City are going to see this result out with ease. They're keeping the ball away from the Gunners like they have throughout the second half.
90'
There will be three minutes of added time.
David Silva collects and sprays a pass out wide to Mahrez on the right flank. He cuts inside before letting fly with his left boot, but his effort sails harmlessly past the post.
88'
R. Mahrez enters the game and replaces K. De Bruyne.
De Bruyne is withdrawn for Mahrez in the dying stages.
87'
City again break with pace as Bernardo Silva releases Sterling, but he sees his strike blocked by Koscielny.
85'
Jesus tries to add to the scoreline as he latches on to Sterling's pass, but he is denied by Leno.
83'
Frustration from Lacazette as he attempts to register an effort at goal, but David Silva is there with him every step of the way. The Frenchman fouls the City midfielder as he tries to break the shackles.
81'
Gabriel Jesus enters the game and replaces S. Agüero.
Aguero is withdrawn for the final 10 minutes to be replaced by Jesus.
Bernardo Silva and De Bruyne combine down the right flank and the Belgian sends a low cross towards the back post, but Lichtsteiner is well placed to clear ahead of Sterling.
79'
K. Mavropanos enters the game and replaces S. Mustafi.
Mustafi is forced off and replaced by Mavropanos at the back.
75'
Ramsey brings down Aguero in the final third and it hands City another chance to threaten down the left flank.
Minute
Description
72'
City attempt to break Arsenal open at the back, but De Bruyne cannot force his strike through a crowd of bodies in the box.
68'
City break with speed down the right flank as Walker looks to squeeze his way between two defenders. His path to goal is blocked but Bernardo Silva takes on the strike, though he fires his effort straight at Leno.
66'
Denis Suárez enters the game and replaces S. Kolašinac.
A. Ramsey enters the game and replaces A. Iwobi.
Suarez makes his Arsenal bow, replacing Kolasinac.
Iwobi makes way for Ramsey for the visitors.
65'
İ. Gündoğan gets yellow.
Gundogan goes into the book for simulation for falling in the box under after running into Mustafi. A harsh one on the German.
64'
Leno sums up the half thus far for the visitors as he chips the ball out of play under pressure from Aguero.
63'
It has been all too easy for City in the second half. The Gunners have been too deep in their play and they've been picked apart.
61'
S. Agüero has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by R. Sterling.
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!! AGUERO HAS HIS HAT-TRICK!!!! 3-1 CITY!!! The Argentine notches his third goal and it comes in fortuitous circumstances as the ball appears to bounce off his arm before rolling over the line, but the referee awards the goal. Sterling is the architect again with a run down the left flank before he hammers a cross into the box. Leno gets a hand to the ball, but he can only help it into the path of Aguero on the slide. The ball hits his chest and then his arm before it crosses the line. Arsenal are not happy with the decision, but it still counts.
58'
Arsenal have a rare foray forward down the left flank, but Kolasinac fails to pick out a team-mate in the final third with his low cross that Ederson gathers.
56'
SAVE! Another quick switch down the left allows Sterling to raid into space and he offloads towards De Bruyne in the inside channel. The Belgian connects with a strike, although it's tame and straight at Leno.
51'
Leno spills a drive from De Bruyne in the six-yard box and Bernardo Silva almost capitalises, but the German recovers to smother at the feet of the City midfielder.
50'
Arsenal clear the initial cross from De Bruyne, but then are caught out on the left flank from the second ball. Gundogan releases David Silva over the top, but the Spaniard fails to connect with his cross.
49'
Koscielny tangles with Aguero in the final third and gives away a free-kick in a dangerous position.
48'
OVER! Sterling is played into acres of space down the left flank, but he opts to cut the ball back to Bernardo Silva. The Portuguese goes for goal, only to slice his effort well over the top.
46'
We're back underway at the Etihad Stadium.
A cross from David Silva almost falls for De Bruyne then Sterling in the box before Monreal is able to clear the danger for the visitors.
45' +2
HALF-TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 2-1 ARSENAL
45'
There will be two minutes of added time.
44'
S. Agüero has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by R. Sterling.
Sterling starts the move down the left flank and plays a neat one-two with Gundogan before teeing up Aguero.
GOALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! CITY REGAIN THE LEAD OUT OF NOWHERE!! 2-1 AGUERO!! The home side are back in front with a flowing move. Sterling starts it on the left flank with a pass back to Gundogan, with the two players combining with a one-two that sees the German release his team-mate into the left inside channel. Sterling fires a low ball across the face of goal that Aguero, unmarked at the back post, converts with ease.
42'
BLOCK! Torreira finds space to run into in the final third before he slides a pass towards Aubameyang. The forward strikes his effort with power, only to be denied by Otamendi's block on the slide.
40'
L. Torreira gets yellow.
Torreira is booked for clipping the heels of De Bruyne on a counter.
39'
BLOCK! Arsenal move the ball around in tight quarters on the edge of the City box before Lacazette tees up Torreira for a strike, but his effort is blocked by a wall of defenders.
37'
Laporte and David Silva combine down the left and the Spaniard hammers the ball into the box. Leno tries to punch it away but doesn't connect well enough. Fortunately for the German it falls for Monreal to clear the danger.
35'
Brilliant work between Iwobi and Lacazette almost releases Aubameyang behind the City defence. Iwobi robs Bernardo Silva before finding Lacazette. He fends off a challenge before sending a throughball for his strike partner. However, Ederson is alert and scampers off his line to clear just ahead of the forward.
32'
Iwobi sends Lichtsteiner on his way down the right flank and the full-back lifts a cross into the box. Aubameyang rises in the middle, but Otamendi is there to clear ahead of the forward.
30'
Arsenal are continuing to frustate the home side and are beginning to work the ball around the pitch themselves into attacking positions.
28'
Referee Atkinson almost causes problems for Arsenal unintentionally blocking a clearance that falls kindly for David Silva. He tees up De Bruyne to fire at goal from distance, but the Belgian dispatches his effort over the bar.
27'
Kolasinac is played into acres of space down the left flank and has time to supply a cross, only to slam his attempt into the side-netting.
25'
Sterling has space on the left flank and he looks for the run of Aguero through the middle, but the Argentine is in an offside position from his cross.
24'
Fernandinho fouls Koscielny from the resulting corner and it alleviates the pressure on the Arsenal backline.
23'
De Bruyne works the ball around the right flank for Bernardo Silva's run. The Portuguese fires a low ball into the middle that is well cleared by Koscielny at the near post.
21'
The Gunners are trying to frustrate City with their rearguard action. Guardiola's men are dominating possession, but are lacking their usual rhythm.
16'
Sterling finds space on the left flank and drifts across the edge of the box. He looks for De Bruyne, but it's cut out by Monreal.
14'
Torreira is brought down by a loose challenge from David Silva. However, the Uruguayan fails to find a team-mate with his delivery into the box from the free-kick.
13'
Arsenal were on the ropes for the opening 10 minutes of the contest, but they've managed to find a counterpunch out of nowhere to get themselves back into the contest.
11'
L. Koscielny has scored a goal for Arsenal! Assist by Nacho Monreal.
Monreal beats his man with his near post run and his flick finds Koscielny to head home.
GOALLLLLLLLLL!!!! KOSCIELNY EQUALISES!!! 1-1!!! The Gunners are back in the game from the resulting corner. City fall asleep as Torreira's corner is flicked on by Monreal with a run to the near post. Koscielny is in the right place at the right time in the six-yard area. The Frenchman cannot miss from close range and does not disappoint, finding the net to level the scores.
10'
Walker has to make a vital interception at the back to stop Kolasinac latching on to a loose ball at the back. Iwobi and Aubameyang caused problems for the home side, but Walker was there to deny the full-back.
8'
De Bruyne tries to thread the needle on the edge of the Arsenal box with a precise offload to Aguero, but Guendouzi makes the interception.
5'
Bernardo Silva weaves his way down the right flank and into the box. The Portuguese goes for the low cross, but Koscielny is there to make the block.
1'
S. Agüero has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by Aymeric Laporte.
We're underway at the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal lose possession inside their own box and Laporte steals the ball before finding Aguero.
GOALLLLLLLLLLL!!!! AGUERO DOES IT AGAIN!!! 1-0 CITY!! City have a made a dream start for the second time this week. Aguero scored within 24 seconds agains Newcastle, but on this occasion it's after 48 seconds. Arsenal attempt to clear their lines from a City attack, but lose possession in their own box. Laporte punishes them with an accurate cross into the middle. Aguero is unmarked and heads home from close range.
Good afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of the Premier League clash between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal were able to edge their way past Cardiff City during the week to keep themselves among the throng of teams in contention for a place in the top four. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored from the spot before Alexandre Lacazette notched the decisive second goal seven minutes from time. A win for the Gunners this afternoon would put their rivals under all sorts of pressure, but it will take a special performance on the road.
MANCHESTER CITY (3-2-4-1): Ederson; Kyle Walker, Nicolas Otamendi, Aymeric Laporte; Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan; Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Raheem Sterling; Sergio Aguero.
SUBS: Danilo, John Stones, Fabian Delph, Leroy Sane, Riyad Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus, Arijanet Muric.
ARSENAL (3-4-3): Bernd Leno, Shkodran Mustafi, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal; Stephan Lichtsteiner, Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi, Sead Kolasinac; Alex Iwobi, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette.
SUBS: Petr Cech, Mohamed Elneny, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Denis Suarez, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Eddie Nketiah.
Manchester City are in need of a response this afternoon after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United during the week at St James' Park. City took the lead after 24 seconds through Sergio Aguero, but Salomon Rondon equalised in the second half before Matt Ritchie scored from the penalty spot. Pep Guardiola's men are five points behind Liverpool at the top of the table and even slipped behind Spurs following their win over Newcastle. They cannot afford another slip-up this afternoon.
Unai Emery will be furious that his team switched off before the break. They seemingly had City frustrated and at times on the back foot. However, they made a defensive lapse down the right flank to allow Sterling space and time to pick out Aguero. The Gunners have it all to do in the second half.
City can close the ground on their rivals, using their game against Everton during the week at Goodison Park to their potential advantage. The Gunners are next in action against Huddersfield on the road.
Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.
Manchester City hold a 2-1 lead over Arsenal at the break at the Etihad Stadium. For the second time in a week Sergio Aguero handed Pep Guardiola's men the lead inside the first minute. Only 48 seconds had passed when the Argentine converted Aymeric Laporte's cross into the box from close range. City had the Gunners on the ropes, but the visitors were able to break back into the game as Laurent Koscielny headed home from a corner. The home side appeared to be struggling for rhythm before they regained the lead out of nowhere when Raheem Sterling played a one-two with Ilkay Gundogan to tee up Aguero for his second of the contest. The game remains well and truly in the balance at the break.
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