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Manchester City had not been involved in a goalless game since a Champions League group-stage match at Borussia Dortmund in October 2022Manchester City and Arsenal handed Liverpool the advantage in the Premier League title race as they played out a bitterly disappointing goalless stalemate at Etihad Stadium.
Liverpool are now top of the table, two points clear of Arsenal and three ahead of City, after they came from behind to beat Brighton at Anfield, their delight increased by their two closest rivals cancelling each other out.
This was a game that made a nonsense of its billing as a potential classic, as Arsenal's containing tactics snuffed out City while the Gunners had only limited chances of their own in a desperately poor affair.
Nathan Ake had an early close-range header saved by Arsenal keeper David Raya before going off injured while former City striker Gabriel Jesus posed an occasional threat, just failing to connect with Bukayo Saka's cross inches from goal after the break.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be happier than City counterpart Pep Guardiola with this outcome - but the real winners were Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.
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Man City stifled and infuriated by visitors
Guardiola's side were under greater pressure to win this match but their usual fluent passing game was rarely in evidence, stifled by the visitors' organisation and infuriated by referee Anthony Taylor's reluctance to punish the Gunners for a succession of infringements.
It led to a scrappy, disjointed game in which City were never allowed to gather their usual momentum and rhythm, with even the best efforts of master creators Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva unable to carve out meaningful opportunities for Erling Haaland, who was kept on the margins throughout.
The hosts held sway in possession for most of the second half but it was illustrative of the game that Raya barely had an anxious moment, his counterpart Stefan Ortega also idle for long periods.
The reigning champions, as usual, will remain confident of retaining their title but Guardiola will be bitterly disappointed at his side's failure to trouble Arsenal, with substitute Jack Grealish on the end of some lengthy post-match advice from his manager.
City are back here at Etihad Stadium to face in-form Aston Villa on Wednesday night knowing they cannot afford any more slip-ups in this tight Premier League title pursuit.
More to follow.
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Manchester City
Squad number18Player nameOrtega- Squad number25Player nameAkanji
- Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias
- Squad number6Player nameAké
- Squad number24Player nameGvardiol
- Squad number16Player nameRodri
Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva
Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne- Squad number8Player nameKovacic
Squad number47Player nameFoden- Squad number9Player nameHaaland
- Squad number10Player nameGrealish
- Squad number11Player nameDoku
- Squad number82Player nameLewis
Arsenal
- Squad number22Player nameRaya
- Squad number4Player nameWhite
- Squad number2Player nameSaliba
- Squad number6Player nameGabriel Magalhães
- Squad number15Player nameKiwior
- Squad number8Player nameØdegaard
- Squad number20Player nameJorginho
- Squad number41Player nameRice
- Squad number7Player nameSaka
- Squad number29Player nameHavertz
Squad number9Player nameGabriel Jesus
- Squad number5Player namePartey
- Squad number11Player nameGabriel Martinelli
- Squad number18Player nameTomiyasu
- Squad number19Player nameTrossard
Line-ups
Man City
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 18Ortega
- 25Akanji
- 3Rúben Dias
- 6AkéSubstituted forLewisat 27'minutes
- 24Gvardiol
- 16Rodri
- 20Bernardo Silva
- 17De Bruyne
- 8KovacicSubstituted forGrealishat 61'minutes
- 47FodenSubstituted forDokuat 61'minutes
- 9Haaland
Substitutes
- 5Stones
- 10Grealish
- 11Doku
- 19Álvarez
- 21Gómez
- 27Nunes
- 33Carson
- 52Bobb
- 82Lewis
Arsenal
Formation 4-3-3
- 22RayaBooked at 79mins
- 4White
- 2Saliba
- 6Gabriel
- 15KiwiorSubstituted forTomiyasuat 66'minutes
- 8Ødegaard
- 20JorginhoSubstituted forParteyat 66'minutes
- 41Rice
- 7SakaSubstituted forMartinelliat 78'minutes
- 29Havertz
- 9Gabriel JesusBooked at 67minsSubstituted forTrossardat 72'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Ramsdale
- 5Partey
- 10Smith Rowe
- 11Martinelli
- 14Nketiah
- 18Tomiyasu
- 19Trossard
- 21Fábio Vieira
- 35Zinchenko
Live Text
Match ends, Manchester City 0, Arsenal 0.
Second Half ends, Manchester City 0, Arsenal 0.
Foul by Manuel Akanji (Manchester City).
Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal).
Attempt missed. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Jack Grealish (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ben White (Arsenal).
Attempt blocked. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne with a cross.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Gabriel Magalhães.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Erling Haaland (Manchester City).
Foul by Rodri (Manchester City).
Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Ben White.
Attempt saved. Leandro Trossard (Arsenal) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Martin Ødegaard with a through ball.
Attempt missed. Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Attempt missed. Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jack Grealish with a cross.
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