0.

Play held up as Partey collides with Haaland and as it's a head injury, the ref pauses the action.

De Bruyne feeds Haaland with an exquisite pass as Haaland drills the ball inches wide with Ramsdale possibly having the ball covered.

City look so dangerous when they attack Arsenal through the middle.

Concern on the faces of the Arsenal fans who have made the trip up to Manchester as Partey drills the ball inches wide.

Decent strike from the Black Star international.

Past the half-hour mark and its FIFA Football from Manchester City at the moment.

Slick passing and movement.

Haaland shoots and forces yet another save from Ramsdale, albeit the strike did come from an acute angle.

Arsenal with 0 shots on target.

Haaland now goes close as he picks up on a ball from De Bruyne.

City are rampant and Arsenal are hanging on for dear life. 

Ben White is Arsenal's saviour as De Bruyne was poised to make it 2-0.

Gabriel and White stand firm to deny the Belgian international and City are so comfortable here in this huge Premier League clash.

Arsenal enjoy a decent passage of possession but fail to get the ball into the box.

Martinelli fouls and the move breaks down.

Silva shoots and fails to get any purchase on the effort as Ramsdale gathers with ease.

City totally dominant with City bossing 91% possession in the past ten minutes.

Arsenal really struggling in the early minutes of the game as City look so well set up.

We've yet to see Saka or Martinelli on the ball on the flanks yet. Odegaard has also yet to shine tonight too.

Arsenal on top possession wise but it's City who control the most important statistic of all with that early De Bruyne goal.

Both Arteta and Pep livewires in their respective technical areas.

Guardiola was ecstatic with the early City goal.

City playing with 110% intensity and Arsenal struggling to match that high tempo so far.

City 1-0 Arsenal

De Bruyne opens the scoring in the 7th minute

So, what can Arsenal do by way of reply ?

A huge blow for Mikel Arteta's men as Haaland and De Bruyne really made things look easy.

Just a slight hint of big game nerves as one or two passes being misplaced. 

Positive play from Arsenal as Saka and Martinelli work the ball well in their first foray into the City half.

2015 the last time The Gunners recorded a league win at the Etihad Stadium!

Early controversy as referee Oliver awards a free for Arsenal after City felt they were due a spot kick as De Bruyne and Partey tangle.

City start in a positive vein as Gundogan works the ball to the Arsenal byline and the delivery is easy for Ramsdale to gather.

Off we go... Arsenal start the game.

Hugs all round from the City players as Queen's 'Show Must Go On' plays on the stadium PA system....

Will the show be going on for Mikel Arteta or Pep Guardiola come the final whistle?

A reminder of the teams for those just joining us....

"I'll Follow You Everywhere" is the message on the massive tifo that covers the main stand at the Etihad Stadium.

'Blue Moon' belts out with added gusto as the home fans are well up for tonight's game.

A big, big game is just minutes away ... 

Will this be the game that dictates who wins the 2022-23 Premier League table ?

The players are in the tunnel. 

Arsenal in their classic red and white with City also in their traditional sky blue shirts, white socks.

Five minutes to go in Manchester as the atmosphere is building .... A pocket of Arsenal fans in the away end breaking the sea of sky blue as the fans prepare to unveil a large 'tifo'.

PREMIER LEAGUE

What happens if Arsenal and Manchester City finish level on points in the Premier League?

The Gunners are bidding for a first title since 2004, while City have won four of the last five under Pep Guardiola.

Arsenal undergo last minute prep

As the clock ticks towards kick-off, both teams go through final drills on the Etihad pitch ahead of a crunch game that will certainly go some way in deciding who lifts the trophy at the end of the month of May.

City-Arsenal: matchday weather

It's a fresh April evening in the city of Manchester with a current temperature of 11C/52F.

Skies are relatively clear and no rain is forecast during the contest with the temperature set to drop a couple of degrees as the game advances.

PREMIER LEAGUE

“It’s easy!” Guardiola on winning league title

City boss Pep Guardiola jokes with the media suggesting that winning a Premier League title is easy.

Fans making their way into the Etihad

A trickle of fans start to take their seats at the Etihad Stadium ahead of one of the most anticipated Premier League games in a very long while.

Arsenal really do need the win to keep things under their own control. A draw and especially a loss would certainly go some way in City taking control at the summit.

A City win would have Guardiola's side 2 points behind the Gunners with 2 games in hand. 

Arsenal set to employ a 4-3-3 formation with Jesus, Saka and Martinelli leading the line.

City opt for a 3-2-4-1 formation with Haaland the reference point in attack for Guardiola's side.

Arsenal XI announced

Mikel Arteta names his side for the clash at the Etihad Stadium and Swiss international Xhaka makes a return after missing Friday's home game against Southampton through illness.

Martin Odegaard makes his 100th appearance in an Arsenal shirt in possibly his biggest game as a Gunner.

City XI confirmed

This is the Man City side that will face Arsenal. 

Some City fans disappointed to see Mahrez starting on the bench after his three goals in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final win over The Blades.

Both teams can decide their own fate

Despite Arsenal having a five point lead over City at the top of the table, the Mancunian side do have two games in hand and uniquely, both teams can still decide their own fate.

The tide does seem to have swung City's way though as Guardiola's side look relentless at present and Arsenal do look like a team with a mini crisis of confidence.

City too arguably have a more benevolent run-in, but may be distracted by the Champions League semi-final clash with Real Madrid with the games being staged on 9 & 17 May 

City's FA Cup final time confirmed

The FA Cup final will be staged at 3pm (GMT) which is 10am ET/7am PT rather than the recent tradition of staging the game on a Saturday evening.

Apparently security concerns played a role in the earlier start. The game is scheduled for 3 June, a week before the Istanbul Champions League final.

Arsenal team news & injury updates

Arsenal come into the game with William Saliba, arguably the Premier League’s best defender this season, deemed unfit to feature after suffering a back injury against Sporting CP in the Europa League; Holding is expected to start in his place in the defensive line. Added to his absence could be Granit Xhaka, who has been ill, although he may return.

Tomiyasu is also ruled out for the Gunners and expected to return to full action mid-May as he continues rehabilitation work on his knee injury.

Nathan Aké the only absentee for Pep Guardiola

City have just one injury absentee for the potential title decider. That said, Nathan Aké has become an important part of Guardiola’s plans this season, nailing down a regular spot on the left side of a three-man defence. The Dutchman will not face the Gunners due to a hamstring problem, which also makes him a doubt for the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.

City-Arsenal: match official

Referee Michael Oliver has been appointed to oversee tonight's Premier League crunch game at the Etihad Stadium.

Only Paul Tierney (27) has taken charge of more Premier League games than Oliver (25) this season, while Graham Scott is the only one of 22 referees to have shown fewer yellow cards per fixture (2.96). Oliver ranks in the middle section of the table for almost every other metric, including fouls per game, penalties awarded per game and red cards per game (he has only shown one, to Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz away to Fulham).

In May 2009, Oliver refereed the League One play-off final at Wembley, 24 hours after his father Clive had officiated the League Two play-off final at the same stadium. And just last week, he took charge of Al Nassr vs Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, showing Cristiano Ronaldo a yellow card for dragging an opponent to the ground in a headlock.

City-Arsenal: past five meetings

Feb 2023: Premier League: Arsenal 1-3 City

Jan 2023: FA Cup: City 1-0 Arsenal

Jan 2022: Premier League: Arsenal 1-2 City

August 2021: Premier League: City 5-0 Arsenal

Feb 2021: Premier League: Arsenal 0-1 City

PREMIER LEAGUE

How many Premier League goals has Haaland scored against ‘big six’ clubs?

The Etihad is ready

All quiet now in the stadium, but an electric atmosphere is guaranteed come kick-off with 55,000 fans packed into the ground.

ARSENAL

Manchester City vs Arsenal: Stats behind Arsenal’s top performers

MANCHESTER CITY

Manchester City vs Arsenal: Stats behind City’s top performers

It's fair to say that Arsenal have endured something of a wobble in recent weeks and have drawn their last three games. Whilst Anfield (Liverpool) and Stratford (West Ham) are tough places to visit, it was Friday's draw at home to bottom side Southampton that has really caused concern for Gunners fans. Arteta's men did rally late-on and secured a point and the Basque manager will hope that his side show some of that late grit and determination at the Etihad tonight.

City are the form team in England, if not in Europe and have won 5/5 from their last Premier League outings. Guardiola's side are also in the final of the 2022/23 FA Cup after a win over Sheffield United last Saturday and are also in the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League where they face holders Real Madrid.

A treble is on the cards for the Sky Blues !

A casual look at the top of the Premier League table and it's clear to see why this game is being called a 'title decider'. While the loser tonight may still have a decent tilt at lifting the Premier League trophy at the end of May, the winner will take a massive, massive step towards being crowned champion.

The action in the Eastlands area of the city gets underway at 8pm (local time) / 3pm ET or 12pm PT

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Premier League clash between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium (Manchester).