Arsenal vs Manchester City Half-Time Update

It’s been a fast-paced, action-packed first 45 minutes at the Emirates between Arsenal and Man City despite the game being scoreless, with both sides having fantastic chances to lead in the game at half-time.

Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski very nearly caused his manager a massive headache, appearing to favour a shoulder during the pre-match warm up. Wojciech Szczesny is listed on the bench, but the Polish man has recovered enough to retain his place.

At points during the first half, Man City dropped as far as 5/1 to win, with Arsenal having a strong half; Robin van Persie has the first real effort after six minutes, the Dutchman collected a pass from the lively Nasri, and hit a low left-foot attempt that beat Joe Hart, but only managed to rattle the post.

Jack Wilshere had a low shot well held by Joe Hart just a few minutes later. City’s best effort came just before the half hour mark, when a City set-piece was misjudged by Bacary Sagna and fell to Carlos Tevez, who won a corner after an initial miscontrol.

The City woodwork was hit twice more soon after; Fabregas smacked a shot off the left post and the rebound fell to Walcott, who hit the opposite post from a narrow angle, despite being in an offside position.

Pablo Zabaleta and Jo were at one point occupying City’s left-hand side, and are currently not coping with the trickery of Walcott – the young England man is 10/1 to score in the match, which looks a promising bet.

Both sides started the day in fantastic form; Arsenal came into the game on the back of four wins from their last six, whilst City have three wins on the bounce and four wins out of five.

Arsene Wenger has named an unchanged side, meaning both Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere start against tough battling City midfielders De Jong and Yaya Toure.

City manager Roberto Mancini has made the majority of his changes in defence - Micah Richards, Pablo Zabaleta and Kolo Toure all start instead of Jerome Boateng, Joleon Lescott and Aleksandar Kolarov.

Not for the first time this season, Adam Johnson is dropped after scoring in his last performance, whilst Tevez is partnered up front by Brazilian Jo.

The London club are currently 5/6 to win, or alternatively 5/1 to bag two second half goals.

Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Koscielny, Djourou, Clichy, Fabregas, Nasri, Walcott, Song, Wilshere, Van Persie

Substitutes: Szczesny, Squillaci, Rosicky, Denilson, Arshavin, Chamakh, Bendtner

Manchester City: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Zabaleta, K Toure, Milner, Barry, De Jong, Y Toure, Jo, Tevez

Substitutes: Given, Bridge, Boateng, Lescott, Wright-Phillips, Johnson, Vieira