Hello and welcome to LIVE updates of the Premier League clash between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium. It has all the hallmarks of a key battle in the race for the Champions League places as fourth visits sixth. The Gunners are currently seven points adrift of the top four with the future of boss, Arsene Wenger once again the major subplot to this encounter. It's a massive match for the Frenchman and it all kicks off at 4pm GMT. Stay tuned for all the build up with team news imminent.
Premier League / Matchday 30
Emirates Stadium / 02.04.2017
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- T. Walcott(40')
- S. Mustafi(53')
Live
Live Updates
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Updated 02/04/2017 at 17:51 GMT+1
9'
Navas booked for a late and rather ugly challenge.
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Yellow card
J. Navas
Manchester City
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Yellow Cards1
Fouls2
8'
De Bruyne takes his assist total to 11 for the season.
7'
Ruthless and so simple from City. Sane looking like one hell of a player in the making.
6'
That's the worst possible start for Wenger.
5'
GOAL! City lead. De Bruyne fires a long ball through from his own half for Sane who easily holds off Bellerin, rounds Ospina and tucks home.
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Goal
L. Sané
Manchester City
Goals1
On target1
4'
Smart keeping from Ospina once more. He's forced to race off his line to deny Sterling and gets a slice of luck as the ricochet flies wide of target.
3'
City looking to test Ospina early on. The ball is fed through for Aguero who is thwarted by the keeper. The flag was up for offside so it wouldn't have counted.
2'
Interesting to see City's tactics from the kick off. Navas featuring at full back, perhaps aimed at countering the pace of Sanchez.
1st Half
1'
KICK OFF! Man City get this clash of football purists underway.
15.55
CHANGING TIMES: Arsenal have spent 1209 days behind Manchester City in the Premier League table since the start of 2011-12. In the six Premier League seasons prior to this (2005-06 to 2010-11) they spent just 246 days behind Man City in the Premier League table.
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Image credit: Reuters
15.50
Only Thierry Henry (0.73) has a better goals per game record against Premier League sides from London than Sergio Aguero (0.70) – min. 15 games. The Argentine striker has 37 goals in 53 apps against teams from the capital.
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Image credit: Reuters
15.48
Pre-match rituals in the modern era: Listen to favourite tunes, style hair, update social media....
15.45
STAT: The last seven Premier League meetings between these two sides have produced 27 goals - 3.86 per game, on average.
15.40
Some interesting Wenger quotes regarding retirement. Is he paving the way for him to stay?
15.38
A former Arsenal and City player who may have his focus elsewhere this afternoon...
15.35
Theo Walcott has scored four goals in his last four Premier League games versus Manchester City, but he hasn't scored in the league since December (against City).
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Image credit: Reuters
15.32
Arsenal's official Twitter account responds to questions regarding the whereabouts of Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
15.30
Plenty of focus on Wenger - but the prospect of these heavyweight hitmen going head-to-head is also a major pull ahead of this showdown: Sanchez v Aguero.
15.25
Pep Guardiola on Arsenal's recent poor form that has seen them lose four of their last five PL matches: "When you lose a lot of games it is a more dangerous moment to face them. I would prefer Arsenal to be winning a lot. They are so professional, (Arsenal manager) Arsene (Wenger) is professional and the Arsenal players as well. They want to win every game, so I don't think it is a big problem. Everybody knows them. Arsenal is a top team."
15.20
The pre-match focus on the 'Wexit' punters is becoming all to regular at Emirates Stadium nowadays...
15.18
However, some Gooners remain eager to see the Frenchman's reign come to an end in May. it's not quite the 'Vengabus' but kudos for imagination...