Arsenal – Manchester City

1. Hello all and welcome to live text commentary of Emmanuel Adebayor's Emirates homecoming. Can Manchester City beat Arsenal as they look to take advantage of Tottenham's defeat at Old Trafford?

2. Team news is in...

3. Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Campbell, Silvestre, Clichy, Song, Diaby, Walcott, Nasri, Rosicky, van Persie. Subs: Mannone, Eduardo, Vela, Eboue, Traore, Eastmond, Bendtner.

4. Man City: Given, Zabaleta, Toure, Kompany, Bridge, De Jong, Vieira, Barry, Adam Johnson, Bellamy, Tevez. Subs: Nielsen, Richards, Onuoha, Ireland, Wright-Phillips, Santa Cruz, Adebayor.

5. So, the big team news is that Adebayor will not be starting on his return to the Emirates. I think it's likely that Bellamy will be pushing a bit further up the pitch, while both Vieira and Toure do start on their return to Arsenal.

6. Robin Van Persie starts for the first time in six months, which is great to see. How different could Arsenal's season have been if he had been fit and banging in the goals?

7. Fabianski stays in goal - a decision that I'm sure will leave Arsenal fans quivering nervously from crosses, corners and generally any time a goalkeeping decision needs to be made.

8. The players are on their way out now and this is a HUGE match for City.

9. Bitter cross-city rivals United did them a massive favour by beating Spurs earlier today. Now they need to take advantage by beating the Gunners for the third time this season (after home wins in the Premier League and Carling Cup).

10. City are currently two points behind fourth-placed Spurs, with a goal-difference one better than Tottenham's. Arsenal have nothing left to play for - it's five years without a trophy for Wenger's side.

11. And we're off...

12. 1'

    Bellamy doing some chasing down the left wing early on.

13. 1'

    An emotional return for Vieira today against the side he used to captain.

14. 1'

    Arsenal passing the ball well and Rosicky feeds in van Persie down the right. Toure showed him to the touchline on his right foot and it's a corner.

15. 2'

    Sagna's header is wide from the corner.

16. 3'

    Tackle on Vieira by Nasri and it's a City free-kick.

17. 3'

    Arsenal are looking for their fifth consecutive home win over City.

18. 4'

    Van Persie looks for Rosicky down the left but Johnson chases back well.

19. 5'

    Arsenal keeping possession well and Van Persie has looked sharp early on. Though Toure has looked up to the challenge of marking his former team-mate.

20. 5'

    Good battling from Bridge down the left wing and he, Bellamy and Barry combine well to retain possession.

21. 6'

    Toure looks long for Johnson - it was a fantastic run but the ball just skipped off the turf and into Fabianski's hands.

22. 7'

    At the other end Johnson brings down Diaby down the Arsenal left and it's a free-kick.

23. 7'

    Nasri searches for Campbell but City clear it away.

24. 8'

    Van Persie picks it up down the right, cuts inside and produces a dangerous ball - but there's only Nasri in the box and he doesn't get near it.

25. 8'

    Song with a strong challenge on Barry and Arsenal have looked bright early on here - moving the ball well.

26. 9'

    City have not won away at Arsenal since beating them 3-2 at Highbury in October 1975.

27. 9'

    Van Persie brushes Zabaleta aside but it's been called as a free-kick.

28. 10'

    Bellamy escapes the clutches of Diaby and Johnson looks to cause some damage down the right.

29. 11'

    Arsenal on 66% possession to City's 34% so far.

30. 12'

    Kompany looks long this time for Johnson and it seems City are trying to get it to their wing wizard at every opportunity.

31. 12'

    Silvestre with a 60 yard diagonal pass to Walcott who heads on to Van Persie. But the Dutchman has been ruled offside.

32. 12'

    Bridge is on the floor and he looks like he's struggling with an injury.

33. 13'

    Richards is an option on the bench and it may be a case of him coming on at right-back and Zabaleta switching to left-back.

34. 14'

    15 years ago this week, Mancini scored against Arsenal for Sampdoria in the UEFA Cup semi-finals.

35. 14'

    Bridge looks like he will continue.

36. 15'

    Adebayor has scored five goals in the last four Premier League meetings between these sides - four for Arsenal and one for City.

37. 16'

    City mount an attack but it quickly breaks down and now it's Arsenal's turn to go forward.

38. 16'

    Diaby gives the ball away and Bridge chases down the left - however, Walcott is chasing him and there's only going to be one person winning that particular race.

39. 17'

    Van Persie shows excellent strength against Toure and the striker has won a free-kick for Arsenal.

40. 18'

    Nasri takes it and he floats a poor, harmless ball into the grasp of Fabianski.

41. 19'

    Johnson plays the ball into Tevez but he's offside. City unable to retain any significant possession as yet.

42. 20'

    Arsenal have looked the more threatening but there have been no real chances at all so far.

43. 20'

    Tevez gets the ball into his feet and then passes away, presuming Johnson will be on his right. He wasn't.

44. 21'

    Sagna passes the ball into Nasri but it's presumptious passes all round as Van Persie was not occupying the space that the Frenchman thought he was.

45. 22'

    Walcott skips past Bridge, using an electric burst of pace but then he's clattered with a fantastic challenge by Kompany.

46. 22'

    The City defender got all of the ball and sent Walcott flying. He was lying flat on his front but I think he will be alright.

47. 23'

    Clichy passes the ball to Fabianski and as Tevez closes him down there is the simultaneous gasp of 60,000 Arsenal fans - worried by what could happen.

48. 24'

    He clears it away though and Arsenal break with Nasri.

49. 25'

    Bellamy unhappy by a two-footed challenge by Song but it was more a cass of Song winning the ball and then falling on his backside.

50. 25'

    Bridge not looking comfortable at all out there and with Walcott's pace - you don't want your left-back to be at anything other than his peak of fitness.

51. 26'

    City sub: Richards on for Bridge

52. 26'

    Arsenal have won their last five home league games at the Emirates.

53. 27'

    City look to start from the back with Given. But then he just launches it forward towards TEvez. I fancy that both Silvestre and Campbell will fancy their chances against Tevez in the air.

54. 27'

    Van Persie threads a perfect pass through to Nasri who is clean through. Offside apparently, I think thatw as pretty close though.

55. 28'

    Song plays the ball through to Van Persie, but Toure does well again and knocks it out for a corner.

56. 29'

    Corner comes in from Van Persie but it's cleared away. Silvestre gives the ball away and Bellamy looks to break but he can't get the ball under control.

57. 30'

    Walcott sells Van Persie short and City clear their lines.

58. 31'

    Richards does well against Rosicky, and then Vieira is fouled by Diaby.

59. 32'

    Toure clatters through the back of Van Persie as he tries to hold the ball up. it's a free-kick but no card.

60. 32'

    Walcott accelerates down the right, plays it right to Nasri, whose cross is deflected away for an Arsenal corner.

61. 32'

    Van Persie takes it and Vieira defends it well with Silvestre charging in. Another corner.

62. 33'

    Nasri takes it this time and Silvestre's effort (off his back, may I add), loops harmlessly wide.

63. 34'

    Arsenal straight back forward as Nasri gets ahead of Kompany. But the City defender holds his position well.

64. 35'

    Arsenal in total control but they still haven't really managed to engineer any chances.

65. 36'

    City have not lost two consecutive Premier League games all season.

66. 36'

    City finally look like getting out of their own half with the ball at their feet.

67. 36'

    But no, it's lost again and here come the Gunners.

68. 37'

    Clichy's left-wing cross is cleared out to a waiting Walcott - who tries an outrageously ambitious first-time shot.

69. 37'

    It was wide, very wide.

70. 38'

    Diaby brings down Vieira again and he must be close to getting a yellow.

71. 38'

    Tevez with a pinpoint through-ball to Bellamy down the left but the Welshman is just offside.

72. 39'

    It was the first time they looked like getting in behind the Arsenal's defence.

73. 39'

    We've just had our first shot on target - Nasri hits it straight at Given.

74. 40'

    Vieira striding through the middle and into the penalty area but Campbell makes a great diving challenge to get the ball clear.

75. 40'

    Silvestre fouls Tevez and he's been given a yellow card for hauling the striker to the floor.

76. 41'

    City are unbeaten in their last five away games and have won the last two, thrashing Burnley 6-1 at Turf Moor in their most recent away match.

77. 42'

    Rosicky goes down under a challenge from Toure, but ref Mike Dean tells him to get up.

78. 42'

    Driving run by Diaby who played a one-two with Rosicky. But the Czech midfielder's return pass was poor.

79. 42'

    Another shot on goal, from Van Persie this time. Wide of the left post - into the side netting.

80. 43'

    Vieira a lucky boy there - he lashed out with a kick at Song but the referee has let him off the hook.

81. 44'

    Foul throw by Clichy. Sunday league football to be penalised for that.

82. 45'

    Two added minutes in this half.

83. 45'

    Arsenal still pushing hard and Walcott gets a right-wing cross in. Cleared away by Kompany.

84. 45'

    Vieira with a fantastic volleyed pass to release Bellamy but he's got no support.

85. 45'

    There goes the half-time whistle...

86. 45'

    HALF-TIME. Arsenal 0-0 Man City. The Gunners have dominated this one so far but City have defended admirably and with just one shot on target, Wenger's side have hardly heavily threatened their opponents. No penetration so far, but expect more from City in the second-half because I'm sure Adebayor will be introduced sooner rather than later. Grab a cup of tea and we will be back in 15 minutes.

87. 46'

    Right we're off again...

88. 46'

    No changes for either side as yet and Adebayor is getting a little bit of abuse from the Arsenal fans as he warms up.

89. 46'

    Arsenal coming forward with Song and he exchanges well with Rosicky but just overruns it out for a goal kick.

90. 47'

    Song has collapsed in a heap and is clutching his knee.

91. 47'

    He's back on the ptch now though, fear not Arsenal fans. But he just plaed a really poor pass towards Van Persie - easily cut out.

92. 48'

    This time it's Sagna's turn to overrun it as Zabaleta shepherds him out of play.

93. 49'

    City have put seven goals past Arsenal so far this season, winning 4-2 in the league and 3-0 in the Carling Cup. Shaun Wright-Phillips has scored twice against the Gunners this season.

94. 50'

    Rosicky releases Nasri down the left wing and he gets a decent cross in towards Van Persie.

95. 50'

    The Dutchman heads it goalwards but it's over. It was a difficult angle to generate any power from.

96. 51'

    Campbell marauds forward and passes it Walcott - who is 15 years younger than the defender.

97. 51'

    Diaby booked for a challenge on Tevez.

98. 51'

    City free-kick as the boos echo around the Emirates.

99. 52'

    If you hadn't guessed, it's because Adebayor is ready to come on.

100. 52'

     Man City sub: Adebayor on for Vieira.

101. 52'

     Johnson's free-kick drifted long and out of play.

102. 53'

     A first touch for Adebayor is an impressive one as he wins Given's goal-kick in the air and brings it down on his chest.

103. 54'

     Richards drives at the Arsenal defence but Silvestre stands his ground before timing a challenge well.

104. 54'

     Adebayor does really well with some intricate footwork in the corner but Johnson is quickly dispossessed by Nasri.

105. 55'

     Bellamy and Song clash in midfield. It looked to me like Bellamy took a swing at Song but they were probably both to blame.

106. 56'

     Mike Dean has done well to calm the situation down.

107. 56'

     Adebayor is getting roundly booed everytime he touches the ball but he has yet to give the ball away and is looking good.

108. 57'

     He takes a shot from the edge of the area but it's blocked by Campbell. City have definitely looked better since the Togolese striker has been on the pitch.

109. 58'

     Nicklas Bendtner warming up now on the sidelines.

110. 59'

     Arsenal free-kick after Richards fouls Rosicky.

111. 59'

     Arsenal take it quickly and Rosicky engineers some space before shooting, fairly tamely, into Given's hands.

112. 60'

     Johnson crosses into the box for City and the ball finds its way through to Toure who wins a corner off Campbell, who slid in and probably touched it out with his hand.

113. 61'

     Corner comes in and Richards heads wide.

114. 61'

     Campbell runs forward but he's given the ball away and must now chase back.

115. 62'

     City break at pace - Barry picks up the ball in acres of space down the left but it's a really poor final ball.

116. 63'

     Diaby flicks it on to Van Persie from Fabianski's goal-kick but City tidy it up.

117. 64'

     Adebayor on the break now for City and he takes it past Silvestre and Sagna, before dragging the ball deliciously past Campbell. But he's overrun it.

118. 65'

     City looking much brighter and Johnson just fired in a dangerous cross but Clichy was calmness personified as he chested the ball into Fabianski's arms.

119. 66'

     Sagna crosses from the right but there are literally no red shirts in the box.

120. 66'

     Arsenal happy to knock it around patiently, but Walcott's been dispossessed by Bellamy.

121. 67'

     Sagna fouls Zabaleta and City have a free-kick about 35 yards out. I think it's just out of shooting range really.

122. 67'

     Song booked - I think it was for complaining.

123. 67'

     Bellamy floats it in and the ball ends up at the feet of Adebayor on the right wing. His ball was very poor though and Fabianski collected easily.

124. 68'

     Arsenal sub: Bendtner for Walcott.

125. 68'

     Arsenal sub: Eboue on for Rosicky.

126. 68'

     Not a great performane from Walcott today, while Rosicky was also fairly ineffective.

127. 69'

     Bendtner crosses from the right and Kompanmy missed his kick but amazingly the ball went all the way through to the other side with no-one getting a touch on it.

128. 70'

     Great effort from Diaby. The best chance of the game.

129. 70'

     He shaped to shoot about 20 yards out before taking an extra touch and bending one towards Given's goal. But it was a fantastic save from the City goalkeeper to tip it round the post.

130. 71'

     Given looks to have hurt himself making that save and it didn't seem like he fell awkwardly. He seemed in pain immediately and it looks like he might have dislocated his shoulder to me.

131. 72'

     Nielsen is readying himself to come on for his Premier League debut. The 23-year-old will be the first player from the Faroe Islands to play in the Premier League.

132. 73'

     Manchester City signed Nielsen as a free agent in Ferbuary 2009 to add depth to their goalkeeping department.

133. 73'

     I'm sure that Given has just had his shoulder popped back in because there's oxygen on the pitch for him.

134. 74'

     Arsenal fans clap him off the pitch - that's a massive blow for City.

135. 75'

     Arsenal's corner is cleared away - you have to think they will be tempted to shoot on sight.

136. 76'

     Eboue creates some space for Sagna down the right and he crosses it in. First touch for Nielsen as he collects the cross.

137. 77'

     His only previous experience of English football is playing five games on loan at Wrexham in the conference.

138. 77'

     Free-kick to City down the right-wing after Johnson is fouled by Clichy.

139. 78'

     Barry takes a short one to Tevez who releases Richards down the right. But Campbell is ready for the cross and clears it away.

140. 79'

     Sagna breaks and crosses one in again. Nielsen palms the cross away from his bar - but it had already gone out of play.

141. 80'

     Bellamy crashes into Bendtner and it's a deserved booking for him.

142. 80'

     Van Persie whips in the free-kick but City are breaking at pace now with Tevez. Van Persie brought down Adebayor before he released Tevez and he's now been booked.

143. 81'

     The City move ended with Clichy chasing down Tevez and clearing it away.

144. 82'

     Eboue with a smart turn in midfield and Arsenal still probing.

145. 83'

     Good turn of pace by Eboue and Zabaleta brings him down on the edge of the box. It's a booking and a free-kick in a dangerous position.

146. 83'

     Van Persie to take.

147. 84'

     A great effort from Van Persie, it was more of a chipped attempt than anything from 20 yards out and it grazed the right-hand post.

148. 85'

     Comical defending from Richards and he's given away a free-kick for pulling Diaby's shirt.

149. 85'

     Left-wing free-kick taken by Nasri and Nielsen punched it away convincingly.

150. 86'

     Tevez breask again for City and he plays it into bellamy who has a weak shot from the edge of the area. Easy pickings - even for Fabianski.

151. 86'

     Kompany penalised for a shove on Bendtner and it's a right wing free-kick this time for Arsenal. Van Persie to deliver.

152. 87'

     Headed away by Adebayor.

153. 87'

     Van Persie has it on the right of the area but nobody seems to want to shoot at the inexperienced goalkeeper. The Dutchman crosses it in but it's quickly away.

154. 88'

     Barry volleys an impressive cross-field pass to Zabaleta.

155. 88'

     he plays it in to Bellamy who made a great run - but his first touch just takes it out of play.

156. 89'

     Song plays Bendtner in down the right and the Denmark striker hits one. Saved easily by Nielsen though.

157. 90'

     Eight minutes of added time to play.

158. 90'

     Tevez drags City forward but it's given away.

159. 91'

     Nasri advances down the left, plays it in to Van Persie and then watches his captain fire high over the bar and wide.

160. 92'

     Van Persie looks like he might be nursing a touch of cramp.

161. 93'

     Song passes it to Nasri in space down the left - but why did he not cross it! Instead he knocked it back and Clichy does cross - but not very well.

162. 94'

     Campbell plays a cracking long ball to Bendtner inside the area. He tries to get a shot away but instead treads on the ball. Embarassing.

163. 95'

     Tevez pulled up for tugging at Campbell.

164. 96'

     Nasri and Song interchange well - two successive one-twos free Song in the box but City clear their lines.

165. 97'

     It's fizzled out a bit here - I will be very surprised if there is a last-minute winner.

166. 98'

     Nasri trying to unlock the City defence but it's all over...

167. 98'

     FULL-TIME. Arsenal 0-0 City. Well that was a dire game of football between two sides with plenty of players who should be able to provide more of a spectacle. Arsenal's chances of winning the title are officially ended, while a draw is by no means a bad result for City - they are still in the hunt. Adebayor made a bit of a difference but the main news is the shoulder injury to Given - that could be a big blow to City's chances. Thanks for tuning in and join us for Chelsea's game against Stoke to

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