Layth Yousif
It is exactly 100 days - strange, worrying, dangerous, baffling days – since football in England stopped due to coronavirus.
We’ve all been affected during this time. Some have suffered more than others, some have lost loved ones, some have lost businesses and jobs. It seems churlish to be even talking about sport – and our beautiful game – during such a deadly pandemic.
Yet it’s exactly because football is the most important of least important things, that we are all tuning in to watch our beloved Arsenal play their first game since Saturday, March 7.
And it is precisely because we have missed football during these unrelentingly grim times that we welcome it back with open arms.
From the moment Mikel Arteta tested positive for Covid-19 and sport was halted, the majority of us football fans have looked towards this moment. Maybe not so much at first, when all we cared about was the health of our family and friends in the face of this dreadful onslaught.
But gradually, as time moved on and we realised what was important to us – after the most important things of course – and so we make no apologies for cheering the return of the game.
Yes, there are many more issues that are rightly at the forefront of our landscape, the NHS, the Black Lives Matter movement to name but two. Yet, football has a role to play in raising awareness and changing perceptions and Arsenal are at the forefront of such topics. Who can forget the stirring image of Arteta’s side taking a knee at an empty Emirates before kick-off in the friendly against Brentford last week?
And so they will again today if the pictures from the league reopener, Aston Villa vs Sheffield United, earlier.
Who could also forget the way Arsenal in the Community and the Arsenal Foundation have provided such help to struggling communities in north London, whether it be through free meals, or providing laptops to disadvantaged kids living in digital poverty during lockdown. The fact is every Gooner on the planet should be proud of their club over the last couple of months. And that’s without even talking about the club’s admirable refusal to furlough staff – and the staff’s reaction to it.
So, let’s strap ourselves in and enjoy the ride, for the final stages of the strangest league season in the history of English football. And, if my maths is right, Arsenal need only a single point to avoid relegation….
Can I just say, as someone who first started watching The Arsenal at Highbury, as a callow youth in the early 1980s in front of low crowds and a team that was by far from the greatest team the world has ever seen, it never ceases to amaze me to see just how many Gooners there are around the world.
We put out a tweet a few hours before kick-off on our @GoonerFanzine official Twitter account asking you to tell us where in the world you’re watching City vs Arsenal – and the response has been phenomenal.
So far, *takes a very deep breath, we’ve had tweets from Gooners in [see half time for full list as we've just had the team news land...]
Arsenal still need a point to be sure of avoiding relegation...or, alternatively, still eight points off a Champions League spot..
I should clarify the reason for the 11 minutes injury time - Ederson charged out of his area to head clear, and followed through to flatten Garcia, who lay prone on the pitch for a long time before he was stretchered off. Let's hope he's going to be ok.
GOAL: Man City 3-0 Arsenal. Foden makes it three to cap a miserable evening at the Etihad for the Gunners
11 added minutes...
To recap: Eddie Nketiah, Matteo Guendouzi and Joe Willock off for Alex Lacazette, Reiss Nelson and AMN
Ten minutes to go of a miserable evening for Arsenal at the Etihad. 2-0 down to City with ten men. Mikel Arteta has a big task ahead of him. A night to forget. In other news, a huge thank you to all our readers of tonight's live blog. The numbers are excellent. Imagine how we'll do when Arsenal win again. At least none of us face a six hour drive/coach trip to get home from Manchester...
When your bigfest earner doesn't nake the starting XI or the bench. When your experienced centre-back is a walking liability and can't even stay on the pitch. When you have no Champions League football and falling revenues this is what happens. Arteta has a big job at Arsenal
Not much to post bar City dominating the Gunners. Just been checking Twitter after I asked your views on Luiz and Arsenal and it's in meltdown. Understandably so after such poor defending by the former Chelsea defender for the second goal, which coupled with his sending off means no way back for Arteta's Arsenal
My word. David Luiz is simply not good enough as a centre-back for Arsenal. Never has been, never will be. It's as if his excellent technique detracts from his ability to defend which in turn affects his concentration. He's a walking liability. £24m...?
Quick question: How do you feel about Arsenal defender David Luiz right now...?
GOAL: Man City 2-0 Arsenal. De Bruyne slots home the spot kick against the ten man Gunners.
Penalty. David Luiz pulls down Mahrez and is sent off. Oh my, does he ever learn?
The second half starts as Arsenal attempt to draw level with City leading 1-0 at the Etihad. Quick question: How do you feel about Arsenal right now?
Haven't had a minute to collate all the responses to my question of where in the world are you watching the game - suffice to say every continent bar the north and south poles has been represented...tremendous efforts Gooners
A deluge of responses for my Twitter question on what we should do with Mesut Ozil. Some of the replies are unprintable but I did like the one that said: Furlough him...
Looking back at City's goal. Woeful defending from David Luiz prior to Sterling's strike. Is it only me who won't be disappointed when the former Chelsea centre-back leaves the Emirates?
Genuine question: What would you do with Mesut Ozil? Tweet me @laythy29 and @goonerfanzine
HT: Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal. Bright start for Gunners fades as City dominate with Sterling's strike the difference moments before the break
GOAL: Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal. Sterling fires past Leno at the near post with moments remaining
Sterling lifts the ball over Leno but, thankfully for Arsenal, over the bar as well as City start to dominate
In other news City taking control of the match in midfield as Leno blocks from Mahrez...
Apropos of nothing a couple of my tweets have made a Twitter Moments' thread...if you're on Twitter you can find me @laythy29. Don't be a stranger, tweet me your views/opinion/anecdotes/abuse...
Mari hobbles off, Luiz on for Arsenal in their second change in the opening 23 minutes
50 per cent possession for Arsenal in the first 20 minutes. Whatever that means these days. All I know is that Mikel Arteta's side have looked fresh, lively and confident against City. Gave up with possession stats after Brazil had 51 per cent in their 7-1 defeat to Germany...
Who recalls Cazorla and Coquelin having a stormer at the Etihad in a 2-0 win in January 2015? What a display that was. Arsenal looking lively in the opening stages tonight made me think of that for some reason
Good lively play from Saka as he fires in a low, left-footed cross which Nketiah fails to connect with
Xhaka off with an ankle issue for Ceballos early on for Arsenal
Good support early doors from the travelling Arsenal support on the PA at the Etihad
Arsenal kick-off off in Manchester's renowned June sunshine. What's that? Sorry, renowned June thunderstorm
The Arsenal and Manchester City teams line the centre-circle in a show of respect in 'remembering all those no longer with us'
The Arsenal team walk out onto the Etihad pitch proudly wearing their Black Lives Matter tops
We've just had the score in from the midlands. And it's Aston Villa very 0 Sheffield United very 0...
So. It looks like Mesut Ozil is missing from the Arsenal team...and he's not injured either we hear...
Here's the City line-up: XI | Ederson, Walker, E Garcia, Laporte, Mendy, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Silva (C), Mahrez, Jesus, Sterling SUBS | Carson, Aguero, Zinchenko, Rodrigo, Sane, Bernardo, Fernandinho, Otamendi, Foden
And here are the Arsenal subs: Martinez, Luiz, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Ceballos, Nelson, Pepe, Martinelli, Lacazette.
The teams are in. Here's the Arsenal starting XI Leno, Bellerin, Mustafi, Mari, Tierney, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Willock, Saka, Aubameyang, Nketiah. Looks like Saka has been handed an attacking role high on the left