Arsenal vs Man City LIVE: Premier League latest score and goal updates today

Bukayo Saka slots home Arsenal’s opening goal

Arsenal are hosting Manchester City in the first Premier League match of 2022 in a meeting of two sides in impressive form.

The Gunners have won their past four successive games to lift themselves into pole position in the race to finish fourth, four points clear of West Ham and Manchester United and five ahead of their north London rivals Tottenham, although Spurs have two games in hand. City meanwhile have not lost in the league since October and have built an eight-point gap two second-place Chelsea, while Liverpool – who visit Stamford Bridge tomorrow – are a further point behind with a game in hand.

Both teams are affected by Covid-19 in some way. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is watching from the game from home while isolating after a positive test result, so assistants Albert Stuivenberg and Steve Round will take charge, while City are without Phil Foden, put down to a lack of fitness. Follow all the action from the Emirates Stadium below.

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HALF TIME: Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City

HALF TIME: Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City

Mahrez took the free-kick but failed to beat Lacazette on the edge of the box – and that brings a superb first-half Arsenal performance to a close against the Premier League leaders.

It’s been a really enjoyable game – City looked sharp to begin with but Arsenal gained control of the match thanks to their workrate and pressing off the ball. They looked threatening from wide areas with Saka and Martinelli bright, and that was where the opening goal came from as the England international tucked home Tierney’s pass from the left.

City have not lost in the Premier League since their 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace in October – the result which preceded their 10-game winning run. They’ll need to find their spark in the second half if they want that streak to continue, as Chelsea and Liverpool watch with interest.

Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City

45+1 mins: Ramsdale claims superbly after De Bruyne swung it into the box. Saka then concedes a foul on Sterling – giving De Bruyne one more opportunity.

Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City

45 mins: There will be two minutes added on. City have barely threatened since the opening 15 minutes but Arsenal will have a late corner to defend.

Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City

42 mins: Just wide! What a goal this would have been from Martinelli! Bernardo gives the ball away with a sloppy pass in midfield, and Martinelli sets off. He skips past Cancelo before driving into the box – it looked as if he had his head down, with Odegaard in a great position for the pull-back – but he dances away from Cancelo again before his finish across Ederson drifted narrowly wide.

Odegaard might have still been the better option – but that was a fabulous run from the Brazilian.

Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City

40 mins: Such confident play from Saka. He knows he’s got the beating of Ake and, with Rodri covering, he drives at the pair of them before cutting inside. Rodri brings him down and there’s a moment of concern as he looked in pain, but he’s back up and able to continue. Odegaard’s cross from the free-kick evades everyone and goes behind.

Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City

38 mins: Chance – Jesus turns brilliantly to suddenly open Arsenal up. He has De Bruyne open to his left but he hesitated a fraction too long and the Belgian was offside by the time he played the ball.

At the other end, Martinelli lets fly with a curling effort from the angle – just wide!

Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City

36 mins: Gabriel takes a risk as he stretches out to poke the ball away from Bernardo in the box. Mahrez then stands up Tierney and looks to find Sterling at the back post. It runs out for a goal kick but Mahrez is suggesting that White has holding onto Sterling’s shirt to he couldn’t reach it.

Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City

33 mins: City have been second best for the past 20 minutes or so. Arsenal are out-working them in the middle of midfield and look dangerous out on the wings. Martinelli has a half-chance after good work from Xhaka, before De Bruyne sees a ball towards Jesus roll all the way through to Ramsdale.

GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City (SAKA 31’)

A brilliant goal – and Arsenal deserve it! Saka continues his brilliant form as he guides Tierney’s low ball past Ederson and into the far corner. It’s a lovely move from Arsenal – worked out to the left to Tierney through Odegaard. Tierney’s rolled ball back across was perfectly judged, and Saka’s finish was brilliantly taken. That’s his fourth Premier League goal in three games.

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