This is the game we’ve really been waiting for. And boy do we need some excitement after some awfully one-sided offerings so far. The thing is, about two months ago you would have expected the same here. But the dynamics have changed. City have lost their unbeaten record and also a bit of form of late. Arsenal meanwhile have picked up momentum and look a proper threat again.

And, although it’s early season still, you feel both teams will really want a win here and not necessarily accept a draw. City want to get back on the table while Arsenal can really make good on their recent results with a big scalp.

The teams:

Manchester City Hart; Richards Kolo Toure, Kompany, Zabaleta; Yaya Toure, Barry; Nasri, Aguero, Silva; Balotelli

Arsenal Szczesny, Djourou, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Song, Arteta, Ramsey, Walcott, Gervinho, Van Persie

No Dzeko again for City, with Mancini clearly not favouring the striker for big games.

Fine stat from Zonal Marking: Only two Arsenal players starting today started in this fixture last season.

It’s off!

Still 0-0 between Spurs and Sunderland by the way. Into the second half there.

It’s already been an encouraging, open start.

Moment of anxiety for Arsenal as Richards throws himself at a free-kick in the ARsenal box but Szczesney claims.

And that is a bad miss from Aguero. He was put one-on-one – despite a bit of attention form behind – it sits up beautifully, but he blazes it over. Should have been 1-0.

Arsenal look a little nervous.

And Aguero almost fashions another. He cut inside the Arsenal defence and, just as he was about to pull the trigger, Per Mertesacker makes a fine tackle. He hasn’t had a great beginning to his Arsenal career the German, but that was brilliant.

City fans apparently chanting that “Van Persie is ours” and Arsenal are “our feeder club”.

Spurs have gone 1-0 up against Sunderland. Pavlyuchenko.

Van der Vaart got the assist there.

This from Duncan Alexander is a frankly brilliant stat:

Strange how City seem to start games by creating chance after chance yet have fewer goals than Blackburn in opening 30 mins this season

And Arsenal almost sting City. Gervinho hits a fierce drive at Hart and, although the keeper saves, he allows it to squirm by him and out for a corner. It was almost in.

Does Hart have an issue with parrying? There have been a few occasions this season when he hasn’t exactly cleared the ball to a safe area with his stops.

No quarter given in this game as Ramsey physically hassles Yaya Toure.

What a save from Szczesney. After a period of City pressure, the ball lands for Balotelli in the box. He turns to hammer it home but the keeper is out very quickly to smother the shot brilliantly. Wonderful save.

This is a truly open game with both teams sweeping up the pitch.

City have the upper hand at the minute, circling the Arsenal goal dangerously.

Ramsey’s had a good game and he fashions a chance for Van Persie there, but the Dutchman’s header is soft and wide.

Oh, real moment of anxiety for City. First a surging run from Koscielny creates space for Van Persie. He possibly delays his shot too long but his eventual effort is deflected into the path of Ramsey who bears down on goal. Although his touch is poor, he looks like he should have had a penalty as Kolo Toure clumsily bundles into him.

Szczesney’s had a fine game. Arsenal’s goalkeeping problems really seem a thing of the past.

And Van Persie is on the ground. Injured. Hard to escape the hyperbole that Arsenal’s season hangs on this.

He’s up. Arsenal breathe.

Half-time. No goals but an entertaining game. City have probably shaded it but Arsemnal look very threatening on the break.

Tottenham, meanwhile, have beaten Sunderland 1-0.

Second half about to kick off…

Aguero, his misses aside, has been brilliant by the way. Really causing Arsenal problems with his running. Must be a nightmare to play against.

City, by the by, have scored 35 second-half goals this season compared to 14 in the first. Will it be the same story today?

Bit nasty there from Gareth Barry, who goes in on Song with the studs up.

Miquel comes on for the limping Djourou

Gervinho has been wasteful all afternoon. An inviting ball is lofted into the box but, bizarrely, he flicks it back outside when a simple touch could have set up Arsenal.

GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal

Aguero releases Balotelli who drives powerfully at Szczesny. The keeper saves it but can’t hold it, with the rebound then falling to Silva who slots it home.

An instant response from Arsenal as Walcott hits a withering shot that Hart does well to divert away.

Should be pointed out, of course, that that breakdown in the Arsenal defence came after Wenger was forced into completely reshuffling the backline.

Oh, a delicious chip from Van Persie but he’s offside. Correct decision.

And Aguero flashes wide! Arsenal need to get the next goal really but it’s not likely at the minute.

So much space in this game as Van Persie then forces a save from Hart.

Zabaleta now smashes the post with a strikingly pure drive. Very sweetly struck and leaving Szczesny stranded…but bounces away

Van Persie just offside again. There are opportunities here for Arsenal.

Great game this. Breathless stuff at the moment.

Walcott goes off for Arshavin. The young winger has had a poor game.

No Arshavin. The ball was begging to be driven across the area for the equaliser but he completely miskicked it. Worse, it came after a wonderfully flowing move.

Balotelli going off for Milner.

Another potential penalty shout for Arsenal as a cross appears to strike Richards’s hand.

Chamakh on for Mertesacker. Arsenal going for it. They have to.

City have closed up well. Not exactly offering space at the moment. Hard for Arsenal to penetrate…or even make many in-roads into their half.

City bringing on De Jong for Yaya Toure and Dzeko for Nasri.

Amazingly, Aguero is about to play a full 90 minutes in the Premier League for the first time.

Another waste from Arshavin. Van Persie feeds him well at the edge of the box but he drags his shot wide. There’s just no conviction with him.

Dangerous free-kick for Arsenal…

… and what a save from Hart! Arteta surprised the defence by playing it back out to Vermaelen whi hit a rising, stinging shot at goal. Great shot, better save.

Dzeko shoots wide after Aguero’s attempt to shield the ball at the corner flag breaks down.

Two minutes left.

Vermaelen curls one just wide from distance! Great effort that deserved a goal.

FULL-TIME: Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal

That’s it. A great game but also one that encapsulated differences between the two teams. City always looked like they just had a bit too much for Arsenal at one end, Arsenal never looked like quite having enough at the other. City back on top of the table.