Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Arsenal and Manchester City.

This may be sixth versus fourth, but this has a big-game feel to it. Much of that comes down to the under-achievement from both sides, but it's also due to the uncertainty surrounding the future of Arsene Wenger. It is alleged that he will remain at the Emirates Stadium for a further two years but until Arsenal record a positive result, that is likely to remain on the back-burner.

This contest is also important for City who not only have ambitions of a late title charge, but they also need to ensure that maintain a sizeable cushion over today's host. It seems unthinkable that a side managed by Pep Guardiola could finish outside of the Champions League places but if they lose this game, Arsenal and Manchester City will fancy their chances of overhauling the North-West outfit.

Before we continue the build=up to this game, it's time for the team news, starting with the Gunners...

ARSENAL XI: Ospina, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Xhaka, Walcott, Ozil, Sanchez, Welbeck

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTES: Martinez, Gibbs, Paulista, Elneny, Maitland-Niles, Iwobi, Giroud

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Caballero, Clichy, Stones, Otamendi, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Sane, Silva, Sterling, Navas, Aguero

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Bravo, Kompany, Zabaleta, Nolito, Kolarov, Delph, Yaya Toure

Let's start with the home side, with Wenger choosing to go with Danny Welbeck ahead of Olivier Giroud. We already knew that David Ospina would replace Petr Cech, but another debatable choice came in midfield, with Wenger opting to go for Francois Coquelin over Mohamed Elneny. He does that because both Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have been ruled out through injury. However, Mesut Ozil - who probably owes the club a performance - returns to the starting lineup.

As for Man City, Pep Guardiola has decided to give a surprise start to Jesus Navas, who could potentially start at right-back, depending on how his boss decides to line up. It means that Yaya Toure has to make do with a place on the bench. Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov may have also expected to start this game but they do are among the replacements.

RESULT! The full-time whistle has gone at the Liberty Stadium and the game between Swansea City and Middlesbrough has finished in a goalless draw. Yours truly predicted that result before kickoff, so I hope that you await my second prediction of the day in 10 minutes or so. Read our on-the-whistle report by clicking here.

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's match represents the 190th time in which these two teams have faced each other in a competitive match, with Arsenal claiming 95 victories in comparison to 50 wins for City. The North-West side are unbeaten in their last two games against Arsenal, but they had previously gone five matches without success.

PREDICTION! Wenger has taken his fair share of stick recently, but we think this could be the day where he turns things around. The team selection is interesting - leaving Giroud out when he could have battled Stones in the air - is a risk, but we are backing a 2-1 win for Arsenal with the Frenchman making an impact in the closing stages of the game.

Here comes the two sides. Right now, there are no calls for Wenger out but it's early days. Hopefully both sets of supporters can focus on the game itself rather than issues off the pitch.

Man City get us underway.

Navas has started at right-back and has already conceded a foul. The Spaniard versus Sanchez looks a mismatch. Nothing came from the resulting free kick.

It hasn't taken long for City to hit back and Ospina is fortunate that a clearance hit at Sterling doesn't go into an empty net.

Moments after Arsenal almost score through Welbeck, City go straight down the other end and take the lead. De Bruyne plays a peach of a pass through the middle - although I'm not 100% sure he meant it - and Sane latches onto it, rounds Ospina and slots into the empty net. It should also be pointed out that he outpaced Bellerin. That doesn't happen very often.

BOOKING! Navas goes into the book for what is a really poor tackle on Monreal. It's very close to a red.

WOODWORK! De Bruyne strikes the post! Arsenal are all over the place at the back. The Belgian's first-time effort from 20 yards hit the woodwork before Silva put a defender on the floor before being denied by Ospina on the rebound.

While City look like they are going to score every time they go forward, Navas can be got at, at the back. The City wideman can't deal with Sanchez or Monreal and without exaggerating, he is a sending off waiting to happen.

BOOKING! Arsenal supporters will be pleased to see Francois Coquelin attempt to make a tackle - he allegedly doesn't do it very often - but he goes into the book for a late challenge on Silva.

There are one or two stray passes being played now, but the game is being place at a high tempo so it is to be expected. We just witnessed Navas get forward down the right and Sanchez track back with little urgency. It continues to be an intriguing battle.

CHANCE! Better from Arsenal and from their two star men - Sanchez and Ozil. The Chilean played the ball to his teammate inside the penalty area but despite being allowed to turn, he scuffed his shot straight at Caballero.

SHOT! This is a collector's item - a right-footed shot from Monreal. The ball fell invitingly to him on the edge of the area but he fired high over the crossbar.

We haven't seen much of City over the last quarter-of-an-hour. They were exceptional during the opening stages but Arsenal are, slowly but surely, gaining a stranglehold of this game. They need to get Walcott into the game because he has remained on the periphery.

SHOT! Sanchez receives the ball on the edge of the area and his only thought is to shoot. He tries to curl the ball into the far top corner but he can't get enough bend on his shot.

BOOKING! Xhaka is the next man into the book but while it is a mistimed tackle on Otamendi, I'm not sure it warrants a caution. The referee has probably got that wrong.

Guardiola is up off the bench. He can't be happy with the way in which his side have dropped deeper and are neglecting their usual passing game. Aguero has barely touched the ball for at least 20 minutes.

CHANCE! Stones gets up to meet a corner but his header goes a couple of yards wide of the post. Ospina always had it covered.

It hadn't necessarily been coming but Arsenal deserve their equaliser. Mustafi's header caught out Clichy, who was slow getting out of the penalty area, and after winning a battle with a defender by the penalty spot. Walcott was able to poke the ball into the corner.

Moments after De Bruyne sees a deflected effort strike the post, City retake the lead. Silva flicked the ball into the path of Aguero, who was able to drive the ball into the bottom corner from an acute angle. Mustafi should do better in the six-yard box to prevent the ball going in. What a game.

There will be two minutes of added-on time.

CHANCE! It should probably be 2-2. Sanchez finds Walcott inside the penalty area but after controlling the ball, he volleyed onto the roof of the net. Caballero was beaten.

The half-time whistle goes at the Emirates Stadium and City lead after a fine opening 45 minutes. Arsenal have not defended well but City don't look too assured at the back. Expect more goals in the second half.

Both sides are making a change. One looks enforced, the other tactical. For Arsenal, Gabriel Paulista is on for Koscielny, while Yaya Toure has replaced Sterling. Very interesting.

Arsenal get us back underway.

BOOKING! This is an easy decision for the referee. Fernandinho trips Sanchez and gets a yellow card.

It's been a rather tame start to the second half. City are taking their time in spraying the ball about. The introduction of Toure should give them more stability in the middle.

CHANCE! It should be 3-1. Navas is given space to cross the ball into the middle from the right but Aguero directs the ball wide of the near post after getting in behind Paulista.

A minute after they should have gone further behind, Arsenal equalise! A corner from Ozil is headed into the bottom corner by Mustafi from around 10 yards out. Game on!

SAVE! City come close to taking the lead for the third time in this match. Fernandinho's volley from 25 yards is well struck, but it's not in the corner and Ospina is able to dive to his right to punch clear.

BOOKING! We haven't seen much of him since his goal but Sane will always be a threat because of his pace. He uses it to draw a foul out of Mustafi on the halfway line and his international teammate is booked.

CHANCE! The quality of the game has gone down a notch but City almost find a third through Aguero, who is found around eight yards from goal, but his header goes too close to Ospina.

SUBSTITUTION! Wenger makes an interesting call as he withdraws Walcott for Giroud. I'm assuming that will see Welbeck move into a wide position.

Giroud is struggling to get into the game and there are already a few groans from the home supporters. That's not going to help. Still no more chances to speak of, but there is another goal in this game. That's my prediction, anyway.

SUBSTITUTION! Arsenal's final change sees Welbeck replaced by Alex Iwobi. Guardiola still has two alterations up his sleeve.

Ozil just had half a chance after the ball arrived at his feet with just Caballero to beat, but he didn't put everything into a 50-50 challenge with the goalkeeper and the opening went begging.

SHOT! If a winning goal is going to be scored, I think it will come for City. They are starting to build a head of steam but so far, their best effort has come from Silva, who dragged a low shot wide from 20 yards.

SHOT! Much better from Arsenal, who break forward in numbers, but Iwobi's shot from around 18 yards is sent into the stands.

SUBSTITUTION! Looks like Guardiola may be happy with a point. Pablo Zabaleta is on for Silva.

There will be three minutes of added-on time.

The full-time whistle goes at the Emirates Stadium and Arsenal have held on to claim a 2-2 draw with Manchester City. After twice being behind, I think Wenger will settle for that. It doesn't do much for their hopes of finishing in the top four, though, while City have also lost ground on two of the three teams above them.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us throughout the afternoon and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye for now.