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

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

Van Persie wins a cheap foul out of Jo, even though the Gunners still have possession.

Zabaleta overhits a simple pass and Fabianski is in possession. The Polish keeper doesn't look to be bothered by his pre-match knock.

The visitors keep the ball much better and the tempo dies down for the time being.

City haven't really got going yet and they seem petrified every time an Arsenal player runs directly at them.

Mancini gives some instructions to Pablo Zabaleta as City need to do something to stem the red tide here.

Even Laurent Koscielny finds it easy to dribble through the defence. Another dangerous attack then brings a diving save from Hart to clutch Wilshere's clever attempt.

CLOSE! Van Persie buys himself some space on the edge of the box with a neat trick and thuds a low drive against the outside of Hart's right-hand post.

Bacary Sagna collects a Walcott pass but crosses straight to Hart.

City slow things down by keeping the ball at the back. They need this breather after the electric opening.

Walcott shows up well in midfield but the tackles are already starting to fly in. It's been an absorbing start.

Micah Richards picks up a knock and is off the field.

Another promising Arsenal attack comes to nothing but then Wilshere warms Hart's hands with a shot at the City keeper.

City break at the other end and James Milner flashes the ball well wide.

Arsenal should be ahead. Samir Nasri dances into the box and finds Jack Wilshere but his cross just evades van Persie. Theo Walcott retrieves the ball but the danger is cleared.

The Gunners start brightly but Alex Song's pass is intercepted after good work by Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas.

Arsenal kick things off, the atmosphere is buzzing in north London.

The teams are out on the pitch and we're about to get underway.

It'll be interesting to see how much City miss the creative influence of David Silva tonight.

The temperature is rising at Emirates Stadium - Arsenal won the away game in Manchester comfortably but they were up against 10 men following the first few minutes.

It looks like Fabianski is going to be okay to take his place in the side. Not long until kick-off now.