Welcome to our live coverage of the eagerly-anticipated clash between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium.

Van Persie curls a shot at Hart, who saves comfortably, after a patient corner routine.

Walcott's cross strikes Kompany at close range but it's no penalty. Fabregas emerged from midfield to feed the winger but it would have been the harshest of spot-kicks if it had been given.

Sagna is unhappy with a Tevez challenge but accepts the City skipper's handshake.

Yaya Toure tries to play a one-two with Tevez but the Argentinian overhits his return pass.

Tevez bursts into life by holding off Koscielny and then springing the offside trap to volley off target from a difficult angle.

Walcott is in the wars again as he's buffeted by Barry but the midfielder gets the ball cleanly.

Fabregas picks out Walcott beautifully but he's offside again. It's been a superb opening half hour and Arsenal deserve to be in front.

De Jong is the second City player in the book for felling Wilshere.

After weathering their first spell of pressure, Nasri tees up Cesc Fabregas who clips a shot against the woodwork as Hart can only watch. Walcott crashes the rebound against the opposite post but is offside in any case.

Van Persie is back to head away a Milner cross. All hands on deck at the moment before the Gunners can break down the other end.

Nasri concedes a free-kick for a silly push on Milner. Barry's set-piece goes all the way through to Tevez at the far post but his sliced ball back in hits Song and is cleared for a corner.

Fabianski is out of goal to clear as Barry just overhits a through ball towards Richards

Vincent Kompany does well to head away a dangerous centre by van Persie from the left flank.

Walcott suddenly finds himself in plenty of space inside the box after making a neat turn but his shot is dragged wide of Hart's right-hand post.

However, Walcott is down after making the challenge and needs treatment.

Walcott shows he's up for the occasion by sliding in to make a rugged tackle on Zabaleta.

Gareth Barry charges into Sagna to send him flying and receives the game's first yellow card.

Arsenal are lucky not to concede a free-kick and move forward but Walcott slips under challenge from Jo inside the box.

Song loses out but then wins the ball impressively and releases Walcott. The wide man is closed down by Zabaleta and the move breaks down.

Nigel De Jong bites into the tackle on Wilshere but Carlos Tevez is flagged offside as he bids to reach the loose ball.

It's an awful free-kick by van Persie that arcs well, well wide of goal. Not up to his usual standard.