Man City vs Arsenal LIVE updates and latest score as Odegaard among two changes

2 hours ago 4

Arsenal take on Manchester City in what would comfortably be described as the biggest game of the Gunners’ last decade-plus, perhaps since the 2006 Champions League final. The match has, naturally, been billed as a Premier League title decider.

Mikel Arteta faces his old mentor and now adversary once again, Pep Guardiola. The two faced off in the League Cup final, which the Gunners fell to a 2-0 defeat and certainly played havoc with the North London side’s confidence.

Despite being the only English club remaining in the UEFA Champions League, there is so much weight on winning the first league campaign in 22 years, having had such a lead. Six points separate the sides, but with City having a game in hand, a win here and in midweek would likely see Arsenal drop to second with five games to play.

A victory is the dream scenario for Arteta; however, there is a knowledge that a draw keeps the title in the Gunners’ hands and out of City’s. But the Arsenal manager said that his side would not spend one second thinking about the latter.

Tom Canton, our Arsenal reporter, is at the Jose Alvalade Stadium and will bring you all the latest news and updates as it happens...

15:29Jake Stokes

Not much separates the two sides

Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League games at home against Arsenal, winning seven and drawing three, since a 2-0 defeat in January 2015, when Manuel Pellegrini was still in charge.

That said, the Gunners are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games against Pep Guardiola's side, winning two and drawing three, having lost 12 in a row against them before this.

15:18Jake Stokes

Arteta makes two changes

Mikel Arteta has made two changes to the side that faced Sporting in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday night. Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyokeres make way for Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz.

David Raya; Cristhian Mosquera, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Piero Hincapie; Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi; Eberechi Eze, Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke; Kai Havertz.

15:18Jake Stokes

Silverware up for grabs

The Premier League trophy is on display at the Etihad Stadium.

15:18Jake Stokes

Arsenal need to stay focused!

Since the turn of the year, Arsenal players have made 15 errors that have led to shots in 13 Premier League games, almost twice as many as they made in their 19 games between August and December (8).

The Gunners will need to stay focused this afternoon...

15:18Jake Stokes

Aaaaaand the mind games begin...

Manchester City fans have been spotted handing out these water bottles outside the Etihad Stadium.

15:18Jake Stokes

Shearer backs City to win

Alan Shearer reckons that Manchester City will waltz away victorious this afternoon. Speaking to Betfair, The former Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers striker said: "The whole season effectively comes down to this game.

"I think it's huge and the biggest game of the season for both clubs. Confidence and momentum is such a big thing, which is why I'm going to say a Man City home win.

"I think the belief they'll get from beating Arsenal in the Carabao Cup and the performances of the last couple of weeks. I think a draw would be a good result for Arsenal, but I think City might have too much for them."

Shearer added: "It'd be really interesting to see what Arsenal do, whether they sort of sit back or try to take the game to City, but I think City might just have too much for them."

15:18Jake Stokes

'If we don’t win, it’s over'

Pep Guardiola believes the Premier League title race will be over if Manchester City lose to Arsenal. The Spaniard said: "We need that pressure to compete good against that team.

"They have to know that if we don’t win, it’s over. They know it. We talked about that. Every game we knew if we don’t win, we don’t win the Premier League."

Guardiola added: "If we lose, I will shake hands with Mikel [Arteta] and I will pray they lose the next five games to be champion, but I think it’s not going to happen. So, try to win our game on Sunday."

Jake Stokes

Arteta relishes challenge

Speaking to reporterst at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Friday afternoon, Mikel Arteta relished the chance to take a step forward in the race for the Premier League title. The Arsenal boss said: "It's certainly the most important one because it's the next one.

"We have earned the right to be in this position, to be challenging and with the possibility to win and the opportunity to win on Sunday, arguably against the best team and the best manager that this league has ever seen.

"That's a huge privilege, and we cannot wait to play the game. We're going to prepare the game to win it, that's for sure, and we see that as a big opportunity for us..."