Manchester City host Arsenal in a Premier League showdown that has major implications for the destiny of this season’s title.
City and Arsenal are locked in a titanic battle with Liverpool to be champions in what is shaping up to the be one of the great title races, and this is the last match between of the three protagonists.
It sees Mikel Arteta come up against the manager who taught him so much during his time coaching at City before leaving for the Arsenal job. Arteta has transformed the Gunners into contenders and a run of eight wins in a row propelled them to the top of the table.
But City have beaten Arsenal at home for the past eight years in a row, and a ninth successive victory at the Etihad would be a major blow to Arteta’s dream of bringing a first league crown to north London for two decades.
Follow all the action from Manchester City vs Arsenal below, and get the latest tips, betting odds and free bets here.
With Liverpool currently at half-time in their game against Brighton, here’s a rundown of the remaining games in the Premier League title race.
After that, as the Premier League title race enters April, the run-in can truly begin. But which team has the best fixtures and who has the hardest run of games to end the season? Here’s where the title could be won and lost.
Chris Wilson31 March 2024 14:57
Follow Liverpool vs Brighton LIVE
We’re closing in on half-time in the day’s other game, where Liverpool are drawing 1-1 with Brighton. Remember you can follow that by clicking on the link below.
Chris Wilson31 March 2024 14:47
Chris Wilson31 March 2024 14:37
Predicted line-ups
A reminder of our predicted line-ups as we approach an hour before the official confirmation.
Here’s how we think Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta will set up their teams this afternoon.
Manchester City XI: Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Rodri, Bernardo; Foden, De Bruyne, Doku; Haaland
Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Trossard
Chris Wilson31 March 2024 14:30
Guardiola on his team’s mentality
Pep Guardiola also spoke about mentality earlier in the week. With City a point behind Arsenal and Liverpool in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola’s men are in the unusual position of chasing to win the title, as well as another treble, this season.
Speaking ahead of the game, Guardiola stated that it’s the mentality of his players that drives them to their successes.
“I think it comes from inside themselves. After eight years, I don’t have to motivate them every three days – it doesn’t work like that unfortunately,” he said.
“They have something inside – some fire – to compete or else we would not be here. I say a thousand million times that the biggest reason behind our success is the players and their desire to extend the success.
“They set the benchmark for the future generations. I couldn’t imagine we would be here after all these years and every year be in the top three, FA Cup semi-finals and the Champions League. It’s so complicated and it’s really good – really good.”
Chris Wilson31 March 2024 14:20
Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE
Turning our attention back to today’s later kick-off, and Mikel Arteta spoke to Sky earlier in the week about how he is trying to shape Arsenal into title winners, both literally and metaphorically.
“Body language, in my opinion, is very, very important,” Arteta said.
“It is something the players have to feel. And to be able to feel it, they have to feel that confidence, they have to feel emotionally prepared as well to make that step.
“You want to maintain all the qualities we had in the past and keep improving. Don’t lose them. Add, and add, and add, without losing anything.”
He added that physical prowess “is a huge quality” of signings such as Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, but explained that “their intelligence, their character, the passion they have for the game and how competitive they are” are also important, as the Spaniard attempts to mould his side’s mentality to that of a title-winning side.
We will see today how far his side have come in that department, after their title chances crashed in this same fixture last season when City ran out 4-1 winners.
Chris Wilson31 March 2024 14:10
Follow Liverpool vs Brighton LIVE
Liverpool’s game at home to Brighton has now kicked off, and you can follow the live text from that game here. The Reds are looking to – perhaps only briefly – return to the top of the Premier League table ahead of Arsenal and City facing off later.
Chris Wilson31 March 2024 14:00
The weekend’s league results
A quick reminder of the rest of the results from the weekend so far.
None of them affect the title run-in at all, but there were immensely entertaining games further down the table.
Newcastle produced a stunning comeback to beat West Ham 4-3 in the dying minutes, while Spurs also came back to beat Luton 2-1. In the other games in the race for Europe, Villa strolled to a 2-0 win against Wolves, while Manchester United somehow earned a point at Brentford despite being dominated in large periods.
Down at the bottom of the table, 10-man Burnley managed to salvage a 2-2 draw away at Chelsea, while Sheffield United blew a 3-1 lead to draw 3-3 with Fulham. Bournemouth beat Everton 2-1, while Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest played out a 1-1 draw.
Newcastle 4-3 West Ham United
Sheffield United 3-3 Fulham
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Crystal Palace
Brentford 1-1 Manchester United
Chris Wilson31 March 2024 13:52
State of the title race
Liverpool are level with leaders Arsenal on 64 points while Manchester City are a point behind with 10 games left in a three-way battle for the title.
After today, Liverpool face Sheffield United before travelling to old rivals Manchester United on 7 April. Arsenal play Luton in midweek before visiting Brighton, while City have the potentially tough task of hosting Aston Villa before facing Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the early kick-off on 6 April.
Chris Wilson31 March 2024 13:42
Man City vs Arsenal prediction
Despite City’s injuries, it is difficult to see them losing at home, especially if Arsenal are indeed without any or all of Saka, Martinelli and Gabriel.
A close game finishes as a draw that is a boost to Arsenal’s title hopes, but means Liverpool finish as the real winner should they defeat Brighton in Sunday’s earlier kick off.
Manchester City 1-1 Arsenal.
Chris Wilson31 March 2024 13:35
