Manchester City 3-1 Arsenal AS IT HAPPENED: Match reaction as Arsene Wenger fumes

MANCHESTER CITY beat Arsenal at the Etihad to extend their advantage at the top of the Premier League table. Relive the action with Express Sport.

Arsene Wenger discusses team selection at the Etihad

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Express Sport brings you the latest team news, updates and analysis from the Etihad

REACTION

Arsene Wenger has delivered a stinging attack on the officials after today’s game.

He said: “It was an intense game of quality on both sides. I thought Manchester City were on a high but I felt we had plenty of dangerous situations and chances and I would say overall once again the referee made the decision today.

“With the soft penalty and the offside goal. But we are used to it when you come here. Last year we had two offside goals against us. And once again.

“I feel they don’t work enough. The referees don’t work enough because the level drops every season at the moment. Overall it’s unacceptable what has happened.

“The physical level is very good. But the decisions… the third goal, at 2-1 we are in the game, he gives a clear offside goal and fog course that kills the game for us. Last year we conceded two offside goals as well.

“Of course they are a top team but on top of that it makes life difficult for you.”

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech isn’t happy with that final goal: "At 2-1 we got back into the game and we were in it, we had time to search for the equaliser but the third goal makes a huge difference.

"I can't comment on the penalty because of my angle, but the third goal, I was surprised. David Silva looked far behind everybody but the referee has a better view than me.

"Referees have a difficult job to do. I don't know if he got it right or wrong but that goal made the difference."

Kevin de Bruyne on beating Arsenal: "We know Arsenal are a quality side but I think we contained them quite well. We created more chances and the third goal came at a good time. We should also have scored the second one in the first half. We kept our composure well and it is a great win for us.

"Obviously, it was great to score as it put us ahead and it's always nice every time you score. Maybe we got the benefit from the referee but the penalty was the second one of its type in the game. He had to give a penalty.

"The more you win, the more other teams want to beat you. It's been a great start for us so let's see what other games bring."

MANCHESTER CITY 3-1 ARSENAL

FT: That’s that folks. Manchester City continue their march towards the Premier League title with another comfortable victory.

Goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus were enough to put Arsenal to the sword despite Alexandre Lacazette’s second-half strike.

I’m heading over to Stamford Bridge to bring you LIVE coverage of Chelsea vs Manchester United. You can join me by clicking this !

FOUR MINUTES ADDED TIME

90: The stadium announcer reveals Kevin De Bruyne has won the MOTM awards as Manchester City fans break out the Olé’s. Ozil booked.

89: It looks like a certain fourth for Manchester City as KDB strides into acres of space but he plays an unusually poor ball that’s quickly intercepted. Jesus would have been in.

87: David Silva has made seven assists in 11 Premier League appearances this term, as many as he did in the whole of 2016/17 (34 appearances).

86: Any prospect of a late Arsenal revival is dead. Manchester City are controlling things as Pep Guardiola makes his next change with Bernardo Silva replacing Leroy Sane.

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the EtihadREUTERS

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the Etihad

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the EtihadREUTERS

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the Etihad

83: Manchester City's haul of 52 goals is a record for a Premier League club after 17 games in all competitions (since 1992-93).

82: There’s another goal in this. You mark my words. Kyle Walker sprints down the right flank but his cross is struck way too hard. Pep waves his arms around in anger.

79: More substitutions. Ilkay Gundogan comes on to replace Raheem Sterling for Manchester City. While Xhaka and Iwobi come off, Wilshere and Giroud come on. 

78: Xhaka's protests earns him a booking. Sanchez also gets one for ploughing through Silva.

MANCHESTER CITY 3-1 ARSENAL - JESUS

75: Game, set and match.

The Arsenal players are furious because David Silva looked miles offside, but the goal stands.

The Spanish playmaker strolls past Nacho Monreal before squaring it to Gabriel Jesus to finish from point-blank range.

Yes, it’s offside, but half the Arsenal team stopped playing with their hands in the air complaining. Play to the whistle, lads.

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the EtihadREUTERS

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the Etihad

74: Otamendi leads with his elbow and takes a booking for his troubles.

73: Literally anything could happen here folks. It’s end-to-end with neither side happy to let this finish 2-1.

70: City have turned the style back on since Lacazette’s strike. I’m just wondering whether Pep Guardiola took Sergio Aguero off too early.

68: Kevin De Bruyne looks to respond immediately with a fine drive forward but Koscielny cynically drags him down booked.

Chance! Arsenal fail to deal with a KDB corner and it drops kindly for Jesus, who’s somehow denied by Petr Cech. Should be 3-1.

MANCHESTER CITY 2-1 ARSENAL - LACAZETTE

65: Now that makes things interesting.

Arsenal have pulled one back through Alexandre Lacazette, who collects a pass from Aaron Ramsey, before sticking it beyond Ederson with a clinical strike.

Why on earth didn’t he start?!

63: Here comes Jesus. The Brazilian striker enters the fray with Sergio Aguero heading off to a standing-ovation.

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the EtihadGETTY

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the Etihad

Chelsea XI: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill, Zappacosta, Kante, Bakayoko, Alonso, Fabregas, Morata, Hazard.

Subs: Caballero, Rudiger, Drinkwater, Pedro, Willian, Batshuayi, Ampadu.

Manchester United XI: de Gea, Bailly, Jones, Smalling, Valencia, Matic, Ander Herrera, Young, Mkhitaryan, Rashford, Lukaku.

Subs: Martial, Lingard, Blind, Romero, Fellaini, Darmian, McTominay.

60: Much better from Arsenal. Alexandre Lacazette looks to have sparked the visitors into life with Ramsey testing Ederson.

The Frenchman collects a booking for a frustrated tug on David Silva.

58: First change for the Gunners as Alexandre Lacazette replaces Francis Coquelin.

56: Drama! The City fans have their hearts in mouths as Ederson spills Iwobi’s strike. The goalkeeper gathers and wins the free-kick as he’s shoved over the line by Ramsey.

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the EtihadGETTY

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the Etihad

54: Since the start of last season, Arsenal have conceded more goals from the penalty spot than any other Premier League side. 

53: Arsene Wenger might have to think about a few changes now, unless he’s simply thinking about damage limitations. Olivier Giroud, Alexandre Lacazette, Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott all sitting on the bench.

MANCHESTER CITY 2-0 ARSENAL - AGUERO (PEN)

50: City’s record scorer Sergio Aguero steps up… converts. The Argentine smashes it against the post and in. No saving that.

PENALTY TO MANCHESTER CITY

50: Fernandinho plays a sumptuous pass over to Raheem Sterling, who’s bundled over clumsily by Nacho Monreal. Michael Oliver points to the spot.

48: Low-key start after the break. Arsenal look content to sit deep and hit City on the counter.

MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 ARSENAL

45: We’re back underway folks. No changes at the break. Arsenal have more comeback wins than any other Premier League side this season. Will they do it again?

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the EtihadGETTY

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the Etihad

STILL TO COME

HT: Don’t forget we’ve still got an absolute banger coming up. Jose Mourinho returns to Stamford Bridge with Manchester United to take on recently-discovered Premier League enemy, Chelsea.

Everton are also in action against Watford - equally important at the bottom of the table.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Pinyin: Manchester City are on a another planet. They're playing spaceship football. Such a strong unit that attack & defend together. Unstoppable!

Rebecca: Great goal KDB. This game is anyone’s still, Arsenal look like they’ve got goals in them! We’ve got to take our chances!

Kirsty: I look at the arsenal players and not one of them looks like they can be arsed anymore. Really sad.

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the EtihadGETTY

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the Etihad

MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 ARSENAL

HT: That final chance before the break will give Arsenal real confidence they can get a result here. As it stands, Kevin De Bruyne's goal is the difference.

46: Save! Alexis Sanchez holds the ball up nicely and lays it to the overlapping Ramsay, whose first-time strike forces Ederson into action.

ONE MINUTE ADDED TIME

44: I think most Arsenal fans would have taken a one-goal deficit at the break. City should be out of sight but have squandered two or three good chances.

42: Francis Coquelin makes a fine challenge to stop Leroy Sane in full-flight. The winger is seconds from releasing Sergio Aguero but Coquelin times it to perfection.

39: Did Alexis Sanchez just throw an elbow? It certainly looked that way.

The Chilean takes aim at Fernandinho in an off-the-ball incident, but the City midfielder refuses to make a meal of it and play continues. Lucky boy.

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the EtihadREUTERS

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the Etihad

36: Oh Raheem! It should be 2-0 but Sterling has played the worst pass of the century.

The England international is clean through with Leroy Sane unmarked to his left, but hits the corner flag with his cross.

Pep throws his arms up in frustration. That’s unforgivable.

35: Speaking of killer passes, City certainly aren’t lacking in that department.

David Silva cuts inside from the left touchline and threads a pass across the six-yard box, but nobody took the gamble to poke it home.

32: For all City’s dominance, Arsenal are still in this. They’ve played well enough but that final ball is lacking.

29: Raheem Sterling gets behind Nacho Monreal and wins his side a corner. Arsenal deal with it but they’re so deep that it comes straight back in seconds. You have to think Alexandre Lacazette would do a better job of holding the ball up than Alexis Sanchez.

26: Johnny Marr and Noel Gallagher are having a chat in the stands. Perhaps they’re discussing writing a song about De Bruyne? Yeah I doubt it.

23: Kevin de Bruyne's strike was Manchester City’s 50th in all competitions this season, 10 more than any other Premier League side. They are just relentless.

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the EtihadREUTERS

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the Etihad

21: Will the floodgates open? There’s a distinct possibility as City rampage forward again. KDB, who else, releases Sergio Aguero but the Argentine runs away from goal and wins a corner.

MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 ARSENAL - KEVIN DE BRUYNE

19: Did I say Manchester City didn’t have much space? Well it turns out they don’t need much.

Kevin De Bruyne opens the scoring after receiving a short pass from Fernandinho, opening his body and drilling the ball beyond the outstretched Petr Cech.

17: Arsenal have adopted a pretty sensible shape with two strong banks of four. It’s allowing City complete control but there’s very little space for them to do damage.

16: It’s taken a little while but Manchester City are starting to find their feet. The crowed are still on the quiet side, perhaps they could do with a goal to get them going.

15: Close! I don’t think anyone can believe City haven’t scored. Ozil is dispossessed in the centre-circle after trying some skills. Stupid. Sergio Aguero then finds Leroy Sane, who squares it across the goal but Raheem Sterling can’t quite tap it home.

12: Slight panic for Arsenal as Raheem Sterling races into the box, but he’s quickly crowded out and Alexis Sanchez relieves the pressure by winning a free-kick.

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the EtihadREUTERS

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the Etihad

9: Arsene Wenger will be largely happy with what he’s seen. The Gunners are camped in City’s half with Bellerin almost threading Ozil through on goal.

6: Alex Iwobi is in the right place at the right time to control a knock-down just outside the penalty area, but he loses composure and volleys it to the moon.

3: Bright start from the visitors as Kolasinac wins the corner, but it all goes south rather quickly as City break.

Kevin De Bruyne collects the clearance and drives forward. He lays it off for the overlapping Sergio Aguero, whose angled strike slams into the side-netting.

MANCHESTER CITY 0-0 ARSENAL

1: After a perfectly-observed minutes silence to remember all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in armed conflict, we’re underway.

HAVE YOUR SAY

14:13: If you want to vent your frustrations, or discuss any issues in the world of football (within reason), then get in touch!

You can either comment at the bottom of the page or contact me via Twitter using the hashtag #ExpressSport.

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the EtihadREUTERS

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the Etihad

ALL HAIL AGUERO

14:10: Manchester City have pulled out al the stops for Sergio Aguero.

He’s being awarded with a blue boot trophy to celebrate the fact he’s become City's all-time leading goalscorer.

Think he can add to that tally today? Yeah, me too.

STAT CAN’T BE RIGHT?

14:08: No wonder my stand-up career never took off…

I just thought you would like to know that Arsenal have won just 17 of the 45 away points available to them in 2017, losing eight of their 15 Premier League games on the road (W5 D2).

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the EtihadREUTERS

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the Etihad

SANCHEZ vs STERLING

14:05: After a summer of strong rumours, City made a late attempt to lure Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez to the Etihad on transfer deadline day in August.

Their attempts failed but, with his contract running down, the Chilean remains a potential target for City.

Sterling - scorer of 10 goals this season - was mentioned as a possible makeweight in any deal but that was emphatically dismissed by City.

The performances of these players could make an interesting subplot this afternoon.

AFTERNOON

14:00: Sorry I’m late to the party, I’ve been watching the dreary affair at Wembley where Tottenham edged past Crystal Palace thanks to a second-half Son strike.

But I’m fully expecting this to make up for the extreme boredom I’ve just suffered.

The irresistible force that is Manchester City meet Arsene Wenger’s very movable object at the Etihad Stadium.

Saying that, the Gunners have a pretty good record in this fixture having lost just one of the last 10 against the Citizens.

Sit back, relax and enjoy - this is going to be awesome.

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the EtihadREUTERS

Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest team news, updates and analysis from the Etihad

REACTION...

So, Sergio Aguero keeps his place up front with Gabriel Jesus on the bench.

It is a frighteningly attacking line-up from Manchester City, with David Silva that metronome in midfield.

Pep Guardiola will want Silva to unleash Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane as much as possible against this Arsenal side.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has again opted against starting Alexandre Lacazette for a big match away from home.

Alexis Sanchez starts, with Olivier Giroud on the bench after struggling to impress in the Europa League on Thursday.

Wenger needs a performance from playmaker Mesut Ozil today.

MACHESTER CITY vs ARSENAL - THE LINE-UPS

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Delph, Fernandinho, Silva, De Bruyne, Sane, Sterling, Aguero.

Subs: Bravo, Danilo, Gundogan, Mangala, Bernardo Silva, Jesus, Toure.

Arsenal XI: Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny, Monreal, Kolasinac, Ramsey, Coquelin, Xhaka, Ozil, Iwobi, Sanchez.

Subs: Macey, Debuchy, Elneny, Wilshere, Walcott, Lacazette, Giroud.

Referee: Michael Oliver.

MANCHESTER CITY vs ARSENAL - PREVIEW

Manchester City have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the Arsenal clash.

Captain Vincent Kompany remains on the sidelines with a calf injury, but manager Pep Guardiola hopes to have him back in training after the international break.

Left-back Benjamin Mendy is the only other senior absentee with a long-term knee injury.

Arsenal will hope Sead Kolasinac overcomes a hip injury after he limped out of the win over Swansea.

Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette are in line to return, although Shkodran Mustafi (hamstring), Santi Cazorla (ankle), Calum Chambers (hip), Danny Welbeck and David Ospina (both groin) remain sidelined.

Last season: Arsenal 2 Man City 2, Man City 2 Arsenal 1

Last five league matches: Man City W W W W W; Arsenal W W L W W

Top scorers (all competitions): Raheem Sterling (Man City) 10; Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) 5

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

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