Waching daily Feb 4 2019

MAN CITY VS ARSENAL RECAPManchester City close the gap to two points on Liverpool who travel to West Ham on Monday

Sergio Aguero scores his tenth Premier League hat-trick.Laurent Koscielny had equalised for Arsenal inside ten minutes, the Gunners drop to sixth

Raheem Sterling starred with two assists. Man City 3-1 Arsenal  Aguero 1' 43' 60' Koscielny 9' Leno disappointment The goalkeeper expressed his disappointment to Sky Sports: "It was the worst start for us, but the reaction of the team was very good

But then we conceded at the worst moment just before half-time."  Aguero admits it was handball Hat-trick hero Sergio Aguero admits the ball came off his arm: "It was important to win

The other day I scored early and we lost, today I am very happy," he told Sky Sports

 "I think it came off my chest, but now I see on TV it was a handball." Team mate Fernandinho wasn't too bothered: "It doesn't matter," he added

 "We got back on track, playing good football. We went for the game from the first minute, scored another early goal and deserved the win

" FT: Man City 3-1 Arsenal Man City simply a class above Arsenal as they close the gap to two points of Liverpool

 There was a hint of handball on the third from Aguero but there were no complaints surrounding the scoreline

 Arsenal showed promise in small glimpses but struggled to provide Alexandre Lacazette or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with any sort of service that could see them make an impact

 City could have had more if it wasn't for Leno but Guardiola and supporters will definitely be happy with the performance and response from the midweek defeat at Newcastle

 Man City sub 87' - Riyad Mahrez replaces Kevin De Bruyne. 84' - Jesus is keen to get in on the act, he should square to De Bruyne or Sterling but instead opts for goal

Straight at the busy Leno. 81' - David Silva goes close to making it 4-1 but Leno is again equal to it

 Man City sub 78' - Hat-trick hero Aguero makes way for Gabriel Jesus.   75' - Aguero is hungry for more as he lashes another strike at goal

Leno equal to it.  Shkodran Mustafi is down and receiving treatment, not been his best game today it must be said

 Denis Suarez is on for his debut 66'- Double change for Arsenal as Aaron Ramsey and Denis Suarez enter the fray for Kolasinac and Iwobi

 64' - Sour note for City as Gundogan is booked for trying to win a penalty through simulation

Poor from the former Borussia Dortmund man. GOAL! Man City 3-1 Arsenal - Aguero hat-trick 60' - Aguero grabs his hat-trick, there is a suspicion of handball as he converts Sterling's low cross

Great work again from the Englishman. That's Aguero's tenth Premier League hat-trick

 56' - The Belgian is really finding his rhythm here, a quick interchange with Sterling opens up the Arsenal defence, but the midfielder can't find the finish

 53' - De Bruyne whips another low shot in on goal and again Leno can't hold. 51' - First real chance of the half as De Bruyne again test Leno who spills before just about gathering ahead of Aguero

 The second half is underway. HT: Man City 2-1 Arsenal. Real blow for Arsenal on half time

They had just started to grow into the game but that was a goal of supreme quality

 The Gunners do look dangers on the counter attack but ultimately they've lacked the kind of punch that City possess in the final third

 45' - De Bruyne goes close to adding another for City, his strike flashes just wide of the goal

 43' - Brilliantly worked goal from City. Sterling plays a one-two with Gundogan before rolling the ball across the face of goal for Aguero to gratefully tap home

 GOAL! Man City 2-1 Arsenal - Aguero 40' - Torreira booked for a late challenge on De Bruyne

 39' - This contest is really livening up now. Sead Kolasinac fires a stinging drive at Ederson before Lucas Torreira's sweet strike is blocked

De Bruyne looks to kickstart a City counter but the attack breaks down. 36' - David Silva's cross forces Leno into action, luckily for the Gunners the ball doesn't break for anyone in the box

 32' - Stephan Lichtsteiner is a real outlet for Arsenal on the overlap, but they are clearly missing Hector Bellerin out there

Can't help but feel the Swiss could cost them in defence. 30' - Iwobi can be such a frustrating player

Gets himself into some good positions but his end product is rather blunt. His pace and energy very handy though

 25' - City beginning to get a foothold in this game. De Bruyne starting to get on the ball more, Sterling and Bernardo are causing Arsenal problems in the flanks

 18' - Otamendi calls Leno into action again, his thumping low drive gathered with ease by the German

 He'll probably still be disappointed with how his side started the match, but Emery will be relieved to see his side level things up

 Fernandinho is playing alongside Nicolas Otamendi at centre-back, Aymeric Laporte is at left-back

 GOAL! Man City 1-1 Arsenal - Koscielny 9' - Arsenal are level! Laurent Koscielny turns in from Nacho Monreal's flick from a corner

What a start to this game. 4' - Raheem Sterling tests Bernd Leno and the German is forced into a save

 Credit to the hosts, who started the game on the front foot but that's poor from Arsenal, Unai Emery will be fuming that they are already going to have to chase the game

 GOAL! Man City 1-0 Arsenal - Aguero 1' - My word, Man City straight out of the blocks as Aymeric Laporte cuts back and Sergio Aguero heads home

 KICK OFF We are underway at the Etihad. What the fans are saying… Slim Ripper: "Arsenal and man city please lose

" Mercy Khahunkani: "Who in their right senses starts Guendouzi and Iwobi and benches Ramsey and Ozil in such a Massive game ?! #MCIARS Unai keeps baffling me ! #Arsenal

" Ashley Burton: "Big game today, let's replicate what Newcastle did on Tuesday and leave Manchester with 3 points

#MCIARS #SuperSunday #BPL #COYG" Chinenye Felicia: "Hmmmm Debruyne Starts. I won't talk for now #MCIARS

" Can the champions crank up the pressure? There's no doubt that Man City let an opportunity pass after their midweek defeat at St James' Park

 Not just because Liverpool dropped points on Wednesday against Leicester, but playing before your title rivals gives them a chance to put some pressure on them

 Guardiola will be keen to make amends today and a win would see them breathing down Liverpool's neck ahead of their trip to West Ham tomorrow night

 Their 0-2 win at the Emirates Stadium back in August was a walk in the park and Emery will be keen to see a different outcome from today's clash, his line up suggests they are not here to sit back

 Sane dropped One surprise to Manchester City's line up is the exclusion of Leroy Sane to the dismay of many FPL players around the country

 The young German has hit top form in recent weeks and has eight goals and nine assists to his name this season in the Premier League

 It's perhaps likely that Guardiola's has gone for a more solid outlook today as Ilkay Gundogan starts in midfield with Fernandinho

 Raheem Sterling is likely to partner Sergio Aguero in attack, Bernardo Silva also retains his place from the defeat at Newcastle

 No start for Denis Suarez Denis Suarez is expected to play a part today and make his Arsenal debut but that will have to be from the bench

 The Spaniard joined on deadline day from Barcelona and has spent time with Manchester City himself earlier in his career

 Mesut Ozil also finds himself on the bench despite returning to the starting line up against Cardiff City in midweek

 Team news Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Otamendi, Laporte; Fernandinho; Sterling, Gundogan, De Bruyne, D Silva, B Silva; Aguero

 Subs: Muric, Danilo, Stones, Delph, Sane, Mahrez, Jesus. Arsenal: Leno; Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Lichtsteiner, Guendouzi, Torreira, Kolasinac; Iwobi; Lacazette, Aubameyang

 Subs: Cech, Elneny, Xhaka, Suarez, Ramsey, Ozil, Mavropanos, Nketiah. Emery will find it tough Unai Emery admits his Arsenal side may struggle against Manchester City today

 "Usually Manchester City, in every match they impose their style," he said. "You want to impose your style, you want to play with your personality, but sometimes you need adaptation - more or less, it depends on the opposition

 "It is very difficult to break their style and impose yours. When a lot of teams play with a very deep block, it's because they need to play like that and can also have chances to win

 Guardiola programme notes Pep Guardiola insists his side cannot panic in their efforts to win the title

 "This isn't the time to worry or panic but redouble our efforts and work hard," he writes

 "I know these players. I have the greatest regard for them. I know they will bounce back

I understand how badly they felt on Tuesday night… "There was no complacency at Newcastle, there will never be that at Manchester City… Everyone who follows football knows that many things can still happen

The table is not important. We have to do what we have to do and that is keeping winning our games

" Welcome Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Manchester City vs Arsenal from the Etihad Stadium

 A win for City can move them into second place and two points off Liverpool, who play tomorrow against West Ham

 But Arsenal know they need to a win to stay on par with fourth-place Chelsea while Manchester United also remain firmly in contention