Man City vs Arsenal LIVE score: Result from FA Cup clash as Nathan Ake nets winner

Now the rivalry between Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta is only one-sided in one respect. Even as the Manchester City manager took his record against his former sidekick to seven wins in eight games, he was offered evidence his old assistant is becoming a formidable adversary.

The current Premier League champions eliminated the league leaders from the FA Cup, inflicting just Arsenal’s fourth defeat of the season, but their duel is shaping up as the defining contest of the second half of the season. Nathan Ake’s goal made City the first team to reach the FA Cup fifth round but the performance of Arteta’s mix-and-match side indicated Arsenal could have staying power in the title race.

The teamsheets suggested City took this more seriously, the league table that they have a greater need to win the FA Cup to secure silverware this season. They were rewarded for an improved second-half performance after Arsenal were the more accomplished team before the break. If Arteta, whose lone triumph against Guardiola came in the FA Cup, can benefit from a little inside knowledge, the decisive gambit came when the older man turned to his bench.

Arsenal have lost 13 of their last 14 games against Manchester City in all competition, including each of the last six.

Mikel Arteta spoke to ITV following the game and expressed his disappointment at the result saying: “Really disappointed. I think we could have got much more out of the game. The action decided the game but it was a tight game and that one action changed it all. I think we could have dealt with it much better in terms of our discipline when the ball was in the box.

“We had big situations in the game and we didn’t put them away. We can take a lot of positives, I think the way we approached the game and competed. It is really difficult to win against this team but we went head to head with them.

“In the big moments, in big matches you have the make the difference. That is how you win these games.”

Pep Guardiola now has 18 wins over Arsenal. That is more than against any other team in his managerial career. He’ll want to add another couple to that tally before the end of the season as well.

How’s this for a stat?

Manchester City have beaten Arsenal in the FA Cup for the first time since their first meeting in this competition back in February 1904.

Incredible.

Nathan Ake was rightly on media duties after the match and spoke to ITV saying: “In the second half we were a little better and played more our game. It was tough, they pressured us high. We had to use Erling more than usual.”

Speaking about his goal he added: “A pass from Jack. It was the first one [goal] I ever scored with my right foot so pleased with that.

“Especially after a tough period, two good games before this one. It’s good to carry on this one. It gives us confidence for the next game.

“There’s still more to come. They are a very tough team. We stayed strong and didn’t concede.”

Roy Keane has mocked Pep Guardiola after the Manchester City manager’s frosty interview ahead of his side’s FA Cup fourth-round clash against Arsenal - chiding the Spaniard to “smile more.”

Working as a pundit on the ITV coverage of the contest on Friday evening, Keane smirked as he made the jibe after Guardiola appeared to take exception to the line of questioning from ITV reporter Gabriel Clarke.

Clarke’s questions were largely about the below full-strength side the Gunners had selected, as well as Guardiola’s relationship with opposition boss Mikel Arteta, who used to be his assistant at City.

Arsenal won’t feel too disheartened by this result. They can now focus on winning the Premier League and progressing through Europe.

The Gunners showed that they can give Man City a game which will give them confidence going into those crucial league matches.

Nathan Ake is the hero for Man City tonight. His goal sends them through to the FA Cup fifth round.