Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result and reaction after goalless draw
Man City 0-0 Arsenal: Neither side could break the deadlock in a good result for Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal showed their title credentials by holding reigning champions Manchester City to a 0-0 draw at the Etihad Stadium, allowing Liverpool to take top spot on a pivotal day in the Premier League’s three-way title race.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, in the hunt for their first league title in 20 years, are second in the table on 65 points with nine games remaining, while City are third with 64. Liverpool claimed the lead with their 2-1 comeback victory over Brighton & Hove Albion earlier on Sunday.
City dominated possession, coming at Arsenal in waves. But the visitors frustrated Pep Guardiola’s men – including league-leading scorer Erling Haaland – with a textbook defensive display to extend their unbeaten league run to nine games.
Gabriel Jesus had Arsenal’s best chances, firing two shots just wide in the first half and then narrowly failing to meet an inviting cross from Bukayo Saka. City’s best opportunity was Kevin De Bruyne’s early corner kick that glanced off the shoulder of Nathan Ake but fell to keeper David Raya
Relive all the action from Manchester City vs Arsenal below:
Is Man City vs Arsenal on TV? Channel, kick-off time and how to watch Premier League fixture
We’re still a few hours away from kick-off, but here’s a reminder of how you can watch today’s game.
The match will kick-off at 4:30pm BST on Sunday 31 March at the Etihad Stadium.
will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage following Liverpool’s clash with Brighton in what is another key clash in the title race.
If you’re not a Sky customer you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.
Is Man City vs Arsenal on TV? Channel, kick-off time and how to watch
The Premier League is on the line as the run-in resumes in a three-way battle for the title
Declan Rice, Man City and the £105m transfer that could decide the title race
While Rodri was certainly a pivotal part of City’s treble-winning campaign last season, Arsenal may now have their own star midfielder to turn the tide in their favour.
Guardiola has rarely had reasons to wonder what might have been and rue. Declan Rice, however, could be the exception. If Arsenal win a first Premier League in two decades, it will in part be because of a player City offered £90m for; if Guardiola’s side fail to become champions for a fourth successive season, it may be because of two games against Arsenal, against Rice.
Even if Rice’s preference for Arsenal may prove the choice that decides the title race, it’s almost certainly the move that gave us a title race to begin with.
Declan Rice, Man City and the £105m transfer that could decide the title race
As Rice and Rodri go head to head in the potential Premier League title decider, Pep Guardiola may reflect on the midfielder who got away
Rodri issues warning to Manchester City teammates ahead of Arsenal clash
Ahead of what could well be a title-defining game, Rodri has warned Manchester City that a defeat to Arsenal on Sunday could almost knock the champions out of the title race.
Mikel Arteta’s team would go four points ahead of Pep Guardiola’s side with nine games to go if they win at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.
And while Rodri feels victory would give City a psychological boost, he believes a loss would leave them with no margin for error.
“It’s a very, very important match,” he said. “I’m not saying it’s going to be decisive, but it will be very important for the mental fight.
Rodri issues warning to Man City teammates ahead of Arsenal clash
Rodri has issued a stern warning to his teammates ahead of their match against Arsenal
Head-to-head
Man City have had an excellent record against Arsenal in recent years, winning eight straight games from October 2020 up until this season’s Community Shield fixture, which Mikel Arteta’s men won on penalties.
City have won eight consecutive home matches against Arsenal in all competitions since a 2-2 Premier League draw in May 2016. However, Arsenal won the reverse fixture at the Emirates in October, ending a run of 12 successive league wins for City. The Gunners are looking for their first league double over City since the 2007-08 season.
How the teams are faring
The home side have won five of their last six games, including convincing wins against Luton, Manchester United and FC Copenhagen. They also drew at Anfield earlier in March, in what could prove to be a pivotal result for Arsenal’s title hopes.
This season, City are unbeaten in 38 matches at the Etihad in all competitions, winning 33 and drawing five. However, City are winless in all five of their league fixtures this season against top-five sides, drawing three and losing two.
Meanwhile Arsenal, who squeezed through on penalties against Porto in the Champions League, were the league’s form team in February and March, beating Liverpool while putting four past Newcastle, five past Burnley and six past West Ham and Sheffield United. In 2024, they’ve scored 33 goals and conceded just four.
The Gunners have won just once in 19 previous Premier League away fixtures against City, and have lost each of their last five.
Two of the Premier League’s title protagonists clash directly for the final time this season on Sunday with one of Manchester City or Arsenal having the chance to strike a decisive blow heading into the home stretch.
City are 5/4 favourites in the latest Premier League odds to win the title for a fourth season in a row with Mikel Arteta’s men the outsiders of the three contenders at 11/4.
For today, City are odds-on with betting sites to record a ninth straight home win over the Gunners and maintain a 38-game unbeaten streak at the Etihad Stadium that stretches back to December 2022.
Man City 6/5
Draw 21/8
Arsenal 5/2
Manchester City vs Arsenal predictions: Premier League tips, betting odds and free bets
Our football tipster picks out his best bets for Sunday's title-defining clash at the Etihad Stadium
Premier League title race: Who has the best fixtures ?
Ahead of Liverpool’s earlier kick-off, a look at which of the three title contenders has the ‘best’ remaining fixtures.
Manchester City, the defending champions, are aiming to win a fourth league title in a row under Pep Guardiola - a feat that has never been achieved in the history of English football. City blew Arsenal away in last year’s run-in, but the Gunners are back in the fight this campaign and have been joined by a resurgent Liverpool side - who are set for an emotional final months of Jurgen Klopp’s time on Merseyside.
Arsenal lead the way, but the Premier League now returns from March’s international break for another blockbuster fixture, as Mikel Arteta’s side visit the Etihad to take on the champions, having already beaten City earlier this season.
After that, as the Premier League title race enters April, the run-in can truly begin. But which team has the best fixtures and who has the hardest run of games to end the season? Here’s where the title could be won and lost.
Premier League title race: Who has the best fixtures in the run-in?
Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal all have tricky tests to pass as the Premier League title race hots up, but who has the best run-in?
Mikel Arteta makes Pep Guardiola claim ahead of Man City vs Arsenal clash
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has hailed Pep Guardiola as “the best coach in the world” as the close friends prepare for a potentially seismic game in the Premier League title battle this weekend.
Manchester City play host to their title rivals at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday having won the last seven home meetings between the two sides.
Arsenal finally managed to record a rare victory over City when they won the reverse fixture at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season and go into the weekend top of the table – above Liverpool on goal difference with Guardiola’s reigning champions a point further back.
Mikel Arteta makes Pep Guardiola claim ahead of Man City vs Arsenal clash
Arsenal finally managed to record a rare victory over City when they won the reverse fixture at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season
Guardiola on his team’s mentality
With Manchester City a point behind Arsenal and Liverpool in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola’s men are in the unusual position of chasing to win the title, as well as another treble, this season.
Speaking ahead of that game, Guardiola stated that it’s the mentality of his players that drives them to their successes.
“I think it comes from inside themselves. After eight years, I don’t have to motivate them every three days - it doesn’t work like that unfortunately,” he said.
“They have something inside - some fire - to compete or else we would not be here. I say a thousand million times that the biggest reason behind our success is the players and their desire to extend the success.
“They set the benchmark for the future generations. I couldn’t imagine we would be here after all these years and every year be in the top three, FA Cup semi-finals and the Champions League. It’s so complicated and it’s really good - really good.”
Arsenal team news: Updates on Bukayo Saka and more
Like City, Arsenal will be working rapidly in the fitness room to get their key players on the pitch at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon but there are doubts over big hitters like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
Here’s what we know about the Gunners’ latest injury hits:
Bukayo Saka
Saka was named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad ahead of the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium but pulled out with a hamstring injury and was sent back to Arsenal. He has not trained ahead of the weekend but, like with Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes, Mikel Arteta says there is a “chance” he will be available.
Verdict: Doubtful
Gabriel Martinelli
The winger missed Arsenal’s wins over Brentford and Porto in the Champions League with a foot injury, originally picked up in the thrashing of Sheffield United at the start of the month. He missed out on Brazil’s squad due to the problem and is yet to return to training but may do so on Saturday.
Verdict: Doubtful
Gabriel Magalhaes
The centre-back was named in Brazil’s squad for friendlies against England and Spain but withdrew from the camp due to an Achilles problem. Like with Saka and Martinelli, he has not trained but could do so ahead of the trip to City.
Verdict: Doubtful
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