Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of Arsenal versus Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium.

This is one of the fixtures of the season, and with both team desperately needing a win, it could be a cracking game football.

These two sides met precisely 112 days ago, where a late Laurent Koscielny goal earned Arsenal a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium.

You can see the goals from that game in the video below.

However, in this fixture last season, it was the Gunners who prevailed late on, courtesy of this Mikel Arteta strike.

He won't be able to do that today however, as Arteta has been ruled out after failing a late fitness test. Elsewhere Olivier Giroud declared that he was fit for the match, tweeting: "Hi The test went ok. I'll be in the team tomorrow vs city !"

City also have their problems, with Sergio Aguero, Micah Richards, Maicon and Aleksandar Kolarov all out injured. Kolo and Yaya Toure are with the Ivory Coast side ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, while former Gunners Samir Nasri misses out through suspension.

We have team news just in...

The big news is that Arsene Wenger has named Abou Diaby in the Arsenal starting line-up having not played since the side's 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on September 29 last year.

Thomas Vermaelen comes in for Per Mertesacker, while Theo Walcott starts up front. Olivier Giroud is only fit enough for a place on the bench.

ARSENAL XI: Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs, Diaby, Wilshere, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Podolski, Walcott.

And here are the substitutes for the Gunners...

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTES: Mannone, Jenkinson, Santos, Mertesacker, Ramsey, Coquelin, Giroud.

Interestingly, Tomas Rosicky misses out altogether.

Before we give you the City news, a quick note to say that after what was believed to be a bomb scare, the game goes ahead.

Arsenal.com tweeted: "AFCvMCFC game is definitely ON after police gave the all clear following pre-match security alert outside Emirates. Apologies for any delay."

Roberto Mancini has opted to go with two attackers; Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko, as Sergio Aguero is out injured and Mario Balotelli is left on the bench.

Kolarov makes the bench for City, while Javi Garcia, Gareth Barry, James Milner, and David Silva all start for the visitors.

So here is the City squad...

MANCHESTER CITY XI:Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Clichy, Garcia, Barry, Milner, Tevez, Silva, Dzeko.

And the bench...

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Pantilimon, Lescott, Rekik, Kolarov, Sinclair, Suarez, Balotelli.

So Mancini names two youth players, Rekik and Suarez, on the bench for the champions.

Arsene Wenger has spiced things up before today's game by stating that Manchester City have not improved since last season.

Wenger: "They are not necessarily stronger than last season.

"That's mainly because they were so strong last year.

"The championship is not over, so let's judge teams at the end of the season.

"Of course, in the Champions League it is finished for them but in the Premier League we'll see at the end of the season. It's far from over."

Strong words from the Frenchman ahead of what could be a nervy afternoon at the Emirates.

Wenger isn't the only man at Arsenal who has engrossed themselves in fighting talk before the match, Thomas Vermaelen is confident of a win this afternoon.

Vermaelen: "Looking back at the last few years, it's always a tight game when they come to Emirates and I suspect it will be similar on Sunday afternoon.

"We played well against them here last season though, winning 1-0 and having the chances to score three or four, and can also be encouraged by our draw up there a few months ago.

"They have some great players and are champions for a reason, but we're confident we can get the result we need to set us up nicely for the next few weeks."

From the Manchester City side of things, Pablo Zabaleta has admitted that the champions are feeling the pressure this season.

Zabaleta: "We are under pressure and we cannot drop any points at the moment.

"If United beat Liverpool then it's going to be difficult for us. But we need to control the situation and keep calm. We can't drop points and we must wait for United to drop some points.

"We need to stay positive because the race still has a long way to go. You never know in the Premier League, every game is so difficult. We expect United will drop some points but obviously we need to keep winning to take advantage."

Less than 15 minutes until kickoff.

While much has been made of City's failure to win at Arsenal in 38 years, they did actually manage to win at the Emirates only last season in the League Cup after a goal from Sergio Aguero.

And this was the goal...

Less than 10 minutes to go until the start of the match. The excitement is building.

Wenger: "Arteta had a muscular problem in training yesterday, he will be out for a while."

The Manchester City players are in the tunnel...

Here they come, out onto the field.

There are still a number of empty seats at the Emirates, with lots of late arrivers piling into the ground.

Prediction time! While it may be dull, I've a sneaky suspicion of 1-1.

We're underway with City kicking off.

Arsenal are playing from left to right in their red shirts, white shorts and white socks.

City are shooting from right to left, and are wearing their sky blue shirts, white shorts and sky blue socks.

City have had the majority of the ball in these opening stages, but no chances as of yet.

Silva has a corner from the left for City, but it bounces out of the box and away from danger.

There are boos for former Arsenal man Gael Clichy by the way.

Arsenal have a chance to play some football of their own, and put together a string of passes on the edge of the City box involving Chamberlain and Diaby, before Sagna's low cross is weak and easily cleared.

Abou Diaby got a big cheer from the fans on his return to action. He could be a very important player today.

Milner wins the ball back off Diaby in the centre of the field before sliding a smart pass through to Dzeko, but Szczesny is quickly out to deny any chance for City.

After City's bright start, it is Arsenal now who are enjoying the possession.

CHANCE! Good play from City and especially Carlos Tevez. He is at the heart of the move as the ball makes its way to the left of the Arsenal box. Clichy's cross finds Barry who plays a smart pass to Silva, whose shot is deflected just over.

Awful moment for Arsenal. Koscielny is sent off for bringing down Dzeko in the box and is shown a red card, much to the disbelief of the Arsenal fans.

Amazing scenes early on at the Emirates! Dzeko steps up to take the spot kick and his effort is saved by the feet of Szczesny, the ball rolls along the line, hits the inside of the post, rolls back towards the keeper, who then smothers the ball. Incredible.

The noise at the Emirates now is electric.

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTION The red card has forced Arsenal into an early change, as centre-back Per Mertesacker comes on in place of winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

While it is a massive boost for the Gunners with Dzeko missing that penalty, they have an uphill task now this afternoon. Expect a lot of City possession from now.

Mike Dean is the referee by the way today, and chants from the Arsenal fans suggest that he isn't the most popular choice in the world.

The game is starting to calm down a bit now, after a frantic five minutes.

CHANCE! City have a corner swung in from the right, Vincent Kompany rises to flick the ball on towards the far post, but Tevez cannot quite reach it.

Chance for Arsenal now as they have a corner, as some neat play results in Sagna blasting a cross of Clichy, cries for a handball.

CHANCE! Hart meets the corner with a poor punch, with drops on the edge of the box to Theo Walcott, but the England international swings and slices the ball high over the bar.

Jack Wilshere is down for Arsenal and receiving treatment. He slid in for the ball against Garcia, and while his knee looked to be overstretched, the replays show that Garcia caught the ankle of the England international with his studs.

He is up and running again though. Good news for the Gunners.

CHANCE! City have another opportunity as Barry hooks a ball over the top before Silva's header from the middle lays off Dzeko on the left inside the penalty area. The striker loses his balance though, and slams the ball wide.

It's a wonderful finish from Milner but sloppy defending from Arsenal. The Gunners are asleep as City take a quick free kick from the midway point of the Arsenal half. The balls is slid through to Milner who slams a powerful effort across goal and into the top corner from an acute angle.

There are handbags between Podolski and Zabaleta, as the former looks to have caught the defender with an unintentional arm as they jostled for the ball. Zabaleta reacts with rage, but Mike Dean keeps his cards in his pocket.

CHANCE! Carlos Tevez drills a shot from the edge of the box, but drags it just wide of the far post.

CHANCE! Carlos Tevez again tries his luck from the edge of the area with a strong shot which is held by Szczesny. Diaby gifted the ball to Silva earlier in the move, poor from the Frenchman.

Silva's shot goes behind for a corner, it's all City at the moment.

CHANCE! Javi Garcia heads wide at the near post after making a good run. It was a decent ball in from Gareth Barry after some good work with David Silva from the corner.

Arsenal have a free kick on the left after a foul. It is too far out and wide for a shot, so Walcott curls a high effort towards the far post, but it beats everyone and goes out for a goal kick.

Arsenal are finding it hard to get into the game, but they have a chance on the break. Vermaelen makes the pass before storming into the box, the ball breaks to Cazorla on the right, but his cross is deflected nicely into the path of Hart.

It's a long way back for Arsenal now, and after his earlier penalty miss, Dzeko doubles his side's lead. Zabaleta wins the ball on the touchline before knocking it down the flank to Milner. He whips in a great low cross which Tevez turns towards goal. The shot forces a save from Szczesny, but the Poland international cannot hold on to it, and Dzeko taps in the loose ball from all of a few yards out.

This could be a very long afternoon if you are an Arsenal fan. Two goals and a man down with just over half an hour gone at the Emirates Stadium.

It's so quiet here now, the second goal has killed the Arsenal support, very flat atmosphere now.

CHANCE! Encouraging moment for Arsenal. Podolski breaks from left and plays a one-two with Abou Diaby in a crowded penalty area before putting his effort straight at Joe Hart.

Arsenal need to take a chance before the break, otherwise this could be a big scoreline in the visitors' favour.

Arsene Wenger cuts a furious figure inside his technical area. His side are being bullied at the moment.

City have got all the ball here, Arsenal are chasing shadows. The one-man advantage is telling at the moment.

Arsenal break down the left again, as Podolski bares down on goal with a roar from the crowd. He looks up and aims a good cross towards Cazorla at the far post, but a brilliant interception from Clichy with his head clears the danger.

Silva hacks down Wilshere on the edge of the City box. A free kick and a chance for Arsenal.

CHANCE! Wilshere curls the ball towards the far post, but it is cleared away by City. The balls comes to Diaby on the left who cuts inside a fires a rocket well over the crossbar. A waste from him, Arsenal need to take one of these chances.

CHANCE! Jack Wilshere to the rescue as he heads the ball off the line for Arsenal from a Garcia header, the ball is then driven back across the face of goal by City but it's out of play.

We have three minutes of added time at the Emirates here.

City just stroking the ball about here. It's easy for them.

YELLOW CARD Thomas Vermaelen goes into the book for a silly late challenge on Dzeko. That puts his side in a dangerous position, and he will have to be careful for the rest of the match.

Niall Quinn just described this match as a "training game" now for City. It's hard to disagree with him on that.

Boos ring around the Emirates Stadium at Mike Dean as he calls an end to this first half of football, he has certainly been at the centre of events in the opening 48 minutes of the match.

Arsenal have a mountain to climb now, a man down and two goals down must surely be too much for the Gunners to come back from. Having had Koscielny sent off from bringing down Dzeko in the box, they were dealt a boost when Szczesny pulled off the penalty stop from the Bosnian hitman.

However, Dzeko made up for the spot kick miss by doubling City's lead with a tap in, after Milner had blasted the visitors ahead.

I wonder what on earth Arsene Wenger is going to say to his men at half time.

Arsenal have it all to do in this second half, City are surely home and dry?

The two sides are back out.

The boos would indicate that Mike Dean has made his onto the field as well. Which he has by the way.

We're back underway for the second half at the Emirates as Arsenal take the kickoff.

Neither side can really get a foot on the ball in these opening stages.

Cazorla breaks forward for Arsenal, and slides a lovely pass through to Walcott, but the flag is up for offside. A correct call from the assistant referee, but Walcott, with his pace, should end up being flagged there.

CHANCE! City have the first chance of the half, as Milner stays onside as he is played in down the right side of the field. He chips a brilliant cross towards Dzeko at the far post, but his header is just wide of the far post. Good play from City there.

Jack Wilshere screams at Mike Dean in frustration, as he is penalised for bringing down David Silva. Arsenal have to keep their cool, otherwise they could lose another man.

CHANCE! Arsenal have a half-chance as Wilshere goes on a strong run down the right, he gives the ball back to Cazorla who lays off Gibbs on the edge of the box. The left-back has time to pick his spot, but his effort is well blocked, and City can clear.

Arsenal are enjoying a spell of possession at the moment, but they are purely outnumbered by blue shirts. They need something to go for them if they are to get back into this match.

Official attendance at Emirates today given as 60,107. Arsenal officials say that it is a full house in North London.

YELLOW CARD Cheers go up from the Arsenal crowd, as Mike Dean books James Milner for a late challenge on Jack Wilshere. Correct call from the man in black.

The game has gone pretty quiet in the last few minutes. Lets hope that it is not already over.

Diaby sums up Arsenal's frustrations, as he does well to win the ball in his own box, before squaring his pass straight to the feet of James Miler. Luckily for the Frenchman, no danger arrives from the error.

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTION Arsene Wenger makes his second change of the match, as Olivier Giroud is brought on in place of Lukas Podolski.

Giroud has a lot to do here, and he goes straight up top with Walcott in a front two for Arsenal.

A cascade of boos rings around the Emirates Stadium, as Vermaelen is punished for a foul. Mike Dean growing ever-popular.

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTION Third and final change for Arsenal. Having completed an hour of action on his comeback, ABou Diaby is replaced by Aaron Ramsey. 30 minutes to go.

The game is being played at such a slow pace, both teams playing as if it is already over.

A real scramble in the Arsenal box as City pile on the pressure. Clichy, Tevez and Dzeko all tried to get a shot away, but the Gunners defended strongly to clear the danger.

YELLOW CARD Theo Walcott is the latest player to go into the book for a shove in the back on Javi Garcia.

A quick word on Diaby after his return, he was not at the races really today, not hard to tell that he isn't fully fit.

City break on the counter and have a chance to add a third, Tevez prepares to square the ball into the box, but Vermaelen makes a brilliant block.

CHANCE! Rare chance for the Gunners, as Sagna picks up the loose ball following a scramble in the City box. He lays the ball back to Cazorla, but his dipping effort is just over the top.

Sagna is called upon to make a brilliant header and put the ball behind, and Milner whipped in a great ball to the far post with players queuing up for the away side.

Olivier Giroud blasts Mike Dean after the Frenchman is brought to the deck by Garcia. Nothing is given by the referee, who booked Walcott for committing the same foul just moments earlier.

CHANCE! Tevez should have scored. Dzeko slides a pass from the left, and Tevez is unmarked and free to run at goal. He makes his was into the penalty area but takes too long to pull the trigger, and Szczesny makes a terrific save to deny City a third.

YELLOW CARD Gael Clichy chops down Sagna after he is beaten out wide, and duly picks up a booking for his sin.

CHANCE! The resulting free kick is whipped into the edge of the six-yard towards the path of Giroud, but he fails to keep his balance as the ball hits his shoulder and goes over. A real chance there for Arsenal.

The Arsenal fans start to get behind their side, a goal for the Gunners would set up a tense finish in North London.

Arsenal are playing a dangerous game by committing so many players to the attack, and leaving City an opportunity to break every time. But it is a risk they simply have to take.

It's now 10 vs 10 at the Emirates Stadium, as the City skipper is sent off. It's a shocking decision from Mike Dean. Kompany dives into the challenge on Wilshere and brings the Arsenal man down. Replays show that the decision is extremely harsh on the Belgian.

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTION City make their first change of the afternoon, as Carlos Tevez is brought off, with Joleon Lescott making his way onto the pitch.

Giroud is furious with Mike Dean yet again, as he is penalised for a late challenge of Garcia. Correct call from the referee though.

Growing belief around the stadium that Arsenal can get something from this match. Well if Reading can come from 2-0 down at home to win...

Milner has a go at goal from the right of the box, and gets his effort horribly wrong.

Going back to that Kompany red card, he led with one foot and it looked a great challenge after a heavy Wilshere first touch. Unless City appeal, the centre-back will miss City's FA Cup fourth round tie, as well as games against Fulham and Queens Park Rangers.

Wilshere floats a free kick into the box which causes utter carnage in the City penalty area. The Gunners desperately try to get a shot away, but are unsuccessful.

Mass appeals around the Emirates for a penalty as Gael Clichy is alleged to have handballed Walcott's cross. Replays show that the ball hit the inside Clichy's knee and rolled through his legs.

Five to go at the Emirates, and it looks all but over.

It's amazing that it is still only 2-0 to City in this match. How a goal for either side hasn't arisen since half time I will never know.

YELLOW CARD Mike Dean's notebook is running out of space the way things are going. Gareth Barry is shown yellow for a foul on Wilshere.

Nastasic gets absolutely battered in a Hart-Giroud sandwich and has stayed down. Purely accidental, but he really took a hit there.

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTION Edin Dzeko, who has just been named as the man of the match, is replaced by the blonde bombshell Mario Balotelli for the last few minutes of this match.

Just in case you don't know who Mario Balotelli is, he is the light bulb strutting around in the City shirt.

CHANCE! Arsenal come so close to finding a way through. Ramsey brilliantly slides through Theo Walcott on the right on the box. He gets the ball out of his feet and curls and effort over the onrushing Joe Hart. Unfortunately for him, Lescott is back on the line to stop a certain goal.

Five minutes of added time has been given at the Emirates.

Milner whips in a low cross into the Arsenal box from the right, but Vermaelen is on hand to stab the effort behind for a corner.

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTION Third and final change for City, David Silva off, Aleksandar Kolarov on.

City trying to keep the ball in the corner to run down the clock.

Wilshere puts a hopeful ball into the City box, but it bounces straight out for a goal kick.

That should be it.

Well that's it, and it would appear that the game was all but over after half an hour.

Arsenal stay sixth with a game in hand on Everton and Spurs ahead of them, City are now seven points behind Manchester United in second.

Arsenal had a mountain to climb almost right from the off. Laurent Koscielny was sent off from bringing down Edin Dzeko in the box after ten minutes, but they were dealt a boost when Wojciech Szczesny saved the Bosnian's penalty.

James Milner and Dzeko did find the back of the net however, to give City a 2-0 lead at the break. Vincent Kompany was shown a straight red in the second half for a seemingly-good challenge on Wilshere, but the game was already up by then.

That's all from me, hope you enjoyed the game. I'll see you soon.

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