“,”elementId”:”6dc10d86-7c32-43e1-a00b-7d68861b9c90″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”1760″,”width”:”2932″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/2932.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”1760″,”width”:”2932″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”1200″,”width”:”2000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/2000.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”600″,”width”:”1000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/1000.jpg”},{“index”:4,”fields”:{“height”:”300″,”width”:”500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/500.jpg”},{“index”:5,”fields”:{“height”:”84″,”width”:”140″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/140.jpg”}]},”data”:{“alt”:”Nathan Ake breaks the deadlock!”,”caption”:”Nathan Ake breaks the deadlock!”,”credit”:”Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images/Reuters”},”displayCredit”:true,”role”:”inline”,”imageSources”:[{“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=dc1baf195346682e3752e8c21868e79c”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=16864ffcc6dc341c789e1fe6cc95495d”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e3e7a530047b962096f898732b44317b”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=1f370d39d9172b14bdfb26caa3d11ef9″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a4fe962bd4096ca7dd9c697279dcff9a”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0c3227a598a623ab4e5d9bc2ad693ce3″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=0b4446f2aa180d3cf830df5f6eb55840″,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d1c5638d614d665ff59f3564b02e3c61″,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=0ba028de10dc00b65b039f88a0438fb0″,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4786e9754a85c2d14bd4789748209bc4″,”width”:240}]},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=bebea37469eb89cd81c6837259cc4047″,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=622aa99c78686d81b4140261e2c869ec”,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=44d65b8e51a8d503f527bbb837f14537″,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=bc6952ce618cab68629e5d294ca6d665″,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=dc1baf195346682e3752e8c21868e79c”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=16864ffcc6dc341c789e1fe6cc95495d”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e3e7a530047b962096f898732b44317b”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=1f370d39d9172b14bdfb26caa3d11ef9″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a4fe962bd4096ca7dd9c697279dcff9a”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0c3227a598a623ab4e5d9bc2ad693ce3″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=cd140b551982cd3d670dcefb5acb9c4c”,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=29124bb448a567919f83b3af76fe9cad”,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=477ef84b8c04feb6031fff55d1b39fb0″,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b37ae5696d8c4e27e0a0d070efd84800″,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=dc1baf195346682e3752e8c21868e79c”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=16864ffcc6dc341c789e1fe6cc95495d”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e3e7a530047b962096f898732b44317b”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=1f370d39d9172b14bdfb26caa3d11ef9″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a4fe962bd4096ca7dd9c697279dcff9a”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0c3227a598a623ab4e5d9bc2ad693ce3″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=dc1baf195346682e3752e8c21868e79c”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=16864ffcc6dc341c789e1fe6cc95495d”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e3e7a530047b962096f898732b44317b”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=1f370d39d9172b14bdfb26caa3d11ef9″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a4fe962bd4096ca7dd9c697279dcff9a”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0c3227a598a623ab4e5d9bc2ad693ce3″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=0d7263be2c4b368ac559c2ac17a90c7b”,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=916d6cd2c8a3acd884ba352095195a68″,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=379be37d0a772031b19eed0a3350ae22″,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=16f2106ed6d212b2bd9eb667853923ca”,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8a0fd71097facd5daabc3142c7bcea9d”,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=5fb9639653b7bc65621b225de9003731″,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6017830b464aa80f8211fb0057092de9″,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=976ce8e652db975e6929b8819b5ecbe6″,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=bd3833e55eca7b1df74656851b823251″,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=eb2b437664e3534729fdaac7ece1111a”,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a575729e8f75f24963373ad2bd1ae276″,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=40b03222d0b23dd691c43cb7a53e4dea”,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c46f6a33099beaeed5a49bb397dd653e”,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/25d92ea79cad1fa4868d3d3cdda0667acdd1a77a/86_0_2932_1760/master/2932.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=078d83d82a9a38fed2e54fced69ee2b1″,”width”:960}]}],”elementId”:”11df0315-ed43-4fb9-9da0-65d331a05182″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1674854679000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”21.24 GMT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1674854885000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”21.28 GMT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1674854700000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”21.25 GMT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”21.25″,”title”:”GOAL! Man City 1-0 Arsenal (Ake 64)”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 27 Jan 2023 21.29 GMT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 27 Jan 2023 18.30 GMT”},{“id”:”63d438ae8f0828070504dfac”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
That’s the end of a first half that was bizarrely sleepy at times, particularly when City had the ball. I’m struggling to make sense of it all.
“,”elementId”:”6754df8f-b19a-4b4a-a3da-125f3d61f574″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
A much changed Arsenal had the better chances, with Stefan Ortega saving well from the lively Leandro Trossard and Eddie Nketiah volleying wide. Kevin De Bruyne almost scored a peach for City, but there was no rhythm in their play and Erling Haaland spent most of the half having a wrestling match with Rob Holding.
“,”elementId”:”b08c796c-3a50-4d1a-9bf9-581fb902b98d”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1674852526000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”20.48 GMT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1674852716000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”20.51 GMT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1674852716000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”20.51 GMT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”20.51″,”title”:”Half time: Man City 0-0 Arsenal”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 27 Jan 2023 21.29 GMT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 27 Jan 2023 18.30 GMT”},{“id”:”63d420ff8f085c034debc585″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Pep Guardiola has picked a very strong City side, with only two changes from the team that beat Wolves last weekend. Stefan Ortega replaces Ederson in goal; Nathan Ake comes into the defence in place of Aymeric Laporte. We don’t yet know whether City will play 4-1-2-3 or Pep’s new favourite formation, 3-2-2-3.
“,”elementId”:”bd3756ab-ef0b-4c8f-8e4a-22911b2077cf”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Mikel Arteta has picked more of a hybrid Arsenal side, with six changes from the rousing win over Manchester United. Matt Turner, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Rob Holding, Kieran Tierney, Fabio Vieira and Leandro Trossard – making his full debut – replace Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, William Saliba, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli. All six are on the bench, as is Arsenal’s other new signing Jakob Kiwior.
“,”elementId”:”32f7e8cb-da16-48a2-8203-a95601d0b2ea”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Manchester City (possible 4-1-2-3) Ortega; Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Ake; Rodri; De Bruyne, Gundogan; Mahrez, Haaland, Grealish.
Substitutes: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Phillips, Cancelo, Laporte, Alvarez, Bernardo, Palmer.
“,”elementId”:”9d6b2961-5c12-4edb-8348-060c3fc5da3d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Arsenal (4-1-2-3) Turner; Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey; Vieira, Xhaka; Saka, Nketiah, Trossard.
Substitutes: Ramsdale, White, Zinchenko, Saliba, Kiwior, Lokonga, Odegaard, Marquinhos, Martinelli.
“,”elementId”:”b1d3fc25-bb95-4e47-b85a-0f4dec7b6b70″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Referee Paul Tierney.
“,”elementId”:”69bdc91f-9054-43f4-9c61-9c2da2de0a89″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1674846463000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”19.07 GMT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1674846541000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”19.09 GMT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1674846541000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”19.09 GMT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”19.09″,”title”:”Team news: two changes for City, six for Arsenal”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 27 Jan 2023 21.29 GMT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 27 Jan 2023 18.30 GMT”},{“id”:”63d149628f08717bff911d63″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
To coin a phrase, 391 days is a long time in football. When Manchester City last met Arsenal, pilfering a 2-1 win at the Emirates on New Year’s Day 2022, the landscape of English football was exceedingly different. Manchester City were the runaway leaders and Arsenal were brawling, ultimately in vain, for fourth place.
“,”elementId”:”26aa0ba7-a1ef-4d69-9da0-83bd8e99abec”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Thirteen months is a long time for two big teams to go without playing each other. In that period, and particularly since Arsenal’s flying start to the season, anticipation has grown for the next meeting between City and the emerging Mini-City. It should have happened in the Premier League on 19 October, but that game was postponed for reasons too boring to explain when you can just use a hyperlink like this to do the job.
“,”elementId”:”13ac1115-8a0a-4075-9a13-e5ce58362de5″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The upshot is that City and Arsenal will meet at least three times in the next three months – tonight’s FA Cup fourth round tie, then a league game at the Emirates on 15 February and another (save the date because it could be all kinds of epic) at the Etihad on 26 April. There will also be a cup replay if they draw tonight.
“,”elementId”:”8067910c-dc9d-4c0b-8632-1d5d036a5684″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The league games are the big ones, and it’s hard to know just what tonight’s game is all about. Is it a chance to make a statement in the title race? A cracking FA Cup tie in its own right? A test of squad depth? A test of Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta’s friendship? An inconvenience that it might be beneficial to lose, especially for Arsenal? The start of English football’s new favourite rivalry?
“,”elementId”:”8d5ad788-ec97-43f4-9de9-8a0cdfdd92e8″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
One thing we can all agree on: with a respectful nod to Brighton v Liverpool, this is emphatically the tie of the round.
“,”elementId”:”6053dc75-fbf5-42d4-861e-102a507f02ad”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Kick off 8pm.
“,”elementId”:”77384cdc-a6bb-4c3d-b4cf-c468328ba953″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1674844201000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”18.30 GMT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1674845960000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”18.59 GMT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1674844201000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”18.30 GMT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”18.30″,”title”:”Preamble”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 27 Jan 2023 21.29 GMT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 27 Jan 2023 18.30 GMT”}],”filterKeyEvents”:false,”format”:{“display”:0,”theme”:2,”design”:10},”id”:”key-events-carousel-mobile”}”>
Key events
67 min: Great defending from Laporte! Xhaka, in the inside-left channel, curls a stunning cross towards Nketiah at the far post. He is shaping to shoot – and almost certainly score – when Laporte stretches to poke the ball behind for a corner. Fantastic defending.
66 min: Double substitution for Arsenal Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Martinelli replace Kieran Tierney and the impressive Leandro Trossard.
It all started when Alvarez turned, 25 yards from goal, and crashed a superb shot that beat Turner and hit the far post. Grealish collected the rebound, protected the ball for a few seconds and then laid it back to the supporting Ake, 12 yards out. Ake had to shoot first time, with Saliba coming to meet him, and he gently passed the ball across Turner and into the far corner. That was such a calm, precise finish.
GOAL! Man City 1-0 Arsenal (Ake 64)
All that attacking talent on the field, and Nathan Ake breaks the deadlock.
64 min Apparently Thomas Partey took a knock to the ribs in the first half, so I’d imagine he was substitute as a precaution.
62 min Mikel Arteta will be thrilled with how comfortable Arsenal have been so far. It’s not quite a reverse side, but it’s not far off – at the moment they have four of their best XI on the field, and they have been the equal of City.
61 min City have changed shape slightly – Alvarez is playing behind Haaland, with De Bruyne to the right and Grealish on the left.
60 min “In their last game against Arsenal, City’s only shot on target before their stoppage time winner was a penalty,” says Zach Neeley. “They have zero so far today. If Arsenal are heading toward another moral victory, I hope it’s to get it out of their system, because after today those won’t be good enough.”
59 min A long ball forward is headed up in the air by Nketiah on the edge of the area. It drops for Vieira, who swishes a volley wide of the far post. He had the time to take a touch there.
58 min: Double substitution for City Kyle Walker and Julian Alvarez replace Rico Lewis and Riyad Mahrez.
55 min Turner is okay to continue and makes an important save from De Bruyne’s sliderule cross. Haaland was waiting behind him to score.
City are starting to look better in attack.
54 min The Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner has hurt his left shoulder and is receiving treatment.
52 min Mahrez clips a nice pass into Lewis, running into space on the right side of the area. He tries to hook the ball across goal from a tight angle but screws it into the side netting.
51 min City break promisingly. De Bruyne plays a through pass to Haaland, who is sandwiched by Tomiyasu and Saliba in the area. He sends Tomiyasu flying with a shoulder charge but Saliba clears the danger.
50 min “I really ought to have known that Richard Rodgers wrote the music to both Blue Moon and You’ll Never Walk Alone, which got me thinking if other clubs might use some of his melodies too,” says Gary Naylor. “So far, I’ve only got Sean Dyche being asked about how many signings he needs before Monday night and replying, ‘Sixteen Going On Seventeen.’”
49 min The second half has started as the first finished, and that’s not a compliment. The atmosphere is so flat.
47 min “I saw REM circa 86-87 in a gymnasium at the University of British Columbia,” says Allan Castle. “If I recall rightly the opening act was Guadalcanal Diary. Anyway, good show but my principal memory was Michael Stipe going on a several minute between-song diatribe about human rights in Central America.
“When he finished there was some scattered clapping, then silence, followed by the longhair guy standing next to me on the floor shouting ‘ROCK AND ROLL!’ – a command rather than a comment. Welcome to BC.”
46 min Peep peep! Erling Haaland gets the second half under way.
Mikel Arteta has made two half-time changes Albert Sambi Lokonga and William Saliba are on for Thomas Partey and Rob Holding. No word yet on whether Partey has an injury.
Sign up to Football Daily!
Half time: Man City 0-0 Arsenal
That’s the end of a first half that was bizarrely sleepy at times, particularly when City had the ball. I’m struggling to make sense of it all.
A much changed Arsenal had the better chances, with Stefan Ortega saving well from the lively Leandro Trossard and Eddie Nketiah volleying wide. Kevin De Bruyne almost scored a peach for City, but there was no rhythm in their play and Erling Haaland spent most of the half having a wrestling match with Rob Holding.
45+4 min Actually, Laporte has only just come onto the field, as he wasn’t ready when Stones limped off.
45+3 min: City substitution Aymeric Laporte replaces the luckless John Stones.
45+2 min “These are the best two teams in England, Rob?” sniffs Simon McMahon. “I’ve switched over to Cove Rangers v Ayr United on the BBC Scotland channel. Still following the MBM of course, whilst listening to Document.”
45+1 min Two minutes of added time. John Stones is down with what looks like a hamstring problem. That’s a bad blow for City – they have a lot of centre-halves but he has arguably been the best in the past 18 months.
45 min “Man City,” says Jeff Sax, “are playing like Pep’s pre-game interview.”
They’re just not right at the moment, are they?
43 min “That’s a wonderful photo of a sweaty Hulk Holding in close combat with Haaland Macho Man Savage,” says Peter Oh. “Have you got one of Rowdy Rodri Piper?”
Hulk Holding is a keeper.
42 min Holding is booked for his 48th shirt pull on Haaland, who was breaking into space.
39 min Ortega gets away with a nervous bit of goalkeeping. He came to the edge of his area to meet a strange backpass from Mahrez, booted the ball against Stones and then took out Nketiah in his follow through.
38 min: Chance for Haaland! Tierney, in the centre circle, slices a clearance towards his own goal. The last man Gabriel has a few yards on Haaland, who shows frightening speed to get to the ball first on the edge of the area. He lobs it over Turner and a few yards wide of the right-hand post. Having got to the ball, he probably should have done better.
37 min “Based upon your MBM so far (to watch this match in the US requires a $100/year subscription, sorry World’s Grandest Domestic Cup but it isn’t worth it!),” begins Alex Whitney, “is it fair to say there’s a significant degree of nominative determinism applying to the behaviours of Arsenal’s fourth-choice centre back?”
Heh, indeed, although I should stress it’s been a 50/50 wrestling match.
36 min Grealish swaggers infield, away from Tomiyasu, but his through pass towards Haaland is well read by Holding.
34 min “Greeting Rob from sunny, soggy northern California,” says Mary Waltz. “I saw REM at the Forum in LA on the Green Tour. Outstanding performance, they put on a show that filled the entire arena. The exact opposite of the Everton dumpster fire. Nothing in the transfer window so far allays my fear of relegation, Dyche is a nice guy but his hiring is a bit of a damp squib. Sigh.”
I know it’s not as exciting as Bielsa but I think he’s a perfect fit. And if he can’t sort out the mess, you really are in trouble.
33 min: Chance for Nketiah! Arsenal are the better team at the moment. Trossard surges down the left and arrows a cross to the near post, where Nketiah gets across Akanji but volleys wide from six yards. It came quickly and a slightly awkward height, but he’s good enough to take chances like that.
32 min “I’m old enough to remember the origins of the phrase ‘What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?’ dating back to 1986,” writes James. “Wondering if anyone else does…”
Crikey, I’d never heard that before. Who knew? You, obviously.
31 min Haaland has passed a concussion test and is going to continue.
30 min Now Haaland is down holding the back of his head, which was introduced to one of the bonier bits of Rob Holding’s right arm. I suspect he’d have been booked had the referee seen it.
29 min “The best soundtrack for a sporting event is cranking up The Who’s ‘I Can See for Miles’ when the first downhill skier leaves the start house at the Kitzbuhel Hahnenkahm,” writes Bob Best. “He’s exceeding 100 kph within a few seconds and hanging on for dear life. Breath-taking and head-banging at the same time.”
AND THAT’S NOT HEALTHY, IS IT.
28 min Holding and Haaland have spent most of the first half re-enacting WrestleMania IV. So far, Holding is winning.
Photograph: Jeffrey Asher/Getty Images
27 min After a cautious start, the game is starting to liven up a peedie bit.
25 min: Just wide from De Bruyne! That’s more like it from City. De Bruyne cuts inside from the right, 25 yards from goal, and shapes a delicious left-footed curler that flashes just wide of the far post. Turner wouldn’t have saved it.
23 min “Completely different mood, but here’s my favourite version of Blue Moon, by Canadian band Cowboy Junkies,” says Liz White. “They also do an extremely moody cover of Sweet Jane.”
21 min: Very good save from Ortega! Saka and Vieira moved the ball smoothly across the field to leave Trossard one on one with Lewis on the left side of the area. He beat Lewis with a pretty simple stepover and blasted a left-footed shot across goal that was beaten away by the flying Ortega. That’s a much better save than the first one.