Welcome to the Evening Standard’s LIVE build up to Man City vs Arsenal.
Wednesday’s match at the Etihad Stadium is the second of two fixtures as the Premier League returns following it’s 100 day suspension due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The match will be played behind closed doors without fans, with the numbers of attendees limited – included the media.
Our Manchester Football Correspondent James Robson will be in attendance, but we’ll bring you all the latest news from both sides ahead of the match.
- Kick-off time and TV information
- State of play: Man City
- State of play: Arsenal
- Arteta still hoping to keep Aubameyang
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Man City
With one trophy in the bag, Pep Guardiola can still end an otherwise disappointing season with a treble of cups.
The Premier League title may be heading to Anfield, but the one Manchester City want most of all - Champions League - is still within reach.
That will be the main focus for Guardiola’s team even as attention turns to the Premier League this week.
There will be even more pressure on City’s players to finally conquer Europe if the Court of Arbitration for Sport uphold Uefa’s two-year ban for serious breaches of Financial Fair Play.
A verdict is due next month - before European competition resumes in August.
Arsenal
It was Mikel Arteta’s positive test for Covid-19 in March that led to the Premier League suspending all fixtures. Since then, Arsenal have had a busy lockdown, with nearly all first-team players, head coach and core staff agreeing a 12.5 per cent pay cut. The deal will reduce to 7.5 per cent if the team reach the Europa League and to zero if they secure Champions League football. Prior to lockdown, they were unbeaten in the Premier League this calendar year and were showing signs of promise under Arteta. Their first game back, at Manchester City on Wednesday, will set the tone for their run-in. Playing City, as well as Tottenham away from home in an empty stadium, could be an advantage. The FA Cup is a target, too, with Sheffield United their quarter-final opponents.
