Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.

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Here are tonight’s teams…

Jamie Carragher and Thierry Henry are on Monday Night Football this evening. They’ve picked out some interesting stats comparing the two teams’ main playmakers — David Silva and Mesut Ozil.

We’re underway…

Early concern for Man City as Fabian Delph picks up a knock, though it looks like he’s going to be okay to continue.

The former Villa man is in the team ahead of Raheem Sterling, with a defensive move that shows how much respect Manuel Pellegrini has for Arsenal.

David Silva has plenty of time to shoot at the edge of the box, though his attempt goes well off target.

The Spanish international will likely be key to City’s hopes going forward this evening.

It’s been a quiet enough start to this game.

Fernandinho has just curled another attempt well wide.

City are beginning to gain the upperhand in this contest. They are dominating possession and Arsenal are struggling to combat their sharp, intricate passing.

The Gunners do look threatening on the counter attack, however.

City have been very impressive in these opening stages. Arsenal can’t get the ball off them and there is palpable frustration both in the crowd and on Arsene Wenger’s face.

Nevertheless, despite their growing territorial dominance, the visitors have yet to create a clear-cut chance.

There’s a moment of panic in the City defence, as a hopeful cross deflects into Walcott’s path.

However, Otamendi is alert and manages to get a good challenge in to alleviate the danger.

City finally show some more direct attacking play. De Bruyne runs at the defence, before unleashing a powerful strike that Cech has to parry away for a corner.

From the ensuing set piece, the Belgian international accidentally kicks the corner flag when attempting to take it, much to the home crowd’s audible amusement.

With the half-hour mark approaching, it continues to be quite a cagey affair. Despite all the attacking talent on the field, both sides are currently struggling to create chances.

As I type though, Joe Hart nervously flaps at a cross before City eventually clear the danger.

Big chance. De Bruyne gets on the end of an incisive through ball, but his shot goes just wide.

ARSENAL 1-0 MAN CITY (WALCOTT 33)

Out of nowhere, Walcott gives Arsenal the lead with a beautiful curling strike from the edge of the box.

The tempo of this game has really picked up in the last five minutes.

Meanwhile, Ozil made the pass to Walcott, which means the German international now has his 14th assist of the season.

The Emirates is absolutely buzzing at the moment, and City appear to be on the ropes, with Arsenal continuously attacking since the goal.

Arsenal's Theo Walcott (left) celebrates scoring their first goal of the game with team-mate Aaron Ramsey. EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

After that brief flurry of Arsenal pressure, the game has quietened down again.

As half-time approaches, Arsene Wenger will be quite pleased with what he has seen so far.

ARSENAL 2-0 MAN CITY (GIROUD 45)

Awful from Mangala — just after he has made a superb challenge, he gives the ball straight to Arsenal.

The Gunners have the superior numbers and capitalise, as Ozil plays through Giroud, who makes no mistake with a clinical finish.

HALF-TIME: ARSENAL 2-0 MAN CITY

So half-time, and Arsenal have been absolutely ruthless when presented with opportunities in front of goal tonight.

The Gunners haven’t dominated by any means, but after De Bruyne missed City’s only real chance of the game, striking just wide when through on goal, the visitors were duly punished.

First, Walcott’s excellent curling strike put Arsenal 1-0 up, before Giroud doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time following Mangala’s misplaced pass.

It hasn’t been vintage Arsenal by any means, but Arsene Wenger won’t be complaining.

City, meanwhile, having conceded four against both Liverpool and Tottenham earlier in the season, are in danger of being blown away in another big game.

Ozil has had far too much space at times, with the likes of Yaya Tourte struggling to track him.

These stats also show how impressive the German international has been this season.

Joey Barton is not impressed.

The second half is underway…

Raheem Sterling is on for City, with Fabian Delph making way.

Sergio Aguero, who is only just back from injury and has been quiet, is unlikely to stay on much longer.

Arsenal's Olivier Giroud celebrates after scoring his side's second goal. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

De Bruyne plays it into Aguero, but his attempt at a shot is poor. The Argentine international has looked far from 100% tonight.

Down the other end, Ramsey’s cross finds Campbell, but he fails to get his subsequent attempt on target.

Man City are really going for this game now, while Arsenal look very good on the counter attack.

It will be a major surprise if there isn’t at least one more goal in this game the way it’s currently panning out.

Campbell beats the offside trap, but his finish is straight at Hart.

Shortly thereafter, Otamendi narrowly prevents a cross reaching Giroud — really last-ditch stuff from City at the moment.

Excellent ball in from De Bruyne, but Aguero’s ensuing header is straight at Cech.

He would have been offisde anyway.

Glorious play from Arsenal, as Ozil and Campbell link up, before Ramsey is played through. Hart manages to smother the ball to deny the Welsh international, however.

This is turning into a really great game to watch now.

Aguero has continued his usual trend of taking a while to get back to his best after injury, as he’s been ineffectual this evening.

Wilfried Bony is the man who comes on in place of the Argentine international.

Harsh, but true. He has been poor tonight.

There’s a doggedness about Arsenal tonight that you don’t always see with Arsene Wenger sides, as emphasised by a couple of crunching tackles this evening.

Perhaps they’re starting to realise that it’s their best chance in years to win the Premier League.

Ramsey controls the ball beautifully on the edge of the box, but then shoots well over. The Gunners seem the more likely side to score, with City looking increasingly demoralised.

Meanwhile, Wenger makes a defensive change, as Kieran Gibbs replaces Joel Campbell, who has shown some clever touches tonight.

Yaya Toure goes down under an ostensible challenge from Ramsey, but replays show there was no contact, and the referee was right to ignore the penalty claims.

City make a change, as Jesus Navas comes on for the disappointing David Silva.

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero (centre) is helped from the field of play after suffering an injury. EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

The magnificent Mesut Ozil departs to loud applause, having produced his 14th and 15th assists of the season tonight.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, a more disciplined player defensively, is on in the German’s place.

Fernandinho plays through Navas. He tries to square it to Bony when he should shoot himself and the Arsenal defender cuts out his attempted cross.

The Spanish international has failed to score in his last 60 Premier League appearances, and he certainly showed a lack of ruthlessness there.

ARSENAL 2-1 MAN CITY (TOURE 82)

After a patient build-up, Toure produces a superb, unstoppable shot into the corner.

Game on!

Moments after the goal, the ball falls to Bony on the edge of the box and his shot is deflected wide.

Arsenal are beginning to look very nervous as City press for an equaliser. These last five minutes could be huge in the context of this season.

Very close, as a clever one-two between De Bruyne and Toure ends with the latter steering the ball just wide. It’s incredible how Toure has burst into life in these last few minutes, having been so anonymous for much of the game.

Walcott, meanwhile, has just been replaced by Callum Chambers.

More nervous moments for Arsenal, as Giroud tackles Otamendi in the box. Replays reveal that the striker got the ball.

There will be four minutes of time added on.

Manchester City's Yaya Toure, right, is tackled by Arsenal's Per Mertesacker. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Just a few seconds left. Looks like Arsenal have done enough…

FULL-TIME: ARSENAL 2-1 MAN CITY

It’s all over and Arsenal have survived a late rally to gain all three points.

It was probably just about deserved, as a clinical Gunners side punished City’s defensive lapses in the first half, scoring from their only two shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes.

The victory puts Arsenal four points ahead of City, and two points behind leaders Leicester, and the Gunners will now likely be considered favourites for the title after this big win.

It’s City’s fifth consecutive away game without a win, and they were poor enough until the final few minutes, with key players Sergio Aguero and David Silva struggling to make an impact on the game, while their woe was compounded by some basic defensive errors.

Right, that’s all from me for now, but we’ll have more reaction to follow.

Thanks for reading and commenting, and happy Christmas from everyone at The42.