Arsenal vs Manchester City LIVE
Gabriel Martinelli's last-gasp equaliser gave Arsenal a 1-1 draw at home to Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday, cancelling out Erling Haaland's early goal to give the Gunners a barely-deserved point.
City scored from a rapid counter in the ninth minute, Tijjani Reijnders breaking from deep with Haaland on his shoulder before he played the Norwegian striker in to finish coolly past David Raya.
Arsenal looked short on ideas before a double change at halftime gave them more impetus, substitute Eberechi Eze forcing a sharp save from Gianluigi Donnarumma as the hosts swarmed all over an uncharacteristically defensive City.
City had seemed to have weathered the storm until Martinelli ran on to Eze's speculative ball over the top and produced a superb lob in the 93rd minute to give Arsenal a share of the spoils.
Arsenal vs Man City latest
- GOAL! Martinelli lob earns late point
- GOAL! Haaland slams home the opener
How important could that point for Arsenal, or those two points dropped for Man City, be come May?
Full-time!
18:33 , Alex Young99min: The spoils are shared in north London!
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
18:31 , Alex Young97min: Mosquera is on for Zubimendi. Arteta settling for a point?
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
18:30 , Alex Young95min: What do Man City have now?
GOAL!
18:27 , Alex Young93min: Martinelli has punished Man City again!
A late, late equaliser, and that is huge. Martinelli latches on to Eze’s dink over the top to lob Donnarumma!
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
18:24 , Alex Young91min: SEVEN minutes added on as Guardiola kisses the fourth official...
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
18:21 , Alex Young87min: Savinho and Stones are on, replacing O’Reilly and Doku.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
18:20 , Alex Young85min: Arsenal still camped out in City’s half.
Savinho is being prepared.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
18:18 , Alex Young84min: Now Nwaneri is on, replacing Trossard.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
18:15 , Alex Young81min: Another Arsneal corner, and Donnarumma (just) gets a hand to it.
He’s done well with almost every Arsenal set-piece.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
18:13 , Alex Young80min: Another attacking change for Arsenal as Martinelli replaces Timber.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
18:11 , Alex Young77min: A bold move by Guardiola, that.
Meanwhile, Donnarumma is booked for time-wasting.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
18:10 , Alex Young76min: Haaland’s time is up, he’s replaced by Nico Gonzalez.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
18:07 , Alex Young71min: The home crowd are growing restless again as Calafiori fouls Bernardo.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
18:01 , Alex Young67min: Foden replaced by Ake.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
18:00 , Alex Young65min: Ake is being prepared by City.
Simon Collings at the Emirates
17:56 , Alex YoungSaka is not playing like a man who has been out for four weeks. He's demanding the ball constantly and going at his full-back.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
17:56 , Alex Young62min: Raya is sat on near enough the halfway line, to give you an idea of Arsenal’s press.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
17:54 , Alex Young59min: Arsenal continue to rack up the corners, this time winning one off Gvardiol.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
17:51 , Alex Young57min: Incredible break from Man City leaves Haaland running down on goal and, with Foden in space to his right, he fires at Raya and is denied a second goal.
He should, perhaps, have passed it.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
17:49 , Alex Young54min: Gyokeres has been quiet, but everyone behind far from it.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
17:45 , Alex Young51min: Big save from Donnarumma to deny Eze.
A completely different game.
Simon Collings at the Emirates
17:44 , Alex YoungThose half-time changes have lifted Arsenal - and the crowd. The Emirates has a different feel about it since the break.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
17:43 , Alex Young49min: Zubimendi sends a shot fizzing past the near post, from the edge of the area.
Better from the Gunners.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
17:41 , Alex Young48min: Early foul from Timber on Doku, which earns him a yellow card.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
17:40 , Alex Young47min: Man City have also made a half-time change, and Nunes replaces Khusanov.
Second half
17:37 , Alex Young46min: Back underway.
Merino and Madueke make way. Very unfortunate for Madueke, he was the only Arsenal player creating chances.
Well, there we go. Eze and Saka coming on.
You wonder if Arteta will be prepared to make changes at half-time. Put some of his ‘finishers’ on early.
Haaland's goal is the difference but Arsenal were causing problems just before the break.
A huge 45 minutes to come.
Half-time
17:22 , Alex Young51min: There’s the whistle!
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
17:21 , Alex Young50min: Trossard and Bernardo trading shots to the groin there. Bizarre, especially from Bernardo, who is on a yellow.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
17:19 , Alex Young48min: Arsenal fans are counting down Donnarumma’s goal kicks. He’s cutting the eight-second limit very fine.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
17:17 , Alex Young46min: Incredible save from Donnarumma to deny Madueke.
Arsenal are knocking on the door.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
17:16 , Alex Young45min: More nice footwork from Madueke, whose cross into the box falls to Calafiori for a volley at goal which sails over.
Better.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
17:15 , Alex Young43min: It’s all so predictable from Arsenal. Their desperation is telling and it’s not even half-time yet.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
17:13 , Alex Young42min: Another Rice corner, this one is to the back post, which Donnarumma fails to properly punch clear. Saliba is unable to capitalise.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
17:11 , Alex Young40min: First Gabriel foul on Haaland. Expect more between the pair.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
17:10 , Alex Young38min: Rodri has a pop from distance, but it’s high and wide.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
17:07 , Alex Young36min: Bernardo is the first man booked after a late challenge on Gabriel.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
17:04 , Alex Young33min: Gabriel hits the deck in the area under pressure from Haaland, but there’s nothing doing.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
17:03 , Alex Young32min: Arsenal again with more possession, but doing so little with it.
Simon Collings at the Emirates
17:01 , Alex Young30 minutes gone, and Arsenal yet to have a shot on goal.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
16:59 , Alex Young28min: Better from Madueke, who gets all the way to the byline under pressure from City’s defence, but his cutback cannot find a free man.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
16:58 , Alex Young27min: Third Arsenal corner, Madueke back on duty and again can’t get it past the near post.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
16:58 , Alex Young26min: Another Arsenal corner, Rice this time and it’s right under the crossbar which Donnarumma punches away.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
16:55 , Alex Young24min: Reijnders is down and has stayed down after a tackle by Timber. It is a clear foul, but the referee waves play on.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
16:52 , Alex Young20min: Man City lay a trap which Arsenal fall into on the edge of their area and Reijnders is able to get off a shot straight at Raya. Should have done better.
Simon Collings at the Emirates
16:50 , Alex YoungWith the new rule in use, Arsenal fans behind Donnarumma's goal now counting to eight seconds when he's holding the ball.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
16:49 , Alex Young18min: First corner for Arsenal.
Madueke goes to the near corner, and it’s headed away by O’Reilly. Not sure that was the plan for Arsenal.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
16:48 , Alex Young17min: Khusanov is back on.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
16:48 , Alex Young15min: Khusanov getting looked at after Gabriel inadvertently stamps on the top of his foot.
He looks OK to continue. Stones is on the bench.
Simon Collings at the Emirates
16:46 , Alex YoungArteta is using this break in play to hold a mini team talk. His side have been too passive, so far. More urgency needed.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
16:45 , Alex Young14min: Rodri is bossing the midfield. City are just a different team with him in it.
Arsenal 0-1 Man City
16:44 , Alex Young12min: Arsenal look a bit rattled after all the early possession, only to concede. Need to settle.
Simon Collings at the Emirates
16:43 , Alex YoungAn utterly ruthless counter from City. Haaland just took off there as soon as Reijnders got the ball. A cool finish from the Norwegian.
GOAL!
16:41 , Alex Young10min: Who else?!
Haaland surges through the defence with ease to break the deadlock. Makes it look so easy.
A great run from Reijnders to set up the chance.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
16:39 , Alex Young7min: Arsenal back on the ball and still being pushed high.
Simon Collings at the Emirates
16:38 , Alex YoungCity pressing Arsenal very high, here, in the early stages. Even Rodri is pushing right up and is on the edge of Arsenal's box.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
16:35 , Alex Young4min: Twice Trossard tries to get the better of Khusanov and twice the defender deals with him well.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
16:34 , Alex Young3min: A restrained start, with Arsenal enjoying more of the ball.
Kick-off!
16:30 , Alex Young1min: Here we go.
Simon Collings at the Emirates
16:28 , Alex YoungThe fans in front of the press box have spotted that Freddie Ljungberg is sat here - and he's now being serenaded.
Here come the players.
Final prep.
As has become customary, Gabriel Heinze finishing the warm-up working with Arsenal’s defenders. Animated. pic.twitter.com/ZtiOqHztm0
— Simon Collings (@sr_collings) September 21, 2025
Mikel Arteta to Sky Sports
16:08 , Alex Young"Martin Odegaard was not enough fit enough but thankfully we got Bukayo Saka and Ben White back. We have a strong bench to make decisions in evolution to the score in the context of the match. We go for it.
“[Trossard] has made an impact every time on the pitch. He is a threat and great to have him.
"We have been successful in the last two home games [against Man City], we have to earn the right to to do that, we know the level of the games against them and we have to hit them again. They have the capacity and flexibility to do different things but we do as well."
The players are out doing their warm-ups.
Haaland has five goals in four games, which is his worst return at the start of the sesaon. Madness.
Pep Guardiola to Sky Sports
15:39 , Alex Young"Surprised myself [by naming an unchanged team], I don't understand it myself. A lot of changes tactically. They are giving good vibes and continuing with that.
"I came 10 seasons ago, nine, eight, seven and we won. Last season the last 20 minutes and they punished us with three goals. If tomorrow we play a game, it will be different to today's.
“From my experience, Liverpool with five wins from five and solid and quality in all departments. It is important but I have learned, I am the oldest manager [in the league], nothing is decisive after five games. We have to win games if we want to be close to the best teams in England."
Simon Collings at the Emirates
15:36 , Alex YoungHere he is in glorious technicolour.
🎙️ "Arsenal's bench is absolutely stacked."
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) September 21, 2025
Here's @sr_collings on two changes for Arsenal, one expected and one not.
LIVE: https://t.co/2l7iCx2gwS#ARSMCI pic.twitter.com/tp8Z1l2104
Simon Collings at the Emirates
15:31 , Alex YoungA slight surprise seeing Trossard start, but has had a goal and two assists in his last two games off the bench. Arteta spoke on Friday about rewarding players for fine form.
So, Saka is back and takes a place on the bench for Arsenal. He is joined by Eze, who drops out as Trossard earns a start.
Saliba is also back, with Mosquera making way.
Man City are unchanged from the midweek win over Napoli.
Confirmed team news in full
15:18 , Alex YoungArsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Merino, Rice; Trossard, Gyokeres, Madueke
Subs: Kepa, Mosquera, White, Saka, Eze, Martinelli, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly
Man City XI: Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; Rodri, Reijnders, Foden; Bernardo Silva, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Trafford, Stones, Ake, Nico, Savinho, Nunes, Bobb, Mukasa, Lewis
Man City XI
15:16 , Alex Young...and the visitors!
Today’s line-up! 💪🩵
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 21, 2025
XI | Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Rodri, Bernardo (C), Reijnders, Foden, Doku, Haaland
SUBS | Trafford, Stones, Ake, Nico, Savinho, Nunes, Bobb, Mukasa, Lewis
🤝 @etihad pic.twitter.com/bynRVVUYBU
Arsenal XI
15:16 , Alex YoungSaka is on the bench.
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 21, 2025
🔙 Saliba returns
©️ Gabriel skippers the side
🪄 Trossard on the wing
Let's bring the fight, Gunners 👊
Here he is.
It sounds like Rodri starts for Man City.
Bukayo Saka has stepped off the team bus after arriving at the Emirates.
Will he be involved today? Team news announced in 13 minutes.
Guardiola urges Manchester City to raise their game
14:58 , Giuseppe MuroPep Guardiola admits his Manchester City team need to step up as they renew hostilities with Arsenal .
City suffered one of the worst days of an uncharacteristically poor season by their standards at the Emirates Stadium last term as they were thrashed 5-1 by Mikel Arteta's side.
That game is best remembered for a goal celebration by the Gunners' Myles Lewis-Skelly in which he mimicked a famous pose of City striker Erling Haaland.
That in turn was in reference to an ill-tempered 2-2 draw between the two sides at the Etihad Stadium earlier in the campaign in which Haaland and Lewis-Skelly had been among the protagonists.
With Arsenal having strengthened considerably since, Guardiola feels City are going to have to raise their performance levels to end a four-game run without a win against the north London outfit.
The City manager said: "Hopefully this season we can make it a little bit more challenging (for them) because Mikel is an extraordinary manager and they've increased the squad for this (last) four or five transfer windows.
"It is an unbelievable squad and an unbelievable team, it is one of the toughest opponents you can find right now in Europe.
"We will see what we have to do and how the players are fit. We try to compete."
Odegaard: Shoulder injury 'really bad luck'
14:52 , Giuseppe MuroMartin Odegaard has been speaking about his shoulder injury in today's programme:
“My shoulder was very sore, but I’ve just been taking it day by day this week, working hard to hopefully be ready in time for today’s game.
“It’s the same shoulder that I hurt in the Leeds United game, pretty much the same injury again, so it’s just really bad luck.
“The first injury had healed really well, I was over it – but then the same thing happened again. It had never happened to me in 11 years, but then it happens twice in two weeks so it’s a strange one, and very unfortunate.”
Arsenal ‘have learned’ from mock Haaland celebration
14:46 , Giuseppe MuroMikel Arteta has insisted his Arsenal players have learnt from Myles Lewis-Skelly's mock celebration of Erling Haaland.
Haaland urged Arteta to "stay humble" following a 2-2 draw at the Etihad a year ago before Lewis-Skelly imitated the striker's zen celebration when he scored in Arsenal's 5-1 thrashing of Guardiola's side at the Emirates in February.
Teenager Lewis-Skelly, who has not started a game for Arsenal this season, courted criticism for the celebration.
And when asked if he had spoken to his players about their goal celebrations ahead of Sunday's fixture, Arteta said: "Well that was done, and that's part of it.
"There have been a lot of celebrations or non-celebrations in the past from a lot of teams. The experience is to learn and grow as well and we certainly learnt from that."
Stats
14:40 , Giuseppe Muro- Arsenal have won two of their last four league meetings with Manchester City (D2), as many as their previous 22 beforehand (D5 L15). The Gunners could win back-to-back league games against the Citizens for the first time since December 2015.
- Arsenal have won their last three Premier League home games by an aggregate score of 9-0. They last won four in a row without conceding in December 2021, while they last won their first three at home in a season without conceding in 1960-61.
- With Manchester City winless in four Premier League games against Arsenal, Pep Guardiola could go five games without a top-flight league win against an opponent for the very first time. Mikel Arteta could also become the first manager ever to go five league games unbeaten against Guardiola.
- Manchester City have lost five of their last seven Premier League games immediately following a European game in midweek (W2), including a 5-1 loss at Arsenal in February (W27 D14).
What next for Arsenal as major boardroom shake-up begins new chapter
14:33 , Giuseppe MuroArsenal announced on Friday that vice-chair Tim Lewis has left as part of a boardroom shake-up.
But what does the boardroom restructure mean for Arsenal?
Simon Collings with the latest here.
Arsenal vs Man City match odds
14:28 , Giuseppe MuroArsenal to win: 19/20
Manchester City to win: 14/5
Draw: 27/10
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
Manchester City ‘believe in what we do’ ahead of Arsenal clash
14:21 , Giuseppe MuroRuben Dias insists Manchester City are not giving any thought to possible wind-up tactics from Arsenal this weekend.
The two clubs renew hostilities at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday after two fiery clashes last season.
The first of those, a contentious 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium, ended with plenty of bad blood and City striker Erling Haaland telling Gunners manager Mikel Arteta to "stay humble".
The second encounter saw a rampant Arsenal run out 5-1 winners with teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly rubbing salt in the wounds by provocatively mimicking Haaland's meditation pose goal celebration.
City defender Dias said: "To be honest, I don't really care about them. I just care about us.
"If other people want to play games because of rivalries, or whatever feeds them, then go ahead. Be what you want to be.
"We believe in what we do. We play games to win for ourselves, for our families, our people.
"That's the way to be - and that's how you pull off what we pulled off. That's what we believe in and nothing is bigger in our minds than knowing we have to be the best version of ourselves.
"It doesn't matter who we are playing against."
Head to head history and results
14:15 , Giuseppe MuroArsenal wins: 101
Man City wins: 65
Draws: 47
Arteta: Manchester City without a doubt in title race
14:10 , Giuseppe MuroMikel Arteta has said Manchester City are "without a doubt" in contention to win the Premier League ahead of their meeting this afternoon.
Arteta is bidding to steer Arsenal to back-to-back victories against City for the first time in a decade following their 5-1 thrashing of Pep Guardiola's side in February.
City finished third last season and have already tasted defeat twice so far this term to leave them nine points behind Liverpool following the Reds' unblemished opening to their title defence.
But when asked if City are still in the race to dethrone Arne Slot's side, Arteta, who was Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad Stadium for three years, replied: "Without a doubt.
"Knowing Pep really, and the demands he puts on his players, the mentality they have in the football club, the squad and the players that they have, I think so for sure.
"What Pep's already done in this league is unprecedented, the level that he's put into the standard of this league is, in my opinion, unprecedented, and maintaining those levels for 10 years is already something incredible, and the demands are there for him and he wants to carry on because he believes that he can do it again."
Prediction
14:03 , Giuseppe MuroIt remains to be seen if back-to-back wins mean Manchester City really have turned a corner.
In reality, Guardiola’s side can’t afford another defeat but as the home side, Arsenal will surely fancy their chances.
The Gunners came in for criticism for their performance at Anfield last month and will be keen to serve a reminder that they can get results in the big games.
Arsenal to win, 3-1.
Manchester City team news
13:57 , Giuseppe MuroPep Guardiola faces a big decision over whether to throw John Stones back into the Manchester City team.
Stones has missed both games since the international break with a muscle injury but returned to training ahead of the Champions League win over Napoli on Thursday.
Guardiola has said he does not know whether Rodri can manage three starts in a week but the midfielder will be desperate to play.
Erling Haaland will lead the line as he renews his rivalry with Arsenal centre-backs Gabriel and William Saliba.
Arsenal team news
13:53 , Giuseppe MuroBukayo Saka and Ben White have been spotted with the Arsenal squad this morning.
Saka and White were with the players as they left the team hotel before the game at Emirates Stadium.
Martin Odegaard was not spotted with the squad.
Saka has not played since suffering a hamstring injury against Leeds on August 23.
He, Odegaard and White all missed Tuesday’s Champions League win over Athletic Club and had not taken part in full training before the weekend.
How to watch
13:48 , Giuseppe MuroTV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports. Coverage starts at 4pm BST on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR ahead of the 4.30pm kick-off.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app.
Good afternoon!
13:47 , Giuseppe MuroHello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Arsenal vs Man City!
It’s a huge afternoon in north London as these two old adversaries renew hostilities at Emirates Stadium.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news right here, ahead of kick-off which comes at 4:30pm BST from the Emirates Stadium.
