I had a go at predicting the run in, I think I might have erred towards positivity for both teams and the end result is, well, it’s certainly dramatic.

If you think this is bad, the stat alongside it in the piece is worse for Gyokeres.

Most data points will tell you that was an even game. Except one, where Man City obliterated Arsenal. 40 touches in the l box, 14 allowed. A territorial beat down not far off the 2-2 in 2024. That curio might tell us more about City. Repeat this and they could go six from six in style.

Asked Arteta if he believes Arsenal can win out: "I know the level we have. Today if they need to be more convinced they are now more convinced. They were talking about it in the dressing room… We know how much we want it. We’re not going to stop."

FT Man City 2, Arsenal 1 - It's in City's hands now. As it is Arsenal's. Six games for City to play. Five for Arsenal. If they win out -- a huge if for both teams -- it'll come down to goal difference.

Gyokeres is coming on

White and Trossard coming on

2-1, Haaland

Eze typifies this game. Not perfect but all the more absorbing for it. When it clicks for him, he is lighting up the biggest game of the season.

Martinelli coming on

HT Man City 1, Arsenal 1 - Just a brilliant game. Not necessarily uniformly excellent from both teams and you could name a few who look a fair way off it. But the off colour moments are only enhancing the spectacle. And the very, very good players. Cherki especially and Rice. Wow.

Feels like it has been very difficult for Arsenal to win those second balls on the edge of their own box so far. When City get to the attacking third, they tend to pin them in for longer than Arsenal manage at the other end.

The trust Arsenal are placing in William Saliba is incredible. Gabriel goes wherever Rayan Cherki goes and Saliba just has to win his battles with Erling Haaland.

1-1, Havertz

1-0, Cherki

Arsenal are doing the right things out of possession, I can't see anything structurally wrong in how they're pressing. It's just that for the most part so far City are finding a way through.

If I might allow myself a brief moment to speak from the heart... Don't do it for the badge. Don't do it for the fans. Don't even do it for yourself. Do it because it will make Noel Gallagher sad.

Arsenal XI: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Odegaard, Eze; Havertz

These are the days where you realise how privileged you are

The biggest game the Premier League has seen this season, the latest chapter in this burgeoning rivalry, but what do we know about what happens when Arsenal play Manchester City? It'll be tight, probably low on shots. Beyond that, your guess is as good as mine.

The biggest game the Premier League has seen this season, the latest chapter in this burgeoning rivalry, but what do we know about what happens when Arsenal play Manchester City? It'll be tight, probably low on shots. Beyond that, your guess is as good as mine.

Arsenal injury news - Saka out "for sure", Arteta "hopeful" Madueke can be available - Saka starting to do "some stuff [asked about ball work, being on the grass]" - Arsenal "will push" Timber, Calafiori, Odegaard, "some players are quite close"

Arsenal's attack are demanding perfection from their defenders right now. The back seven weren't quite there against Sporting but were close enough when it really mattered. Can they get even closer at the Etihad? They'll need to.

Arteta: I wish we were doing the Arsenal documentary this year and you could film the last 48 hours… Enjoy where we are as a club.

Arsenal on Rice taking the armband ahead of Gabriel: "[The players] made a decision because Declan has earned it… He is taking ownership in difficult moments."

Arteta: There is a reason why we are the only English team in this competition. This schedule takes the hell out of you.

FT Arsenal 0, Sporting 0 - Arsenal reach back to back Champions League semifinals for the first time in their history. Five goals conceded in 12 European games.

No doubt whatsoever that this is a stressful way to advance to a semifinal but Arsenal haven't allowed a shot since 67th minute. In fact they've given up four in the second half. The attack has meant the out of possession work has had to be very good. After a wobble it has been.

Arsenal could have carried a striker who was all red and amber bars in passing, progression etc. But you surely have to be clear of the 90th percentile (maybe by a fair margin given the quality of the team) in scoring otherwise what's the point? (This doesn't contain any Sporting minutes btw)

HT Arsenal 0, Sporting 0 - It's not thrill a minute but Arsenal have had the better of this game and two of the three shots Sporting have had came from errors by the home team. The out of possession system is solid and that tends to be helpful in cup football.

Arsenal have been notably more willing to trust in a single pivot tonight than they have most games lately. Usually Zubimendi, who has looked much better tonight, but Rice moonlighting in the role right now. It might go some way to explaining why they're more zippy going upfield.

Arsenal XI: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Eze, Martinelli; Gyokeres That front three is 4W, 2D, 2L. In the Premier League it's 1W, 2D, 2L. Its wins are against Chelsea (EFL Cup), Kairat, Bournemouth and Club Brugge.

Nearly a quarter of Liverpool's penalty box touches and 29% of their xA in two legs against PSG came from Mohamed Salah. He played less than an hour.

Mikel Arteta says he doesn't want to disclose what Declan Rice's injury is. He adds that one of Saka and Timber might be available tomorrow night.

As open training sessions go, this seems quite insightful

No sign of Declan Rice at Arsenal’s open training session. Injured quartet of Odegaard, Saka, Timber and Calafiori still missing.

Arsenal average 1.04 open play xG per 90 this season. When Martinelli and Gyokeres share the pitch, that number drops to 0.29. In a small sample size it’s even worse with Madueke in too. On Arteta’s weird, unsticky attack & other thoughts.

In the five Premier League seasons before 2025-26, only one player averaged more open play expected assists per 90 than Rayan Cherki, 22 and playing his first season in England. Obviously it's Kevin De Bruyne.

The away end at Stamford Bridge should be bulletin board material for the Arsenal dressing room. City fans -- as they are absolutely entitled to -- bouncing like they're champions in waiting.

0-2, Guehi. Brilliant from Cherki.

0-1, O'Reilly

HT Chelsea 0, Man City 0 - Hosts have played this pretty well, posing a real threat on the counter. They still look vulnerable down their right where Doku can get into the box almost at will. Could go either way, this.

Probably Chelsea's most consistent quality is that they make their games an iota harder by getting yellows for totally unnecessary acts of ill-discipline. At 11 vs. 11 they might be the third best team in the league but I don't think their red cards are as random as most teams'.

The only two teams to go on a run of more than eight PL wins in a row over the last four seasons? Manchester City closing out 2022-23 and Manchester City closing out 2023-24. Their league form says they aren’t a team at that level anymore but there’s that vibe, isn’t there?

That was Arsenal as a parody of themselves. Technical level of that XI is much too low (partially due to injury) and that means they don’t have much of a route to chance creation beyond forcing set pieces.

So, errmmm, this is Belle and Sebastian’s song for Scotland at the World Cup, getting its live debut. I don’t know if it’s official. It should be. This gig has been sensational.

Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor appointed to be referees at the World Cup. They will be joined by Jarred Gillett as a VAR and four English assistants. England, USA, Brazil, Argentina and France among the nations to have multiple lead officials at the tournament.

There are some fair-ish arguments you can make for Liverpool playing a back five. It suits their wing backs and *maybe* their forwards and midfielders. PSG found it hard against Monaco in a similar shape. I just think it helps if it's a system you've played more than once under your manager.

48 teams, 495 permutations for third place finishers, 104 matches. You’d have to be a fool to try to predict every game, every scoreline at the World Cup. A complete and utter fool.

Chelsea have publicly announced that for the financial year 2024-25 they made a pre-tax loss of £262.4m, the largest in English football history, despite revenue of nearly half a billion (£490.9m). Full accounts have not yet been published.