Man City v Arsenal - as it happened
The one we've all been waiting for has finally arrived. Manchester City take on Arsenal at the Etihad in what will surely prove pivotal in the Premier League title race. Only a win will do for both sides.
List of goalscorers
Match report in news
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90'FT: City 4-1 Arsenal. Gunners stutter when it mattered most, with City upping their game for the big stage. Guardiola's men are now just two points behind the Gunners with two games in hand. Despite a consolation from the visitors, they weren't able to comeback from the De Bruyne masterclass which had destined them to a three-goal defecit. Thanks for joining the live tonight, hope to see you soon.
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90'GOOALLLL FOR CITY!! HAALAND JUST CAN'T NOT JOIN THE FESTIVITIES! The Norwegian fires home simply after being released into the box off some mesmerising Foden skills.
Substitution
at Manchester City
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87'SUB for City: Foden coming on for Grealish.
Goaaaaaal!
de Arsenal en el 86'
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Statistics of Rob Holding in Premier League1310.08000
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86'GOOOOAAALLLLL FOR ARSENAL!!!! Holding gets one back for the vistors!! Trossard weaves into the box and his wayward touch finds its way into the path of Rob Holding who fires one into the back of the net.
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86'Corner for Arsenal here, finally getting the best of their hosts.
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83'Nketiah goes close by striking one across the face of goal.
Substitution
at Arsenal
Substitution
at Arsenal
Substitution
at Manchester City
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80'SUBS for Arsenal: Jesus and Saka off for Nketiah and Nelson
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80'SUBS: KDB off for Alvarez
Yellow card
a Manchester City
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75'Bit of scuffle starting here between Grealish and Partey, resulting in a yellow for both
Substitution
at Arsenal
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71'SUB for Arsenal: Odegaard off for Smith-Rowe
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71'SUB for City: Gundogan off for Mahrez
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70'Arsenal seem to have found a bit more urgency here, but City remain as solid as a rock at the back.
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65'Gundogan fires well over. Was worth a shot I guess.
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59'SUBS for Arsenal: Martinelli and Xhaka off for Trossard and Jorginho.
Goaaaaaal!
de Manchester City en el 54'
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Statistics of K. De Bruyne in Premier League3270.221610
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54'GOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!!! CITY ARE WITH AN UNSAILABLE LEAD NOW!!! It's De Bruyne once more here after he passes it past Ramsdale into the back of the net. Absolute mountain for Arsenal now... title looks to be going to Manchester.
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53'Another save from Ramsdale after Haaland was released in on goal.
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49'Zinchenko puts it out for a corner.
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48'Ben White's cross collected by Ederson after a promising Arsenal start.
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46'We are back underway here at the Etihad!! Last 45 minutes to save the title here for Arsenal?
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45'HT: City 2-0 Arsenal. Dominance from City. After opening the scoring via a brilliant De Bruyne strike, the home side continued their attacks throughout the half, with Ramsdale coming to rescue on several occasions. They were unable to prevent a second, however, when John Stones' header was rightly over-turned by VAR to make things 2-0. A lot of work to do for Arteta in the dressing room here.
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45'A heated moment up the other end after Ben White makes a foul before all the nearest players get involved. Dias booked for his reaction.
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45'GOOOAALLLL!! CITY END UP BEING AWARDED IT!! After a long VAR check, it proves Stones to be onside, therefore gifting City a two-goal lead.
Goal disallowed
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45'GOAL for City but RULED OUT for offside. John Stones rose the highest at the back stick to head home, but the England international was clearly ahead of the last Gunner.
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44'Free-kick for City in a dangerous position here after Partey takes out Haaland from behind.
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42'Arsenal get a rare break and force a corner.
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41'Ramsdale's foot pokes a Haaland attempt away, keeping it away from the two City men ready to pounce on the loose ball.
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40'Grealish being a nuisance down the left as we've come to expect from recent weeks. Arsenal survive this time.
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36'Haaland scrapes the paint off the outside of the post there after a wonderful counter attack from the home side ends at the Norwegian's feet.
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35'Partey gets what seems like Arsenal's first shot of the night, but he curls it just wide. Good effort.
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32'Haaland tries his luck from a tough angle on the left hand side but Ramsdale blocks once more. The fact he even tried that was ridiculous, outrageous angle.
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31'City still dominating the ball here, Arsenal not even getting a look in.
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28'Ramsdale to the rescue there!! Haaland was through and after dancing his way around a couple of Arsenal centre-backs, the Norwegian's shot just wasn't potent enough to get past Ramsdale.
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26'De Bruyne almost grabs a second! The Belgian was let through from the half-way line before eventually being caught up and tackled off the ball by Ben White. Gunners really need to wake up here.
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23'Xhaka wins a dangerous foul here after a high foot.
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22'Bernardo Silva nudges his way into the box through a couple of Arsenal men, but the shot just wasn't strong enough to properly trouble Ramsdale.
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21'Rodri torn down by Partey in the midfield.
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19'City getting their footballing prowess back here, controlling the possession here.
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15'The Gunners have had the majority of the possession so far (66%), but City have made their one shot count.
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11'Arsenal just using the last few minutes to get some possession together to try and find some rhythm. Ideal start for City.
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9'Odegaard caught offside there after he was just too eager to get forward. Right intentions from the Gunners after that quick City start.
Goaaaaaal!
de Manchester City en el 7'
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Statistics of K. De Bruyne in Premier League3270.221610
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7'GOOOOOAAAALLLLLLL FROM DE BRUUYYNNEEEEE!!!!!! That's how you counter-attack! The Belgian midfield maestro picks it up in the midfield before taking on what seemed to be like the whole of the Arsenal side before opening fire from outside the box. Ramsdale is unable to reach far enough into the corner to stop that one and the Etihad erupts for the first time tonight!
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1'UNDERWAYYYY HERE AT THE ETIHAD!!
Start of match
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PRVWBoth sets of players finally walking out here, now is when stuff gets really good!
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PRVWAppearance number 100 for Odegaard here tonight, congratulations, Martin!
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PRVWAround 30 minutes until we're live here in Manchester, as the tension inside the Etihad is growing too.
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PRVWJust the one change from Arteta here tonight, with Xhaka making his way back in for Vieira.
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PRVWGuardiola makes FIVE changes from the Citizens' last game in the FA Cup against Sheffield United.
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PRVWArsenal line-up CONFIRMED: Ramsdale, White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Jesus.
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PRVWMan City line-up CONFIRMED: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Akanji, Stones, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Bernardo, Grealish, Haaland.
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PRVWReally not long to go now until line-ups are out here... stay tuned because we'll be bringing you the team news as soon as it lands!
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PRVWIt's a game to cherish for Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, as the Norwegian said "I think it’s important we really enjoy this game and play with a smile."
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PRVWMichael Oliver is the man in the middle for this one tonight, and boy ahs he got a big tie on his hands!
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PRVWLovely spring evening here in Manchester, with temperatures at around 11 degrees and sunny.
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PRVWArsenal have arrived in Manchester and they're making themselves feel at home before the 21:00 CEST kick-off.
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PRVWAs for Arteta, he hailed it as an "incredible opportunity" to become champions, but also stressed the importance of the game: "you want to be champion, you have to win these matches, it is as simple as that."
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PRVWGuardiola was confident of his side's chances of lifting the trophy come the end of the season if they manage to get over the line tonight, saying "if they win it depends on them. The destiny will be in their hands. But if we win, definitely the destiny will be in our hands."
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PRVWAs for City, they've won 10 of their last 11 Premier League games, with the side winning their last 10 at the Etihad.
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PRVWIt's been anything but ideal preparation for the Gunners for this one, drawing their last three in the Prem. Most recently they were lucky to scrape a point against a stunning Southampton side after coming back from 1-3 down to destroy Saints' dreams.
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PRVWTherefore, if Arsenal draw or lose tonight, the title would be in City's hands. The Sky Blues would be five points behind after a draw, but just two if they win today, both still with two games in hand, of course.
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PRVWCity are chasing Arsenal here at the Etihad, as Guardiola's men are currently 5 points off Arteta's squad's pace. The Citizens do, however, have two games in hand on the Gunners.
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PRVWRight, now for some must-know info before the game...
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PRVWArsenal POSSIBLE line-up: Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Jesus
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PRVWMan City POSSIBLE line-up: Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Laporte; Stones, Rodri; Mahrez, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland
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PRVWBefore we get into all the build-up for this one, let's take a quick look at how both sides might be lining up...
Pre-match
26 April 2023, 21:00
Referee: Michael Oliver
Stadium: Etihad Stadium
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PRVWHello and welcome to our live coverage of the all-important one... It's City vs Arsenal!!