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As it happened: City v Arsenal

 MAN CITY 6-3 ARSENAL 

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Commentary by Carlo Petersen


16:47 - Manchester City have now cut Arsenal's lead at the top of the table to three points after this ripper of a game of football which more than lived up to all expectations. City are look unbeatable on home turf and have now scored a massive 35 goals at the Etihad in just eight games. However, they will need to improve their away form to be true title contenders. Thanks for joining us!


16:45 - PICTURE:

Top form: Fernandinho salutes Man City's supporters after scoring his second for the Sky Blues. The Brazilian has been selected as Man Of The Match today. (Pic: AFP)


16:40 - Struggling to keep up with these guys. Toure gets a penalty and buries it into the back of the net to close the game for City. That's six of the best for City.


16:40 - GOAL!!!


16:39 - Mertesacker gets his head on a cross from the right to get a third for The Gunners.


16:38 - GOAL!!!!!


16:34 - City are making a real fortress out of the Etihad as they coninue to drub all their visiting teams and entertain their fans with some scintilating football. They just don't stop attacking.


16:32 - Fernandinho dinks one over Szczesny to score a classy goal for the Sky Blues after some unselfish play from Nasri.


16:32 - GOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!!!


16:31 - Nasri fires over from close range as City keep attacking.


16:31 - Kompany receives the Blues' second yellow card of the game for a challenge on Vermaelen. We're into the final ten minutes of the game.


16:29 - City are having another good spell of possession and it looks as if Arsenal are getting caught napping at the back. Toure chips the ball over for Negredo, but Szczesny is out in a flash to make the block.


16:25 - PICTURE:

City ace: David Silva celebrates after scoring Man City's fourth goal against Arsenal. (Pic: AFP)


16:22 - Confusion haunts Arsenal fans, who look a bit exasperated as Giroud makes way for Bendtner.


16:19 - PICTURE:

Comeback kid: Theo Walcott scored a brace for Arsenal today after being sidelined with injury for three months. (Pic: AFP)


16:16 - What a game! Arsenal definitely do not look finished yet, but for all of their possession they seem to have run out of ideas to unlock the City defence. City look dangerous every time they attack too and are doing extremely well against the best defence in the league.


16:14 - Wilshere with a speculative drive which puts Pantilimon in full stretch as he turns it over for a corner! Great save!


16:10 - That's another for City as Silva gets his name on the scoresheet after Nasri worked into some space on the right before sliding the ball into Silva, who scores from close range after running onto the ball.


16:10 GOAL!!!!


16:07 - He definitely has his haters, but no one can discredit the man for that goal. Wow!! What a cracker! Theo Walcott is back ladies and gentlemen.


16:07 - GOAAAALLLLLLL!!!!!


16:03 - Giroud really is in the thick of everything good and some bad work produced by Arsenal. This time he charges into Zabaleta, but is given the benefit of the doubt and wins a free-kick - which comes to nothing but Arsenal seem to have their tails up now.


16:00PICTURE:

In and out: Aguero after scoring for City in the first-half. The Argentinian had to be replaced after getting injured in the second half. (Photo: AFP)


15:55 - I'm afraid this could get ugly for Arsenal here today as City have scored another one through Fernandinho, who robbed Sagna from the ball before curling in a delightful effort past Szczesny to make it 3-1 and open his scoring account for the Sky Blues!


15:55 GOAL!!!!!


15:34 - It's half-time at the Etihad. Man City are well in control of this match, but Arsenal still have a chance after managing to get in a goal against the run of play.


15:31 - Silva dances his way through Arsenal's midfield and passes to Toure, who is caught in possession again and despite a brief Arsenal flutter forward, City take control again.


15:29 - Koscielny seems to be badly injured. He had to be stretchered off. Thomas Vermaelen replaces him.


15:24 - City get back in front after some excellent work from Zabaleta on the right, who controlled a brilliant lob from Toure before putting a square ball into the danger zone for Negredo to slot in.


15:24 - GOAL!!!!!


15:22TWEET:

'Hahahah hahahahahaha it's a goal. Get in. Deflection or not who cares. 1-1' - @IanJamesPoulter


15:19 - Negredo with a chance to get City back in front after Silva threads a beauty through to him. His effort to find the corner is just wide though as he tries to curl it around Szczesny.


15:17 - Walcott brings Arsenal back into this one with a shot from outside the area after Toure was caught in possession on the halfway line. Took a bit of a deflection but good goal nonetheless.


15:16 - GOAL!!!!!


15:15 - Arsenal get something going on the left and Monreal wins a free-kick after Negredo slides in from behind but it's just a talking to, no yellow card.


15:11 - Toure gets his chance to take aim from outside the area after some nifty passing involving Negredo and Silva on the right. The big man's shot goes over the bar though as he tries to hit it on the volley.


15:09 - Nsri has a go from distance now but it's way off, much to the delight of the Arsenal fans, who jeer as he hangs his head in dismay.


15:05 - Kompany breaks through midfield an unleashes Negredo with a classy side-footed through-ball, but the shot at goal from the right is wide and Arsenal breathe a sigh of relief.


15:01 - The Argentinian ace wrapped his left foot around the ball there for an exquisite volley after the ball came in from a corner and was flicked on to the Man City striker. Unstoppable that one! 


14:58 - Aguero strikes again! That's his 12th goal in 11 appearances. Brilliant!


14:58 - GOAL!!!!


14:57 - Wilshere has a go with a volley but gets it horribly wrong with his left foot. Hit it right across the goal and didn't bother the keeper at all. Walcott with the cross from the right.


14:55 - Arsenal's spell of possession ends with Ramsey chipping the ball into the box and Walcott failing to get on the end of it.


14:52 - Kompany has a go at Giroud, taking him down from behind and Arsenal have a free-kick from which they sustain some much-needed ball possession.


14:48 -  Man City have been phenomenal at home this season and are looking to continue that form this afternoon as they pile on some early pressure on the current log-leaders. It's all City at the moment.


14:45 - Arsenal have got this huge fixture underway! City win the ball from them and get a freekick about 30 yards out on the right. Silva sends it across, but it's dealt with by the Arsenal defence. City still attack though and win a corner.


14:18 - PICTURE:


Back in action: Bacary Sagna arrives at the Etihad Stadium. The Arsenal defender will start today after being out injured. (Photo: Twitter)


14:09 - "It's a massive game. I've been looking forward to it for a long time," says Man City captain Vincent Kompany before kick-off.


14:07 -  Two changes for Man City after the draw at Southampton: Clichy and Silva come in for Kolarov & Milner.


14:06 - In other team news, Sagna returns for Arsenal with Monreal, Flamini and Walcott also starting. Cazorla & Arteta are on the bench.


14:03 - The teams are in and it seems Joe Hart is starting on the bench for City and Theo Walcott makes his return to the Arsenal line-up.


13:58 - Manchester City (possible, 4-2-3-1): Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy; Fernandinho, Touré; Navas, Agüero, Nasri; Negredo.
Out: Nastasic, Jovetic (both calf).
Test: Richards (hamstring).

Arsenal (possible, 4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Ramsey, Arteta; Wilshere, Özil, Carzorla; Giroud.
Out: Podolski (match fitness), Sanogo (back), Oxlade-Chamberlain, Diaby (both knee), Miyaichi (hamstring) .
Test: Sagna (hamstring).

Referee: Martin Atkinson. Matches: 9, R0 Y24.


13:54 - Good afternoon football lovers! It's a big one today folks. A match which could very well determine the outcome of everything this season. 


WOWZERS! 

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14:00 - WHAT THE 'EXPERTS' SAY...

Sport24's resident English Premiership experts have predicted this weekend's match results.

Take our advice at your peril!

Click HERE for our predictions...


MATCH STATS AND FACTS

Head-to-head

Arsenal have only won one of their last six league and cup games against Manchester City, and have failed to score in six of the previous nine meetings in all competitions.

The last six Premier League matches have produced six red cards - four of which were shown to City players.

Manchester City

City have scored in 57 consecutive Premier League home games, a run stretching back to a 0-0 draw with Birmingham in November 2010.

Arsenal

The Gunners have the division's best away record with 16 points - twice City's tally on the road.

Arsenal are one point shy of 1 300 in the Premier League under Arsene Wenger.


TEAMS:
Manchester City: Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Kompany (c), Demichelis, Clichy, Fernandinho, Yaya Toure, Nasri, Silva, Aguero, Negredo.

Subs: Hart, Lescott, Kolarov, Garcia, Navas, Milner, Dzeko.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Wilshere, Ramsey, Ozil, Walcott, Giroud.

Subs: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Arteta, Rosicky, Cazorla, Gnabry, Bendtner


14:00 - Welcome to Sport24's LIVE scoring and interactive commentary on today's English Premiership clash between Manchester City and Arsenal from the Etihad Stadium.


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