Arsenal vs Man City LIVE updates: Team news & line-ups; Premier League tie ON despite snow

Manchester City travel to face Arsenal in the Premier League just four days after thrashing the Gunners in the Carabao Cup final.

Sitting 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League, Pep Guardiola’s side will also go into this meeting as heavy favourites.

Arsenal fell out of top four last season for the first time since Wenger took charge of a full campaign following his arrival as Arsenal boss in 1996. That meant a rare season out of the Champions League, something which the Frenchman was challenged to rectify upon signing a new two-year contract last summer.

Despite that, Arsenal languish sixth in the table and are 10 points adrift of north London rivals Tottenham – who currently occupy the fourth, and last, Champions League qualification spot in the table.

City hold a 13-point lead over second-placed Manchester United and this is their game in hand so victory will only reaffirm their position as winners.

Arsenal vs Man City LIVE updates: Latest Premier League action from the Emirates

NEVILLE ON THE MIC…

19:30: I’m sure you’ve heard that Gary Neville is commentating on the match this evening.

Should be entertaining.

The former Manchester United defender was highly critical (understatement of the century) of Arsenal’s display on Sunday.

“Ramsey. Xhaka. Ozil. You’re walking on a football pitch at Wembley,” he said. “Why are you walking? You’re a disgrace. An absolute disgrace.

“I don’t even want to talk about them because they’ve been an absolute disgrace. Ramsey and Xhaka walking on a football pitch. Absolutely spineless.”

Can’t imagine it’ll be that bad tonight, right?

HAVE YOUR SAY

19:25: 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.

WENGER OUT

19:20: Mr Wenger didn’t take too kindly to fresh speculation regarding his future as Arsenal manager.

Their abject display in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final increased calls for the 68-year-old to be relieved of his duties after 5 billion years at the helm.

“I am just amazed that I have to always answer things that are exactly the same,” he said.

“I am here for 21 years, I turned the whole world down to respect my contracts. So I am still amazed that I still have to answer these types of questions.”

So, you are staying?

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Gavin: The Arsenal bench really worries me! No game-changers in there at all. This is our main problem. We lack depth in our squad.

James: It will be typical Arsenal to win tonight. No pressure on them. Then Wenger will bang the drum for mental strength.

Martin: I’d love to know what Xhaka has on Wenger that he continues to start when he’s an absolute liability, stick Elneny in there who will at least put a shift in.

NO DRAMA

19:15: There’s no conspiracy regarding Jack Wilshere’s whereabouts. He’s got an ankle injury but should be fit for Sunday’s trip to Brighton.

SO CLOSE

19:10: Sunday’s Carabao Cup success saw former Bayern Munich and Barcelona boss pep Guardiola lift his first trophy in England.

Hurrah…

A second is fully expected to arrive with Premier League glory, with Manchester City blowing away all in front of them this season.

They hold a 13-point lead over second-placed Manchester United and this is their game in hand so victory will only reaffirm their position as winners.

WHY SO BLUE?

19:05: I see a few folks asking why Arsenal have painted their pitch markings blue.

Come on, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to get this…

Yeah that’s right, the move is designed to help the match officials and players pick out the lines in case there is significant snowfall during the game.

Spurs initially did the same at Wembley yesterday, but the lines had to be repainted a lighter colour so the Video Assistant Referee system would work.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Gareth: I’m here at the Emirates Stadium with the faithful/deluded in sub-zero conditions – why do we do it to ourselves?

James: So Arsenal revert to four at the back. Begs the question why Wenger played three at the back for the final. Then again, pretty much all of his decisions now leave us asking questions.

Tim: How Mustafi, Xhaka, and Welbeck start for Arsenal after those pathetic displays is bewildering. Manager fearful to change players, Board scared of changing manager, owner scared to change anything.

TEAM NEWS – MANCHESTER CITY

18:55: Just the two changes for Pep Guardiola, who insists the Premier League is very much his main focus.

Bernardo Silva comes in for the injured Fernandinho while Ederson returns in goal in place of Claudio Bravo.

TEAM NEWS – ARSENAL

18:50: Where’s Jack? Mr Wilshere is out of action but nobody seems to know why. Quite suspicious given talk about his future at the club earlier this week.

Arsene Wenger has made four changes from the side who suffered the 3-0 defeat on Sunday.

Obviously there’s a return for Petr Cech between the sticks. He replaces David Ospina.

Elsewhere Danny Welbeck, Sead Kolasinac and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who was cup tied on Sunday, replace Nacho Monreal, Wilshere and Calum Chambers as Arsenal revert to a back four.

ARSENAL vs MANCHESTER CITY

18:45: The line-ups have arrived. As expected, Raheem Sterling and Nacho Monreal are both missing through injury.

Arsenal XI: Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Ramsey, Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Welbeck, Aubameyang.

Subs: Ospina, Holding, Iwobi, Chambers, Maitland-Niles, Elneny, Nketiah.

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Otamendi, Danilo, Gundogan, D Silva, De Bruyne, B Silva, Aguero, Sane.

Subs: Bravo, Stones, Laporte, Jesus, Zinchenko, Toure, Foden.

SNOW UPDATE…

18:40: Despite numerous requests from Arsenal supporters, including a certain Piers Morgan, tonight’s fixture will NOT be cancelled because of the beast from the east.

My deepest condolences…

I saw Claude and DT from ArsenalFanTV doing the snow dance outside the Emirates earlier, but it doesn’t seem to have worked.

Pitch shovelled, surrounding areas gritted and transport is no worse than it usually is in the capital.

WELCOME

18:35: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of Arsenal vs Manchester City.

Anyone else having a serious case of Déjà vu?

I could have sworn I watched Pep Guardiola’s side run riot against the Gunners a few days ago. Oh…

Terrible jokes aside (plenty more later), we’ve got a serious match on our hands.

The manner of the Wembley defeat in the Carabao Cup final has seen fresh criticism aimed at Arsene Wenger – who was forced to bat away questions over his future.

In this rearranged league meeting Wenger and his players have a chance to show than can mix it with the best team in the country.

Let’s see if they can…

ARSENAL vs MANCHESTER CITY – PREVIEW

Nacho Monreal will miss Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Manchester City after sustaining an injury in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.

The Spain international was forced off in the 3-0 loss to City with a back problem, which has also ruled him out of Sunday’s trip to Brighton.

Arsene Wenger has no other fresh injury concerns and can recall January signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who was cup-tied at Wembley.

Manchester City are set to be without Raheem Sterling and Fernandinho.

Forward Sterling is again doubtful after missing two games with a muscular problem while midfielder Fernandinho is definitely out with a hamstring strain.

Left-back Fabian Delph serves the second match of a three-game suspension while Benjamin Mendy (knee) is a long-term absentee.

STREAM DETAILS

The match will be available via Sky Sports.

They will carry coverage across their Premier League, Main Event and Ultra HD channels – beginning at 7pm.

You can watch the match online on Sky Go or using the SkyGo app for mobiles, tablets and laptops.

If you do not have a Sky Sports subscription, you can buy a Now TV day pass for £6.99.