In recent memory, Manchester City taking on Arsenal has become a heavyweight clash but has stepped onto a different level in the past few Premier League seasons. City was the underdog in this fixture before their UAE-led takeover in 2008, not winning any of their first 18 Premier League games with the Gunners or any competitions since their first meeting in 1992. Arsenal dominated proceedings early in the division but the tide began to shift with City emerging as a destructive force, especially under manager Pep Guardiola. The team maintained a winning streak in this fixture in the league from 2017-2023 with the opposition going through a low period.
However, after Guardiola’s former assistant coach at City during their endless success Mikel Arteta joined Arsenal, the North London Club transformed itself once they aligned with the Spaniard’s tactics. Arteta’s side became title contenders giving City solid competition for the top spot but the Manchester-based side maintained their dominance in the league. At least, the Gunners broke their losing streak in the Premier League last season by claiming a first win in this fixture in the league since 2015. The 0-0 draw last time was only the fourth such result this clash has ever witnessed with both sides scoring more than 70 goals and claiming close to 20 clean sheets in 54 league meetings. Both teams are once again tussling for the title.
Manchester City vs Arsenal head-to-head meetings (Premier League)
Played - 54
Manchester City won - 19
Drawn - 11
Arsenal won - 24
Manchester City vs Arsenal goals scored (Premier League)
Manchester City scored - 71
Arsenal scored - 74
Manchester City vs Arsenal clean sheets (Premier League)
Manchester City - 15
Arsenal - 19
Biggest Manchester City win: 5-0 - Etihad Stadium, Manchester (28 August 2021)
The 5-0 humbling at the Emirates Stadium early in the 2021-22 season became Manchester City's biggest-ever winning margin in a game against Arsenal in all competitions let alone in the Premier League. The Cityzens registered two 4-0s in 1908 and 1912 but this win tasted a lot bitter for the hosts who suffered humiliating losses to Chelsea and Brentford in one of the poor starts of any season in history. For City, it almost looked like normal business as Ilkay Gündogan and Ferran Torres already gave their side a two-goal lead in the first fifteen minutes of the match even before Granit Xhaka was controversially sent off in the first half. That allowed the floodgates to open Gabriel Jesus, Rodri and a late strike from Torres for his second of the match completed the routing.
Biggest Arsenal win: 5-0 - Highbury Stadium, London (28 October 2000)
Arsenal’s biggest win over Manchester City also involved five goals, played at home which was the Highbury back then and had a sending-off to set the course of the game. The names that resonated with the club’s Premier League history got on the scoresheet that day starting with Ashley Cole’s strike after Danny Tiatto's red card just before half-time. Dennis Bergkamp and Sylvain Wiltord took the game beyond the reach of the visitors before the club’s all-time top goalscorer Thierry Henry came up with a late brace for the dominating scoreline. It was the first meeting between the sides for four-and-a-half years following City’s relegation from the top flight. It was not a welcome they would have expected.
Highest scoring game: Manchester City 6-3 Arsenal - Etihad Stadium, Manchester (14 December 2013)
However, these games did not raise eyebrows or give a jolt of excitement when the two met at Etihad Stadium for the first meeting of the 2013-14 season. Arsenal were leading the chart before the clash while Manchester City were eager to prove a point now flourishing well with the injection of cash from their new ownership. Both sides gave their all in the match but it was City, managed by Manuel Pellegrini back then, that came out on top with their devastating attacking play especially in the second half which the Gunners failed to handle. The win came after the hosts demolished another North London club Spurs and their mountable success allowed them to win the Premier League title for the second time. The defeat was damaging for Arsenal as they could not fight back, slipping off the top spot to finish seven points behind in fourth on the table.
Manchester City vs Arsenal Last Five Premier League Meetings
Arsenal 1-2 Manchester City - Emirates Stadium, London (1 January 2022)
Arsenal 1-3 Manchester City - Emirates Stadium, London (15 February 2023)
Manchester City 4-1 Arsenal - Etihad Stadium, Manchester (26 April 2023)
Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City - Emirates Stadium, London (8 October 2023)
Manchester City 0-0 Arsenal - Etihad Stadium, Manchester (31 March 2024)
