“When they faced us here in the Etihad, I saw them โ these guys they don’t want to beat us, they just want to draw.”
Rodri’s unsparing assessment of Arsenal after Manchester City won their fourth consecutive Premier League title in May has done the rounds again ahead of Sunday’s meeting between the sides at the Etihad Stadium.
In last season’s corresponding fixture, the Gunners claimed a 0-0 draw to keep their noses in front of City in the race for glory, only to be pipped at the post by Pep Guardiola’s relentless side.
So, how much do they want to win this time? We’re about to find out.
The Sporting News is following the Man City vs. Arsenal match live, providing live updates and commentary
Latest live updates | Team news and lineups | Where to watch where you are
Man City vs. Arsenal score
| 1st Half | Goalscorers | |
| Man City | 1 | Haaland 9′ |
| Arsenal | 1 | Calafiori 22′ |
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Referee: Michael Oliver
Keep track of every game and every goal via SN’s live Premier League scoreboard
Lineups:
Man City (4-3-3, right to left): 31. Ederson (GK) โ 2. Kyle Walker, 25. Manuel Akanji, 3. Ruben Dias, 24. Josko Gvardiol โ 20. Bernardo Silva, 16. Rodri (8. Mateo Kovacic), 19, Ilkay Gundogan โ 26. Savinho, 9. Erling Haaland, 11. Jeremy Doku.
Arsenal (4-2-3-1, right to left): 22. David Raya (GK) โ 12 Jurrien Timber, 2. William Saliba, 6. Gabriel, 33. Riccardo Calafiori โ 5. Thomas Partey, 41. Declan Rice โ 7. Bukayo Saka, 29. Kai Havertz, 11. Gabriel Martinelli โ 19. Leandro Trossard.
MORE: All the latest EPL club news | Team-by-team Premier League schedule for 2024/25 | Latest Premier League top scorer rankings
Man City vs. Arsenal live updates, highlights, and commentary
22 mins: GOAL! RICCARDO CALAFIORI WITH A SCREAMER OUT OF NOTHING TO EQUALISE
Quick free-kick talent inside the centre circle. Kyle Walker not happy, mainly because he’s out of possession and has given Martinelli the run of the left wing. He cuts the ball back to Calafiori who absolutely creams one into the far corner beyond Ederson. Wonderful goal.
20 mins: Rodri makes way for Kovacic and looks to be close to tears. This is really quite a febrile atmosphere now and referee Michael Oliver looks in danger of losing control.
18 mins: Concern here for Rodri, who collided with Partey as they were jostling to get on the end of a Savinho corner. The Spain midfielder looks to have jarred and twisted his knee on the way down. That could be serious. Mateo Kovacic is warming up.
14 mins: Gundogan hits the post! City’s German maestro rolling back the years here in the opening stage. He wins a free-kick just outside the D and takes it himself, cracking the ball against the outside of David Raya’s right post.
11 mins: Saka looks to fashion an instant response for Arsenal but Rodri gets back to clear the danger ahead of Trossard
9 mins: GOAL! ERLING HAALAND’S 10TH OF THE SEASON GIVE MANCHESTER CITY THE LEAD!!!!
Walker knocks the ball inside to Savinho, who slots a pass between Gabriel and Calafiori. They’ve given Haaland an unforgivable amount of room and the outcome is inevitable.
8 mins: The ball spins up off Gundogan. The City midfielder’s eyes light up but he slices his volley wide from inside the area. “Boring, boring Arsenal!” honk the City fans.
3 mins: Rodri is back with us after giving Havertz a piece of his mind. Now City are rabidly pressing Arsenal in their own third. This feels spicy. Cheers, Kai.
Kickoff
City get us underway and Kai Havertz charges straight into Rodri, bashing the City midfielder to the floor. The initial suspicion was that Rodri is making the most of that but he actually appears to be hurt.
5 mins before kickoff: Here are the teams to a crackling reception. The City fans boo the Premier League anthem, with the Arsenal fans applauding in response. Who said people couldn’t do multi-layered terrace banter about complex legal matters.
15 mins before kickoff: The teams have completed their warmups and the atmosphere is building nicely. Hopefully it passes muster with Peter Schmeichel, who is pitchside on punditry duties.
40 mins before kickoff: It wouldn’t be a big game without a Pep Guardiola teamsheet causing a few arched eyebrows. Rico Lewis is pretty unlucky not to have made it but that looks like a very robust City back four and a very sensible midfield built for ball retention. Then in the front three, with both Savinho and Doku it all gets a bit free form and jazzy. It’s definitely a surprise to see Grealish and Foden both on the bench after each England man impressed against Inter in midweek. Watford have City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday and I be they’re delighted to see each of them with their feet up.
1 hour before kickoff: De Bruyne hasn’t made it for the hosts as expected but there’s a recall for club captain Kyle Walker ahead of Rico Lewis. That means a more conventional back four for City, with Savinho and Jeremy Doku playing as attacking wingers either side of Erling Haaland. Ilkay Gundogan makes his first start since rejoining City from Barcelona in De Bruyne’s absence.
Your City side for #MCIARS! ๐
XI | Ederson, Walker (C), Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Gundogan, Bernardo, Savinho, Doku, Haaland
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Carson, Stones, Kovacic, Grealish, Nunes, Foden, Lewis, McAtee#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/33o4esN5r4
โ Manchester City (@ManCity) September 22, 2024
1 hr 15 mins before kickoff: The teams are in and Mikel Arteta has handed a full debut to Riccardo Calafiori. It looks like the Italy international will start at left-back. Leandro Trossard will play at the centre of the attack in between Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, although there will be scope to rotate with attacking midfielder Kai Havertz. Ex-City forwards Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus are on the bench.
๐ด ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ โช๏ธ
๐ช Full debut for Calafiori
โก๏ธ Saka on the wing
๐ฏ Trossard comes back inLetโs give it everything, Gunners ๐
โ Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 22, 2024
1 hr 35 mins before kickoff: It’s a filthy day in Manchester, squalling wind and rain. Guardiola and Arteta might not go in for this sort of thing, but it’s slide tackle weather. For all the pretty football these two play, their combative side can be under-rated. if it’s a gruelling affair, both teams are more than well-quipped enough.
Team news will be along in about 20 minutes, with all eyes on whether Kevin De Bruyne makes it for Manchester City. having suffered an injury during the midweek goalless draw against Inter Milan. De Bruyne has eight Premier League goals against Arsenal, his best tally against any side.
2 hours before kickoff. Hello and welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of Manchester City vs. Arsenal in the Premier League. The champions from the past four seasons and the runners-up from the previous two are looking to strike an early blow in the latest battle for glory.
Man City vs. Arsenal kick off time
This Premier League match kicks off in Manchester, UK at 4:30 p.m. local time.
Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA | Sunday, September 22 | 11:30 a.m. |
| Canada | Sunday, September 22 | 11:30 a.m. |
| UK | Sunday, September 22 | 4:30 p.m. BST |
| Australia | Monday, September 23 | 2:30 a.m. AEDT |
| India | Sunday, September 22 | 9:00 p.m. IST |
Man City vs. Arsenal lineups, team news
Kevin De Bruyne was replaced at halftime against Inter Milan in midweek following a collision with visiting goalkeeper Yann Sommer. The Belgian has not made it in time to face a club he has eight goals and four assists against in 14 Premier League matches. Ilkay Gundogan is in for his first start since rejoining City from Barcelona.
Club captain Kyle Walker replaces Rico Lewis at right-back, while Savinho and Jeremy Doku start on the wings meaning bench duty for Phil Foden and Jack Grealish.
Man City (4-3-3, right to left): Ederson (GK) โ Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol โ Silva, Rodri, Gundogan โ Savinho, Haaland, Doku.
Man City subs: Ortega (GK), Carson (GK), Stones, Kovacic, Grealish, Nunes, Foden, Lewis, McAtee
Declan Rice returned to the Arsenal line-up against Atalanta following his domestic suspension and lines up in a midfield still without ankle-injury victim Martin Odegaard.
Gabriel Jesus started as captain in Odegaard’s absence in Bergamo but the Brazilian struggled before making way with an hour played. Leandro Trossard gets the nod in the centre of the attack, playing a more fluid role as Kai Havertz drops into midfield once more.
Ben White is surprisingly benched, with Jurrien Timber switching to right-back and Riccardo Calafiori making his fill debut in the other fullback position.
Arsenal (4-2-3-1, right to left): Raya (GK) โ Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori โ Partey, Rice โ Saka, Havertz, Martinelli โ Trossard.
Arsenal subs: Neto (GK), White, Jesus, Kiwior, Jorginho, Sterling, Kacurri, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri
MORE: Kevin De Bruyne injury: Who will replace Man City midfielder when Pep Guardiola’s men face Arsenal?
Man City vs. Arsenal live stream, TV channel
Here is how to watch the match in some of the world’s major regions:
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| USA | โ | Fubo, nbcsports.com, NBC Sports App |
| Canada | โ | Fubo |
| UK | Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League | Sky GO, Sky Sports website |
| Australia | โ | Optus Sport |
| India | Star Sports Select 1 | JioTV, Hotstar VIP |
