Arsenal vs Man City LIVE highlights and reaction as Raheem Sterling goal secures 18th straight win

City equal club record

Another game, another record.

Pep: The last 15 minutes was brilliant

Guardiola says he was delighted with City’s game management in a game where his side ‘suffered’ a lot.

He told Sky Sports:

“It was hard like we expected it would be. We suffered a lot. It’s difficult to play against Arsenal and Mikel [Arteta], that’s why I give the players incredible credit for this victory.

“Mikel knows everything. He’s so good. It’s not because he’s my friend. He’s so clever. I learn a lot watching his teams. Today I learned something that I can use in the future. He knows everything about football.

“People look at our run of wins and think it’s so easy. I didn’t expect it. I’m more than grateful for these players for what they’re doing, but winning these games 1-0 is what we need to do.

“The last 10-15 minutes was brilliant. We didn’t push the action, the action came through the passes and movements in the right tempo.

“At half-time we adjusted our pressing and won a lot of balls. In the first half we could not. The second half was better. We didn’t create chances but enough to win the game.

“Fernandinho commanded absolutely everything in the middle. We need everyone. Now having a game every three days with travel, I’m going to have to rotate the team. It’s impossible to sustain this rhythm.

“We now have four games in a row in the Premier League. We know what we want to do. We want to make a big step.”

Sterling’s verdict on another win

More from Raheem Sterling, who says this run, now at 18 wins in a row, is better than previous streaks under Pep Guardiola.

He said:

The two centre half pairings have been great, have a great understanding. Even when Aymer is there they have unity, a bond. Like me scoring goals you want to keep a run going and they are the same with clean sheets.

It’s even better now, we had difficult start to the season, we were not used to not scoring as much goals as we’re used to. Credit to the team, we started to dig results out and that’s the sign of title-winning teams, digging results out when it really matters.

Any team you go to you can lose, nobody is dominating, we have to keep our focus and go onto the next one.

Sterling’s verdict

Raheem Sterling, speaking to Sky Sports, has given his verdict on today’s narrow win.

We moved the ball well, Riyad was really aggressive in first five mins, we kept the pressure on, got the goal early on. They’re a good team, you see they play good football under Mikel. We kept our composure and grinded a result out.

On his goal:

I’m 5″7 and a half! I got up really well, really happy whenever I score a header, it’s an extra buzz. This was a bit better, a lot better leap, I got up well and happy to score.

Why City struggled to get a second goal:

You can tell Mikel worked here plenty of years, I wouldn’t be surprised if they spent a lot of time finding gaps and they made it difficult.

Report: City give rivals an excuse in Arsenal win

Full time! City hold on!

There’s the whistle, and City hold on for an 18th straight win to put their gap at the top of the Premier League back to ten points.

Raheem Sterling’s early goal settles it. City should have put the game out of sight on a number of occasions, but defended well to ensure a single goal settled a hard-fought game.

Four minutes added

That injury to Holding has added four minutes for City to hold on.

Jesus strikes over

Gabriel Jesus is all on his own as he is sent free in the Arsenal half, but defenders get back quickly, hold up the strike, and force a shot from range that is well over the bar.

Bellerin booked

Hector Bellerin is booked for stopping Gabriel Jesus. Turns out it was Granit Xhaka booked before, so it’s only Bellerin’s first yellow.

Ceballos comes on

Arsenal bring on Dani Ceballos. Mohamed Elneny off.

City gain another sub

Rob Holding is replaced as a precaution for concussion, David Luiz comes on.

As part of the new concussion substitutes trial, City can now use an extra substitute. They’ve used one change so far.

Cancelo should score

Gabriel Jesus does well to advance into the box and feed Joao Cancelo. The Portuguese sells a lovely dummy but goes for a shot with the outside of his right boot and the ball curls wide. Should have got the shot on target at least.

Sloppy from City

City have looked worse since De Bruyne went off, despite a more rigid formation. Arsenal are growing in confidence and will fancy their prospects of nicking something in the final 15 minutes.

Mix up at the back

A high ball across the back line from Joao Cancelo is mishit and drops perilously close to Ederson’s goal. The goalkeeper gets it clear, but only as far as Mohamed Elneny, who volleys wide. A massive let-off for City.

For Arsenal, Smith-Rowe and Lacazette are on. Odegaard and Pepe off.

More traditional front line

Jesus has lined up in the middle, with Mahrez on the right and Sterling left, so it looks like we will see a more conventional frontline for City in the final third.

Stones recovers well

A rare misplaced header from John Stones concedes a throw-in, which Arsenal take quickly. Aubameyang chases, but Stones does well to recover and usher the ball out when that could have been a dangerous attack. Ruben Dias is straight over to high-five his partner, who looked annoyed at the initial header.

A proper duo.

Cancelo gets a yellow

Joao Cancelo goes for a header but gets nowhere near and catches Keiran Tierney. Not intentional, but still a booking.

De Bruyne replaced

He’s been everywhere, but only lasts an hour on his first start back from injury. Jesus comes on, presumably to lead the line with Bernardo dropping back into midfield.

Jesus coming on

Gabriel Jesus is getting ready to come on. Sergio Aguero is warming up.

Stones and Dias standing firm

Arsenal are probing but are getting absolutely nothing from Stones and Dias, allowing City to control the game because Arsenal simply cannot get in at the City defenders.

De Bruyne strikes over

A cross into the box is headed to the edge of the area, where Kevin De Bruyne goes for the spectacular first time volley. It’s hit sweetly, but doesn’t have enough dip and flies over.

Gundogan denied

Ilkay Gundogan picks his spot, but Bernd Leno is equal to the effort, pushing it away from the bottom corner. Good effort, good save.

Watch De Bruyne chance from earlier

Right at the start of the second half, Kevin De Bruyne went for the spectacular. It looked a nothing chance on first viewing. Replays show just how much skill the Belgian put into that.

Arsenal booking

Granit Xhaka stops Raheem Sterling from jinking away from trouble and joins Bernardo in the book.

UPDATE – Granit Xhaka received the yellow card, not Bellerin as this post previously stated.

Bernardo booked

Bernardo trips Saka as the Arsenal man looked to advance into the City half. Fernandinho would be proud.

Back underway

Arsenal get us back underway. No changes for either side.

Watch Sterling’s opener

What a leap.

Half time ratings

Ederson 7

Cancelo 7

Stones 7

Dias 7

Zinchenko 7

Fernandinho 9

Gundogan 7

Bernardo 7

Mahrez 8

Sterling 7

De Bruyne 7

Picture highlights from the Emirates

Mixed feelings at the break