As it happened: Manchester City cruise to 3-0 victory over 10-man Arsenal

And that just about wraps up our coverage of this Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal.

There’s plenty of action to come over the next few weeks so do be sure to keep an eye on the VAVEL site but until then, I’ve been Tom Young, goodnight!

Anthony Taylor blows for full-time as Manchester City return to action with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over a lacklustre Arsenal side.

De Bruynes penalty shortly after half-time all but ended this one as a contest after David Luiz was sent off for his involvement but Phil Foden added the icing on the cake as he added Manchester City’s third in added time.

There is concern for the well-being of Manchester City youngster Eric Garcia who left the pitch in a bad way after a collision with Ederson.

It’s Arsenal’s first defeat of 2020 whilst Manchester City put a delay on Liverpools coronation as they cut the gap to just the 22 points.

Manchester City have two very good chances to make it four in quick succession.

First it’s Bernardo Silva who fires wide before Aguero uncharacteristically slices his effort into the side netting.

Manchester City make it 3-0 courtesy of the Stockport Iniesta! 

Aguero plays a one-two with Sterling before hitting the post but it’s Phil Foden who reacts quickest to fire home on the rebound.

The fourth officials board goes up and there will be 11 (ELEVEN) minutes of added time here.

Garcia has been taken off the pitch and play is back underway.

City have used all five substitutions so it will be ten against ten for the remainder of this one.

Garcia looks to be in a really bad way here. 

He’s been down for eight minutes with the medics clearly very wary of moving the young Spaniard.

Gabriel Jesus has gone off to make way for Sergio Aguero.

Meanwhile Eric Garcia is still being seen to by the medics on the pitch.

A nasty collision here between Ederson and Eric Garcia and it’s the 19-year-old who comes out worst.

He’s lay motionless on the floor as both sets of players call for the medics.

The first water break of the night takes place as Sky show highlights of David Luiz’ performance tonight.

Yikes.

Another double subsitution for the hosts as Aymeric Laporte and Kevin De Bruyne make way for Fernandinho and Rodri.

Meanwhile Arsenal will make a triple substitution, their third, fourth and fifth of the night.

Willock, Guendouzi and Nketiah make way for Lacazette, Maitland-Niles and Nelson.

And that they do.

Riyad Mahrez and David Silva go off to be replaced by Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden.

City are camped in Arsenal’s half here, they look happy to settle for the 2-0 win.

Their bench isn’t half bad if they want to give a few players a rest.

It’s become almost a training ground match now as Manchester City knock the ball from side to side as they hold onto a comfortable 2-0 lead.

De Bruyne makes no mistake from the spot, sending Leno the wrong way to double Manchester City’s advantage.

They will have 40 minutes against 10-men, things could get ugly for Arteta’s men.

David Luiz is sent off for that challenge.

David Luiz has had a stinker tonight and it just got even worse.

Mahrez skips past the Brazilian who pulls him back and it’s as straightforward a penalty as Anthony Taylor will have ever given.

It’s a tale of two goalkeepers as Ederson knocks one 80 metres to almost send Mahrez in behind before Leno pings a routine pass straight into touch.

Oh the joys of playing out from the back.

No changes for either side and we’re back underway at the Etihad.

Half-time here at the Etihad and it’s Manchester City who have the lead courtesy of Raheem Sterling’s goal two minutes from time.

It’s a deserved lead for the hosts who grew into the game as the half went on, with Bernard Leno denying them on a number of occasions before David Luiz’s error handed Sterling the opportunity to take the lead.

It’s still all to play for in the second half, how will the Gunners respond?

You have to say that on the balance of play, Manchester City deserve the lead heading into half-time.

It’ll be a bitter pill to swallow for Mikel Arteta and his side though.

Raheem Sterling breaks his drought and he has David Luiz to thank for it!

The Brazilian centre half makes an absolute hash of a routine clearance to allow Sterling to get on the end of De Bruyne’s deep cross and he smashes the ball past a helpless Leno to give the hosts the lead.

How many more chances can City miss?

De Bruyne again at the heart of it, finding Sterling in behind but the English forward - without a goal in 2020 - can’t find the target as his chipped effort flies over the bar.

Manchester City are really starting to get going now.

De Bruyne delays his pass to find Mahrez in behind but once again Leno was equal to it, this time using his legs to deny City an opener.

Two saves in quick succession from Leno. First denying Raheem Sterling before keeping out David Silva’s low effort moments later.

 

Half an hour gone here and there’s been little to report in terms of chances.

That first goal of the restart still eludes us...

De Bruyne uncharacteristically gives the ball away on the edge of his own box but he gets away with it as Aubameyang skies his effort from the edge of the box.

Arsenal are indeed forced into their second change of the night. 

Mari hobbles off to be replaced by David Luiz.

More injury problems for Arsenal as Mari stays down after pulling up whilst trying to keep up with Walker.

David Luiz is warming up for the Gunners.

Kyle Walker flies down the right flank and breezes past Mari - who looks to reach for his hamstring - but his cutback is awful and the chance goes begging for City yet again.

50/50 possession through the opening 17 minutes.

I wonder where Arsenal have learnt that from...?

Just over ten minutes gone here and there’s been little in the way of chances other than that early KDB free-kick.

City are attacking primarily down that left hand flank with Sterling having been found in behind on a couple of occasions early on.

Xhaka won’t be able to continue. He’s stretchered off and will be replaced by Dani Ceballos.

Early injury worry for Arsenal here as Xhaka looks to have picked up an ankle injury.

Each side are permitted five changes under the new regulations, but Arteta won’t have been wanting to look to the bench so soon.

De Bruyne was the man who took the free kick but it’s a routine stop for Leno who tips it behind for a corner.

It comes to nothing as the change goes begging.

An early opportunity here for Manchester City as Mari absolutely cleans out Raheem Sterling on the edge of the box.

He’s lucky to escape without a yellow there.

Nketiah shows his pace in the first minute as he gets on the end of a long ball from Leno.

The flag was up for offside - and rightly so - but it’s an early warning for that Manchester City back line nonetheless.

We’re underway here and, as we saw in the Villa game earlier, all 22 players on the pitch take a knee prior to kick-off in tribute to the Black Lives Matter movement of recent times.

The teams are out here at the Etihad.

No pre-match handshake as per the COVID-19 guidelines, but football is back!

Martin Tyler with his now infamous one liner as we approach kick-off here at a sodden Etihad Stadium.

It wouldn’t be a Manchester City home game without a little bit - or a lot - of rain, would it? 

Aston Villa and Sheffield United has ended all square which means we await that elusive first goal since the restart.

Will we see it at the Etihad tonight, and if so, who’s going to get it?

The first game of the Premier League’s return is almost over at Villa Park as Aston Villa and Sheffield United are currently goalless with two minutes of stoppage time to go.

Ayemeric Laporte’s injury problems have caused City all sorts of problems this season but the one bright spark has been the emergence of Spanish youngster Eric Garcia.

The 19-year-old starts alongside Laporte for the hosts tonight, could this be the beginning of a long-term defensive partnership for Guardiola’s men?

For the Gunners, there are the following options on the bench:

Martinez, Luiz, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Ceballos, Nelson, Pepe, Martinelli, Lacazette.

 

A reminder that both sides will be permitted to make up to five substitutions tonight.

Manchester City will have the following players to choose from: 

Carson, Aguero, Zinchenko, Rodri, Sane, Bernardo, Fernandinho, Otamendi, Foden.

Leno; Bellerin, Mari, Mustafi, Tierney; Xhaka, Guendouzi, Willock; Aubameyang (C), Nketiah, Saka.

Ederson; Walker, E Garcia, Laporte, Mendy; De Bruyne, Gundogan, D Silva (C); Mahrez, Sterling, Jesus.
 

There’s little over an hour to go until kick-off in this highly anticipated match.

The team news will be out in the next five minutes, we’ll bring it to you as soon as we have it!

If you want to watch the game on your TV, your options are: Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Premier League

If you want to stream it: Sky Go

If you want to follow it on the internet, VAVEL UK is your best option!

Leno; Bellerin, Luiz, Mustafi, Tierney; Torreira, Xhaka, Ozil; Pepe, Aubameyang, Lacazette 

Ederson; Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Mendy; Rodri, De Bruyne, Gundogan; Mahrez, Sterling, Aguero.

Arsenal themselves have a number of players returning from injury who are in contention to play in tonight’s fixture.

Lucas Torreira and Kieran Tierney are both available for the visitors after an extended period on the sidelines.

Mesut Ozil has re-established himself as a key player since Arteta’s arrival so expect to see the German maestro play a key role for the Gunners tonight.

It’s good news for Pep Guardiola, who has a fully fit squad to choose from for the first time this season.

Leroy Sane could be in line for his first appearance of the season after suffering an ACL injury in the Community Shield win over Liverpool in August.

Meanwhile Aymeric Laporte has overcome a knee injury picked up in the UCL win over Real Madrid back in February.

This will be the first time that Mikel Arteta comes up against Manchester City since leaving the club to take up the manager role at Arsenal.

As Peps former assistant manager, Arteta knows the club better than anyone, will that be pivotal for his side as they look to pick up a first win at the Etihad since 2015?

It’s been a mixed season for the reigning PL Champions. Their two-year reign as Champions of England is all but over, as they trial Liverpool by 25 points coming into this one.

It hasn’t been a disastrous season though, they have already picked up the Carabao Cup and they are still in with a shout of the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League, so they will be keen to hit the ground running tonight.

It has been over three months since a Premier League match was last played but it’s finally back!

This will be Manchester City and Arsenal’s first game back since the break as they begin a busy couple of months of action!

The Manchester City vs Arsenal match will be played at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England. The kick-off is scheduled at 8:15pm BST

Welcome to VAVEL.com’s LIVE coverage of this 2019/20 Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal!

My name is Tom Young and I’ll be your host for this game. We will provide you with pre-game analysis, roster updates, and news as it happens live here on VAVEL.