Hello and welcome to our LIVE text commentary of the Premier League clash between Arsenal and champions Manchester City at the Emirates. Unai Emery takes charge of his first competitive with the Gunners, while Pep Guardiola gets set to defend his league crown. It's a tough opening fixtures for both sides, but who will come out on top? Kick-off is 4pm.

Premier League / Matchday 1

Emirates Stadium / 12.08.2018

Arsenal

Completed

Manchester City

R. Sterling(14')
B. Silva(64')

Live

Live Updates

ByTom Adams

Updated 12/08/2018 at 16:56 GMT

13'

Mahrez is looking lively in and around the Arsenal box. He runs onto a ball down the line from Walker, beats his marker for pace but his cross is too close to Cech who palms the danger clear.

12'

PENALTY APPEAL!

Well, half-hearted appeals. Ramsey gets caught up in a tangle with Stones in the box but Oliver ignores Arsenal's complaints.

SAVE!

Aguero's clever flick-on is latched onto by Sterling. He twists and turns, knocking the ball past Mustafi to create a room for a shot. But from an acute angle he can't beat Cech at his near post.

City swarm forward in large numbers and Walker is picked out in acres of space on the left side of the penalty area. His cross is disappointing though, drilling it hard and low at the feet of Cech.

Image credit: Reuters

Sterling takes a heavy touch and follows through on Guendouzi. Referee Michael Oliver has little option other than to produce his first yellow card of the afternoon.

Yellow card

R. Sterling

Manchester City

Yellow Cards1

Arsenal register their shot on target of the season but it's very comfortable for Ederson who has to barely move to collect Ramsey's weak effort from distance.

Is this the best time to play City? Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville believes so. They are missing De Bruyne, Kompany, Sane and Otamendi, but is there ever a good time to play City?

Image credit: Getty Images

1st Half

KICK-OFF!

Arsenal get us underway at the Emirates.

15:56

Here comes the players. All the talking is over, now it's time for the action. Can Emery start his Arsenal career with a victory or will Pep's side reign victorious? All the action is next and it's LIVE!

15:54

Mahrez is one new face in the City squad but Benjamin Mendy also feels like a new signing. The full-back hasn't started a match in the Premier League since September 2017! It's good to have him back.

15:52

STAT ATTACK

Unai Emery could become the first Arsenal boss to lose his opening league fixture since Steve Burtenshaw's team lost 1-0 to Spurs in March 1986.

15:50

No team has managed to defend the Premier League title in almost a decade, when Manchester United won three on the trot between 2007 and 2009, but would you really rule out Pep's free-flowing charges of retaining their crown?

They won the league at a canter last term and have only gone and strengthened their side with Mahrez in midfield. Chelsea were fantastic yesterday at Huddersfield but City completely played them off the park last Sunday in the Community Shield.

Image credit: PA Sport

Image credit: Reuters

15:45

Oh, what have we here then?

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Wilshere claims Wenger was 'sacked' by Arsenal

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15:40

TOUGH ASK FOR GUNNERS

Arsenal have just two wins in the last 12 meetings with Manchester City (D5, L5).

15:35

What an opportunity for the 19-year-old Guendouzi. Despite his age, the teenager has been described as a 'physical, combative midfielder with an eye for a pass who is technically astute and capable of playing under pressure'. Explains why he has been thrown in at the deep end, then.

Image credit: Eurosport

15:30

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola: "He [Emery] is an excellent manager. What he achieved - three Europa Leagues in a row - is excellent. He is a good manager and it is good for the Premier League.

"Our target is: try to win as much as we can and in April and May, we will see [the outcome]. If we are good and consistent like last season, we have a good chance."

Image credit: PA Sport

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