Manchester City vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result and reaction after goalless draw

We’re still a few hours away from kick-off, but here’s a reminder of how you can watch today’s game.

The match will kick-off at 4:30pm BST on Sunday 31 March at the Etihad Stadium.

will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage following Liverpool’s clash with Brighton in what is another key clash in the title race.

If you’re not a Sky customer you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.

If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.

While Rodri was certainly a pivotal part of City’s treble-winning campaign last season, Arsenal may now have their own star midfielder to turn the tide in their favour.

Guardiola has rarely had reasons to wonder what might have been and rue. Declan Rice, however, could be the exception. If Arsenal win a first Premier League in two decades, it will in part be because of a player City offered £90m for; if Guardiola’s side fail to become champions for a fourth successive season, it may be because of two games against Arsenal, against Rice.

Even if Rice’s preference for Arsenal may prove the choice that decides the title race, it’s almost certainly the move that gave us a title race to begin with. 

Ahead of what could well be a title-defining game, Rodri has warned Manchester City that a defeat to Arsenal on Sunday could almost knock the champions out of the title race.

Mikel Arteta’s team would go four points ahead of Pep Guardiola’s side with nine games to go if they win at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.

And while Rodri feels victory would give City a psychological boost, he believes a loss would leave them with no margin for error.

“It’s a very, very important match,” he said. “I’m not saying it’s going to be decisive, but it will be very important for the mental fight.

Man City have had an excellent record against Arsenal in recent years, winning eight straight games from October 2020 up until this season’s Community Shield fixture, which Mikel Arteta’s men won on penalties.

City have won eight consecutive home matches against Arsenal in all competitions since a 2-2 Premier League draw in May 2016. However, Arsenal won the reverse fixture at the Emirates in October, ending a run of 12 successive league wins for City. The Gunners are looking for their first league double over City since the 2007-08 season.

The home side have won five of their last six games, including convincing wins against Luton, Manchester United and FC Copenhagen. They also drew at Anfield earlier in March, in what could prove to be a pivotal result for Arsenal’s title hopes.

This season, City are unbeaten in 38 matches at the Etihad in all competitions, winning 33 and drawing five. However, City are winless in all five of their league fixtures this season against top-five sides, drawing three and losing two.

Meanwhile Arsenal, who squeezed through on penalties against Porto in the Champions League, were the league’s form team in February and March, beating Liverpool while putting four past Newcastle, five past Burnley and six past West Ham and Sheffield United. In 2024, they’ve scored 33 goals and conceded just four.

The Gunners have won just once in 19 previous Premier League away fixtures against City, and have lost each of their last five.

Two of the Premier League’s title protagonists clash directly for the final time this season on Sunday with one of Manchester City or Arsenal having the chance to strike a decisive blow heading into the home stretch.

City are 5/4 favourites in the latest Premier League odds to win the title for a fourth season in a row with Mikel Arteta’s men the outsiders of the three contenders at 11/4. 

For today, City are odds-on with betting sites to record a ninth straight home win over the Gunners and maintain a 38-game unbeaten streak at the Etihad Stadium that stretches back to December 2022.

Man City 6/5

Draw 21/8

Arsenal 5/2

Ahead of Liverpool’s earlier kick-off, a look at which of the three title contenders has the ‘best’ remaining fixtures.

Manchester City, the defending champions, are aiming to win a fourth league title in a row under Pep Guardiola - a feat that has never been achieved in the history of English football. City blew Arsenal away in last year’s run-in, but the Gunners are back in the fight this campaign and have been joined by a resurgent Liverpool side - who are set for an emotional final months of Jurgen Klopp’s time on Merseyside.

Arsenal lead the way, but the Premier League now returns from March’s international break for another blockbuster fixture, as Mikel Arteta’s side visit the Etihad to take on the champions, having already beaten City earlier this season.

After that, as the Premier League title race enters April, the run-in can truly begin. But which team has the best fixtures and who has the hardest run of games to end the season? Here’s where the title could be won and lost.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has hailed Pep Guardiola as “the best coach in the world” as the close friends prepare for a potentially seismic game in the Premier League title battle this weekend.

Manchester City play host to their title rivals at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday having won the last seven home meetings between the two sides.

Arsenal finally managed to record a rare victory over City when they won the reverse fixture at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season and go into the weekend top of the table – above Liverpool on goal difference with Guardiola’s reigning champions a point further back.

With Manchester City a point behind Arsenal and Liverpool in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola’s men are in the unusual position of chasing to win the title, as well as another treble, this season.

Speaking ahead of that game, Guardiola stated that it’s the mentality of his players that drives them to their successes.

“I think it comes from inside themselves. After eight years, I don’t have to motivate them every three days - it doesn’t work like that unfortunately,” he said.

“They have something inside - some fire - to compete or else we would not be here. I say a thousand million times that the biggest reason behind our success is the players and their desire to extend the success.

“They set the benchmark for the future generations. I couldn’t imagine we would be here after all these years and every year be in the top three, FA Cup semi-finals and the Champions League. It’s so complicated and it’s really good - really good.”

Like City, Arsenal will be working rapidly in the fitness room to get their key players on the pitch at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon but there are doubts over big hitters like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

Here’s what we know about the Gunners’ latest injury hits:

Bukayo Saka

Saka was named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad ahead of the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium but pulled out with a hamstring injury and was sent back to Arsenal. He has not trained ahead of the weekend but, like with Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes, Mikel Arteta says there is a “chance” he will be available.

Verdict: Doubtful

Gabriel Martinelli

The winger missed Arsenal’s wins over Brentford and Porto in the Champions League with a foot injury, originally picked up in the thrashing of Sheffield United at the start of the month. He missed out on Brazil’s squad due to the problem and is yet to return to training but may do so on Saturday.

Verdict: Doubtful

Gabriel Magalhaes

The centre-back was named in Brazil’s squad for friendlies against England and Spain but withdrew from the camp due to an Achilles problem. Like with Saka and Martinelli, he has not trained but could do so ahead of the trip to City.

Verdict: Doubtful