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Manchester City welcome Arsenal to the Etihad on Sunday in a titanic tussle at the top of the Premier League table
Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City side are taking on Arsenal in the Premier LeagueHello and welcome to Pep Guardiola's press conference ahead of Manchester City's Premier League clash with Arsenal.
City begin the weekend six points adrift of the Gunners at the top of the table but have a game in hand and so a win over Mikel Arteta's side and then at Burnley on Wednesday will move the Blues top of the table
That won't be an easy task against Arsenal, but the Gunners have shown frailties in recent weeks having lost the Carabao Cup final to City, suffered a surprise defeat to Championship side Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals and then lost at home to Bournemouth in the Premier League last weekend.
City meanwhile, have reeled off three impressive wins in three different competitions without conceding a goal having beat the Gunners at Wembley, thrashed Liverpool 4-0 to reach the FA Cup semi-finals and then eased past Chelsea last weekend in the league.
Guardiola is due at 12.30pm, with Arteta facing the media at 1.30pm, we will bring you all the updates here.
Today12:08 BST
Silva swansong
In case you have been living in a cave . . . Bernardo Silva has confirmed he is leaving City in the summer. Expect plenty from on the Portuguese maestro this lunchtime.
Silva will depart after nine years at the Etihad, with his final game set to be the Premier League home game against Aston Villa on Sunday, May 24.
Silva, who arrived from Monaco in 2017, is already one of the most decorated players in the history of the club and has cemented his reputation as one of their greatest-ever servants after seeing out his contract. Pep Guardiola broke from previous practice in his coaching career to ask the Portugal international to captain his team this year as he saw Silva as the man to restore standards.
That job has been done, and Silva lifted his first trophy as captain last month when City beat Arsenal to win the Carabao Cup. With Southampton waiting in the FA Cup semi-final and the Premier League title race in their hands ahead of a huge match with the Gunners on Sunday at the Etihad, there are two competitions that could make Silva the most successful ever at City.
Read more here
(Image: Getty Images)
Today12:08 BST
Huge injury blow
City have been dealt an injury blow ahead of their crunch Premier League meeting with Arsenal at the weekend as Ruben Dias will not be ready to return. The vice-captain suffered an ankle injury last month and is not likely to be back for the rest of the month.
Pep Guardiola may give an update on when Dias can be expected to be back when he speaks to reporters on Friday lunchtime, but City will have to make do without their vice-captain in the meantime. Nathan Ake partnered Abdukodir Khusanov against Arsenal at Wembley in the League Cup final and then Marc Guehi stepped in for Ake for the Liverpool and Chelsea matches.
Guardiola will likely give an update on the defender when he speaks to the media shortly but read more here.
Today12:08 BST
Welcome along
Good day and welcome to the official start of a huge Premier League weekend.
City boss Pep Guardiola is first up to face the media with the Blues chief due at 12.30pm, with Mikel Arteta speaking at 1.30pm.
It is going to be a seismic showdown at the Etihad on Sunday and the winners will be huge favourites to go on and lift the Premier League trophy.
Arsenal begin the weekend six points clear at the top but having played a game more. City have the momentum but they know nothing short of a win on Sunday will do.
Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta(Image: Getty Images)
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