Arsenal against Manchester City

City throwing men forward now and win a second free-kick out on the right, level with the penalty spot

Twisting and turning out by the left corner flag 'Tricky' Sinclair is fouled by Cygan

Pires makes way for Pascal Cygan as Arsene Wenger looks to shore up the defence and preserve the lead

Arsenal play through City's midfield until the ball is played out wide to Henry. He cuts back inside onto his right foot and unleashes and arrow of a shot into the top right hand corner of the net. James can't get anywhere near it. Great goal - 2-0 Arsenal.

Game opening up now

Reyes plays a lovely weighted pass for Pires to get round the City back line. Pires tries to tee up Henry, a deflection sees Reyes and Henry in a position to shoot but James is out bravely to pull off a point blank save from the Frenchman

First sight of goal for Reyes as the ball breaks just inside the box. James pulls off a cracking save to stop a goalbound effort

Reyes plays a one-two with Pires but the return pass, in the air and in the box, is not controlled

pitch now starting to break down in places creating mud patches

Double substitution for City: Fowler and McManaman on for midfielders Reyna and Bosvelt

Anelka gets city's best chance running at Campbell one-on one. The big centre back is up to the task though and a strong block challenge steers him away

Henry shows his class by getting the ball out from under his feet and a shot away despite the attention of several blue shirts. James does well to get down and hang on to the slippery ball

Edu the next to try his luck from distance and, while the shot is dipping, it is always going over

Pires has a real chance just inside the City box with rare space. Fires over after snatching at it when he had more time

Impressive first touch from the youngster as a drag back and quick pass draws a cheer

Reyes makes his entrance to a raptuous response from the home crowd. Bergkamp makes way for the young Spaniard to make his debut

Scrappy passage of play as both side swap possession in the centre of the pitch

Some area's of the pitch getting very heavy in the rain and restricting either sides passing game

Whipped free-kick from Bergkamp on the right dips viciously and James appears unsighted as he flaps at it a bit in puching clear from his own six yard box

Lehman is again eager to come out of his box and get involved with the play. Unconvincing contact could quite easily have put his side in danger. In the end he manages to put the ball out of play

Long deep ball from Tarnat at the resulting free-kick is met well by Distin. Manages to direct it down and force Lehman to scramble across and collect at the second attempt

Parlour is the first Arsenal man to see yellow as he is cautioned for a rash challenge on Barton

Dunn towers over Campbell to head on goal but their is no power in it at all

Edu on as a substitute for Ljungberg

Barton is given a yellow for persistent fouling

Quality delivery from Wright-Phillips on the right as a curling ball forces Lehman to come and punch rather than collect. In the wet conditions the 'keeper is a bit lucky to get away with it

City 'double team' on Henry to deny him any room to turn and the attention frustrates the Frenchman

Pires cleverly back heels off Tarnats shins to earn a corner for Arsenal when it looked as if the ball would run out for a goal-kick

Delay as Ljungberg receives treatment

Ljungberg is clattered in a challenge with Barton as the pair turn and simply bump into each other. Foul awarded in Arsenal's favour

James throughs out to Barton but he is not looking and Cole nips in with an attempt to lob James as the England keeper is stranded off his line. Nice idea but a long way over

Henry, again asking questions down the left, is able to set up Bergkamp for a shot from outside the box dead centre - on target but comfortable for James

Delightful back heel from Henry sets Pires off down the left. He skips past Dunn but is tripped by the defender and goes to ground. Not much contact but a foul non the less

Distin powers forward down the left wing but, despite muscling his way through a couple of challenges, his cross is poor and sails out

Cagey opening to the second-half but City appear to be looking to hold a higher line than in the first

Henry returns to the field as the rain continues to pour down

From the kick-off Henry challenges Tarnat and pulls up hurt

No changes at half-time from either side

Half-time. Arsenal started at electric pace and from the off City were getting numbers back behind the ball. A couple of scares early on passed and City looked to be getting in the game. Anelka feels he was fouled in the build up to the goal but it looked more like a slip. Now Arsenal have scored City will have to come up with plan 'B' and it is likely Arsenal will have more space for their impressive wide men to exploit. Expect more goals in the second-half

Indicisive play from Distin gifts the ball to Henry in the City half but he is unable to exploit the mistake

The game has slowwed down as the first-half nears an end

Diagonal ball out towards the corner flag is too strong for Anelka to control

Pires tries his luck from the left corner of the City box. A right footed curling effort is splilled by James who has to stretch to get the ball back and out of the path of Ljungberg

City on the back foot now with the goal sparking some lively play from the home side

Cole is getting forward more and more. An overlap sees Henry play a ball to his feet, bearing down on the City box, but it gets caught up and City clear

The rain is coming down heavily now and that, combined with a gusty wind is making play difficult

Bergkamp releases Henry behind the City back line and his pace exploits the space their. A cross ball along the floor is bound for Ljungberg but Tarnat makes contact sliding and turns the ball into his own net. 1-0 Arsenal

Pires is well marshalled by Jihai drawing a shove in the back and a foul for City

Pires wins a free-kick on the left. Henry takes it and a cross-come shot bouches in the six-yard box and to safety in terms of the watching Distin

Arsenal continue to press, especially down the left, but cannot find a way through the crowds

With little room to move in Bergkamp creates some space with a deft touch. Cole plays a ball into him and a perfectly weighted first touch pass sets Henry away but the angle is to wide and his shot goes across the face of goal

Bosvelt is penalised for going in too hard on Bergkamp in the midfield

Once more Lehman has to look lively to leave his box and clear from the feet of Barton. The German is not happy with Barton's follow through. He wins the free-kick but gets a warning from the ref to calm down

Anelka is aware enough in the middle of a body of players to lob a ball over the top towards Sinclar in the box. Lehman has to be quick off his line to come and claim it

Reyna wins the ball and surges quickly forward. A neat one two with Anelka sets the Frenchman off, one on one with Toure. Anelka looks to beat him but the Arsenal man stands up strongly to win the ball back

City working hard to deny Arsenal any space in the final third

Anelka has the ball at his feet and runs across the Arsenal back line right on the edge of the box. Looking to create a shooting angle he eventually does and hits a low one on target. Lehman does well to get down and hold onto the shot

Bosvelt chips a pass into the path of Anelka out on the right wing but before he sets off in chase the striker is flagged off-side

City come forward and a promising move comes to nothing as Tarnat tries to shoot on sight when he had players with him. the shot from distance is scuffed and trickles off towards the corner flag

Barton has a snap shot from the edge of the area but Gilberto is in close attendance and blocks

Ljungberg chases back to rob Tarnat of the ball with a strong fair challenge. Immediately seeks to put a ball over the top for Henry but the Frenchman is off-side

Once more Arsenal are afforded deep possession and they stoke the ball from left to right looking for an opening

Toure is fortunate to escape without a card after deliberately pulling back Anelka as he sought to break quickly from the half way line. free-kick but nothing more

Clever feet from Henry gives him the chance to cross but the curling effort is in a space unoccupied by an Arsenal man

The ball breaks to Anelka on the edge of the box and he puts an inviting pass towards Wright-Phillips by the penalty spot. The combined effort of Toure and Campbell muscle the diminutive striker out

Henry plays on but looks in some pain

Henry receiving treatment forces Reyes to warm up and he is greeted with cheers from the Highbury crowd

Lauren is encouraged to get forward and plays a ball forward to Ljungberg. The defender then steams past him, hits the by-lineand cuts a ball in to Henry who hits the post when it was easier to score

Arsenal having all the possession as Reyna tackles Ljungberg at the expense of a throw-in

Promising bright move down Arsenal's left. Pires plays a lay off to Cole who overlaps before exchanging a one-two with Henry and crossing for Bergkamp. Just too much on the pass though .

City have certainly come with a game plan of getting numbers behind the ball and then look to break when they can

Token boos from some of the home support each time Anelka gets a touch

Pires bursts into the box on the left surrounded by blue shirts but still puts a low cross into the six yard box. No Arsenal player their to benefit

Corner from City is defended at the near post by Silva.

A sharp turn in the centre of the pitch and Reyna plays a ball through to Anelka but the threat is snuffed out by Campbell

City back off and seem happy to let Arsenal retain the ball in their own half

Arsenal kick-off and and give their back four several early touches

Manchester City start with only one out-and-out striker in the form of Anelka, with Wright-Phillips and Sinclar out wide. New signing Jose Antonio Reyes will start from the bench and, in the absence of Viera, Ray Parlour fills the central midfield position.

Jose Antonio Reyes to get his first bow in an Arsenal shirt? Man City to continue that winless streak? Join us at 16.05 GMT.

Reyes makes his entrance to a raptuous response from the home crowd. Bergkamp makes way for the young Spaniard to make his debut

Scrappy passage of play as both side swap possession in the centre of the pitch

Some area's of the pitch getting very heavy in the rain and restricting either sides passing game

Whipped free-kick from Bergkamp on the right dips viciously and James appears unsighted as he flaps at it a bit in puching clear from his own six yard box

Lehman is again eager to come out of his box and get involved with the play. Unconvincing contact could quite easily have put his side in danger. In the end he manages to put the ball out of play

Long deep ball from Tarnat at the resulting free-kick is met well by Distin. Manages to direct it down and force Lehman to scramble across and collect at the second attempt

Parlour is the first Arsenal man to see yellow as he is cautioned for a rash challenge on Barton

Dunn towers over Campbell to head on goal but their is no power in it at all

Edu on as a substitute for Ljungberg

Barton is given a yellow for persistent fouling

Quality delivery from Wright-Phillips on the right as a curling ball forces Lehman to come and punch rather than collect. In the wet conditions the 'keeper is a bit lucky to get away with it

City 'double team' on Henry to deny him any room to turn and the attention frustrates the Frenchman

Pires cleverly back heels off Tarnats shins to earn a corner for Arsenal when it looked as if the ball would run out for a goal-kick

Delay as Ljungberg receives treatment

Ljungberg is clattered in a challenge with Barton as the pair turn and simply bump into each other. Foul awarded in Arsenal's favour

James throughs out to Barton but he is not looking and Cole nips in with an attempt to lob James as the England keeper is stranded off his line. Nice idea but a long way over

Henry, again asking questions down the left, is able to set up Bergkamp for a shot from outside the box dead centre - on target but comfortable for James

Delightful back heel from Henry sets Pires off down the left. He skips past Dunn but is tripped by the defender and goes to ground. Not much contact but a foul non the less

Distin powers forward down the left wing but, despite muscling his way through a couple of challenges, his cross is poor and sails out

Cagey opening to the second-half but City appear to be looking to hold a higher line than in the first

Henry returns to the field as the rain continues to pour down

From the kick-off Henry challenges Tarnat and pulls up hurt

No changes at half-time from either side

Half-time. Arsenal started at electric pace and from the off City were getting numbers back behind the ball. A couple of scares early on passed and City looked to be getting in the game. Anelka feels he was fouled in the build up to the goal but it looked more like a slip. Now Arsenal have scored City will have to come up with plan 'B' and it is likely Arsenal will have more space for their impressive wide men to exploit. Expect more goals in the second-half

Indicisive play from Distin gifts the ball to Henry in the City half but he is unable to exploit the mistake

The game has slowwed down as the first-half nears an end

Diagonal ball out towards the corner flag is too strong for Anelka to control

Pires tries his luck from the left corner of the City box. A right footed curling effort is splilled by James who has to stretch to get the ball back and out of the path of Ljungberg

City on the back foot now with the goal sparking some lively play from the home side

Cole is getting forward more and more. An overlap sees Henry play a ball to his feet, bearing down on the City box, but it gets caught up and City clear

The rain is coming down heavily now and that, combined with a gusty wind is making play difficult

Bergkamp releases Henry behind the City back line and his pace exploits the space their. A cross ball along the floor is bound for Ljungberg but Tarnat makes contact sliding and turns the ball into his own net. 1-0 Arsenal

Pires is well marshalled by Jihai drawing a shove in the back and a foul for City

Pires wins a free-kick on the left. Henry takes it and a cross-come shot bouches in the six-yard box and to safety in terms of the watching Distin

Arsenal continue to press, especially down the left, but cannot find a way through the crowds

With little room to move in Bergkamp creates some space with a deft touch. Cole plays a ball into him and a perfectly weighted first touch pass sets Henry away but the angle is to wide and his shot goes across the face of goal

Bosvelt is penalised for going in too hard on Bergkamp in the midfield

Once more Lehman has to look lively to leave his box and clear from the feet of Barton. The German is not happy with Barton's follow through. He wins the free-kick but gets a warning from the ref to calm down

Anelka is aware enough in the middle of a body of players to lob a ball over the top towards Sinclar in the box. Lehman has to be quick off his line to come and claim it

Reyna wins the ball and surges quickly forward. A neat one two with Anelka sets the Frenchman off, one on one with Toure. Anelka looks to beat him but the Arsenal man stands up strongly to win the ball back

City working hard to deny Arsenal any space in the final third

Anelka has the ball at his feet and runs across the Arsenal back line right on the edge of the box. Looking to create a shooting angle he eventually does and hits a low one on target. Lehman does well to get down and hold onto the shot

Bosvelt chips a pass into the path of Anelka out on the right wing but before he sets off in chase the striker is flagged off-side

City come forward and a promising move comes to nothing as Tarnat tries to shoot on sight when he had players with him. the shot from distance is scuffed and trickles off towards the corner flag

Barton has a snap shot from the edge of the area but Gilberto is in close attendance and blocks

Ljungberg chases back to rob Tarnat of the ball with a strong fair challenge. Immediately seeks to put a ball over the top for Henry but the Frenchman is off-side

Once more Arsenal are afforded deep possession and they stoke the ball from left to right looking for an opening

Toure is fortunate to escape without a card after deliberately pulling back Anelka as he sought to break quickly from the half way line. free-kick but nothing more

Clever feet from Henry gives him the chance to cross but the curling effort is in a space unoccupied by an Arsenal man

The ball breaks to Anelka on the edge of the box and he puts an inviting pass towards Wright-Phillips by the penalty spot. The combined effort of Toure and Campbell muscle the diminutive striker out

Henry plays on but looks in some pain

Henry receiving treatment forces Reyes to warm up and he is greeted with cheers from the Highbury crowd

Lauren is encouraged to get forward and plays a ball forward to Ljungberg. The defender then steams past him, hits the by-lineand cuts a ball in to Henry who hits the post when it was easier to score

Arsenal having all the possession as Reyna tackles Ljungberg at the expense of a throw-in

Promising bright move down Arsenal's left. Pires plays a lay off to Cole who overlaps before exchanging a one-two with Henry and crossing for Bergkamp. Just too much on the pass though .

City have certainly come with a game plan of getting numbers behind the ball and then look to break when they can

Token boos from some of the home support each time Anelka gets a touch

Pires bursts into the box on the left surrounded by blue shirts but still puts a low cross into the six yard box. No Arsenal player their to benefit

Corner from City is defended at the near post by Silva.

A sharp turn in the centre of the pitch and Reyna plays a ball through to Anelka but the threat is snuffed out by Campbell

City back off and seem happy to let Arsenal retain the ball in their own half

Arsenal kick-off and and give their back four several early touches

Manchester City start with only one out-and-out striker in the form of Anelka, with Wright-Phillips and Sinclar out wide. New signing Jose Antonio Reyes will start from the bench and, in the absence of Viera, Ray Parlour fills the central midfield position.

Jose Antonio Reyes to get his first bow in an Arsenal shirt? Man City to continue that winless streak? Join us at 16.05 GMT.