LIVE: Manchester City lead Arsenal in a monumental top-of-the-table clash (5am AEST) after an early Kevin de Bruyne goal sent the home crowd at Etihad Stadium into raptures.
Three points for Manchester City would move them within two points of the league leaders, but with two games in hand over the Gunners.
City made a surprise decision to start regular centre-back Manuel Akanji at left-back, facing off against flying winger Bukayo Saka. But it was the hosts who came out of the blocks flying, with two penalty appeals in the first five minutes as Arsenal’s defence looked shaky from the opening minutes.
In the seventh minute, de Bruyne raced towards goal after picking up the ball inside the centre circle. He turned a defender as he charged forward, before unleashing a vicious strike low and into the corner.
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The Belgian midfield maestro had been fed by some brilliant hold-up play from Erling Haaland, who fended off Rob Holding to bring down a long ball and feed it to de Bruyne.
De Bruyne has scored more Premier League goals against Arsenal (seven) than any other team, and his 63rd Premier League goals is the third-most of any City player in Premier League history (behind Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling, but now ahead of the great Yaya Toure).
De Bruyne came close to doubling his tally in the 26th minute when Haaland again got on the end of a ball at the half-way line and poked it through for de Brune to run onto.
This time, however, the Belgian was denied by a brilliant diving block from White to fend off the shot.
And two minutes later, it was Haaland who came close, drawing a sharp save from Aaron Ramsdale after a left-foot shot – before forcing another save four minutes later with a first-time half-volley from a tight angle.
FULL PREVIEW: One game should decide the PL. And as everyone feared, Arsenal is ‘wilting when it matters most’
The Gunners entered the game with a five-point lead but having drawn their previous three matches, including twice dropping points from two goals up. That has made City favourites to win a fifth title in seven years.
MATCH CENTRE: Live stats and more!
TEAMS
CITY: Ederson, K Walker, R Alves Dias, M Akanji, J Stones, Rodri, B Silva, K De Bruyne, I Gündogan (c), J Grealish, E Haaland
ARSENAL: A Ramsdale, B White, R Holding, G dos Santos Magalhães, O Zinchenko, M Ødegaard (c), T Partey, G Xhaka, B Saka, G Jesus, G Martinelli
LIVE BLOG
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