Good afternoon! Having both booked their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League in midweek, Manchester City and Arsenal are back in league action at the Etihad Stadium.

The teams are in so here you are:

Manchester City: Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Demichelis, Kompany, Clichy, Nasri, Fernandinho, Toure, Silva, Aguero, Negredo. Subs: Hart, Lescott, Milner, Dzeko, Kolarov, Javi Garcia, Jesus Navas.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Ramsey, Flamini, Walcott, Ozil, Wilshere, Giroud. Subs: Vermaelen, Rosicky, Arteta, Cazorla, Fabianski, Bendtner, Gnabry.

Manuel Pellegrini leaves Joe Hart out after starting in the win over Bayern Munich with Costel Pantilimon picked between the posts for the home side.

For the Gunners, Bacary Sagna is deemed fit to slot into full-back with Nacho Monreal coming in on the opposite side.

How do you see this one going?

City’s two goalkeepers warm up.

Credit: Dave Thompson/PA Wire/Press Association Images

A win for the Citizens today would bring them to within three points of today’s opponents. Victory for the Gunners would see them move eight points clear — until the rest of the weekend’s games anyway.

Read previews of all the Premier League games here

Blue Moon ringing around the stadium as Arsenal kick off. Here we go.

Early corner for Manchester City, which actually comes back off Yaya Toure before going out. It’ s easily cleared away by Arsenal.

Strong run by Alvaro Negredo who gets to the byline then cuts back but Aguero can’t get a touch and it’s deflected away.

GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal (Sergio Aguero)

City win a corner on the right and it’s whip in to the far post where Martin Demichelis flicks on. Aguero, lurking at the back post, volleys emphatically into the back of the net for his 19th goal of the season in all competitions.

Down the other end, Pantilimon isn’t looking too assured after dropping a high ball before recovering.

Here’s the goal:

YouTube credit: WWEMATCHES

Negredo is put through by Kompany after some nice footwork from the Belgian but the striker shoots outside the post.

GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 Arsenal (Theo Walcott)

Arsenal are level. Ramsey robs possession and the ball makes its way out to the left before being cut back for Walcott to striker first time. His strike takes a deflection off Demichelis on its way in.

I’m inclined to agree with this:

Credit: Twitter

Credit: Martin Rickett/PA Wire/Press Association Images

GOAL! Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal (Alvaro Negredo)

The home side are in front again. A super Yaya Toure pass picks out Pablo Zabaleta, who controls and slides to Negredo. The big Spaniard gets ahead of Koscielny and tucks away from close range.

More bad news for Arsenal as Koscielny has done something to his knee and will be replaced by Thomas Vermaelen.

Arsenal’s equaliser and Negredo’s finish to make it 2-1. You’re welcome:

YouTube credit: ►Sky Sports

YouTube credit: medo mod

Half-time: Man City 2-1 Arsenal

Silva has a strike which is high and wide before the whistle goes.

More on Koscielny injury:

Credit: Twitter

We’re back and the second half has just begun.

Sergio Aguero is now limping off the pitch and won’t be risked any further. The goalscorer heads down the tunnel and Jesus Navas is warming up on the sidelines.

GOAL! Manchester City 3-1 Arsenal (Fernandinho)

Sagna plays a misplaced pass into a central area where Fernandinho picks it up and curls it over Szczesny to make it 3-1. Arsenal will need to dig out some performance to get back into this one now.

Giroud, who has been quiet so far, is stretching to get on the end of a curling ball to the back post but can’t keep it down. Decent chance that.

Sagna crosses for Giroud to create what is a much better chance for Arsenal to pull one back. The French striker’s glancing effort sails well wide, however.

Fernandinho’s first goal since joining City in the summer. Tidy finish:

YouTube credit: TUĞBA ACEM

Big claims for a penalty from the Arsenal players after the ball bounces from Zabaleta’s knee up onto his arm inside the box. Would have been very harsh in my opinion.

GOAL! Manchester 3-2 Arsenal (Theo Walcott)

Just one between them again. Patient build-up play sees Arsenal find Walcott 18 yards out and he curls the ball beyond Pantilimon with what is the finish of the day.

GOAL! Manchester City 4-2 Arsenal (David Silva)

Poor defending from Arsenal and City have a two-goal cushion once again. Substitute Jesus Navas crosses low and Silva gets ahead of Mertesacker to poke home.

This is turning out to be one of the games of the season!

Pantilimon is forced into a good save to keep Jack Wilshere out.

Walcott’s second:

YouTube credit: vienna master

David Silva is off for James Milner while Mathieu Flamini has been replaced by Serge Gnabry.

City break and Navas hits the sidenetting from a tight angle.

Here’s David Silva’s goal:

YouTube credit: FootballGoals25

Jack Wilshere could be in a spot of bother for this.

Credit: Twitter

Yaya Toure has struck off target after surging forward.

I should have mentioned a couple of minutes ago that Nicklas Bendtner has been introduced.

Fernandinho is looking for a second but shoots straight at Szczesny.

GOAL! Manchester City 5-2 Arsenal (Fernandinho)

YouTube credit: iHighlightsHD1

Bendtner has the ball in the back of the net but it’s ruled offside.

GOAL! Manchester City 5-3 Arsenal (Per Mertesacker)

They take a short corner and Sagna crosses for Mertesacker to head in.

PENALTY TO MAN CITY…

Milner is brought down by Szczesny and Yaya Toure steps up.

GOAL! Manchester City 6-3 Arsenal (Yaya Toure)

The Ivorian dispacthes for the game’s ninth (and surely final) goal. What a crazy game of football.

Full-time: Manchester City 6-3 Arsenal

Wow, well that certainly didn’t disappoint!