Summary

  • EFL Cup news conferences before Tuesday and Wednesday's third round action

  • Enzo Maresca says Cole Palmer is 'unlikely to feature' against Lincoln with a recurring groin problem which saw him substituted against Manchester United on Saturday

  • It was just Palmer's second start this season having missed the wins over West Ham and Fulham

  • Marco Silva speaking before Fulham's clash with Cambridge, and says his new signings will take time to bed in

  • ICYMI: Arsenal had 0.88xG and struggled to break down a defensive City side, who had their lowest amount of possession under Pep Guardiola

  • Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

Live Reporting

Written by Ben Ramsdale, Craig Nelson and Josh Lobley.

  1. Get Involved - 'Arteta out'

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    Won't be the last time I say this. ARTETA OUT.

    Leopold (Gooner), South London

  2. Get Involved - Arsenal's 'big six' record

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    People are saying Arsenal have an incredible record against the "big six". In the past few seasons it is really only City and Liverpool who are serious competitors. Spurs and Chelsea have been poor the past few seasons and the less we say about Man United the better!

    Noah, Sheffield

    Keep seeing people referring to Arsenal's record LAST season vs the perceived top teams. This season played 2, 1 point.

    Adrian, Lincs

  3. 10 points from five - should Gunners fans be happy after a tough start?

    Josh Lobley
    BBC Sport

    Three wins, one draw and one defeat from Arsenal's first five Premier League games. Not bad, right?

    One reason that Arsenal fans might disagree is that it has been their worst start to a Premier League season since they returned to being genuine title contenders.

    In 2022-23, they managed a perfect 15 points from their first five matches. In 2023-24, they sat on 13 points after matchweek five. Last season, it was 11 from 15 and as mentioned, it is 10 from 15 this year.

    But as always, context is important.

    Arsenal have had tough group of games in their first five. In fact, Opta ranked Arsenal's opening five fixtures as the third most difficult in the entire league, with only Bournemouth and Manchester United seen as having a tougher group of opening games.

    Facing the champions Liverpool at Anfield, a Manchester City side who are hungry to become Premier League Champions again, and Manchester United at Old Trafford - which can always be unpredictable - would be a difficult set of fixtures for any side.

    It's not all doom and gloom, is it?

  4. Gyokeres fails to register single shot

    Arsenal 1-1 Man City

    Viktor Gyokeres shot map

    A major flaw in Mikel Arteta's plan, up until this season, was the lack of an effective number nine to provide decisive goals in tight matches.

    Arsenal acted in the summer's transfer market, signing Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting in a deal worth up to £64m.

    It is still early days for the 27-year-old former Coventry front man, who has scored three goals in six appearances for the Gunners in all competitions.

    All three of those goals came in relatively comfortable Arsenal home wins - with two in a 5-0 victory against Leeds and one in 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

    Against Manchester City, he did not manage a single shot on goal and, of his 22 touches, only six were inside the opposition box.

    Viktor Gyokeres touch map

  5. Get Involved - 'Solid start to the season for Arsenal'

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    Liverpool score 5 last minute goals against teams like Burnley Bournemouth and have winners mentality, Arsenal score in last minute against best team in England over last 10 years and people question their credentials … facts don’t lie go figure

    Rich, Islington

    The discourse is always hilarious when it comes to Arsenal. Look at Arteta's record last season v the big 6 sides and stop with the lazy analysis. Also, no mention of Zubimendi trying to wrestle the ball off the City players after our equaliser? Solid start to the season.

    James, Northern Ireland

  6. 'The handbrake is on a little bit with Arsenal'

    Arsenal 1-1 Man City

    Micah Richards
    Former Man City defender on Sky Sports

    Arsenal have the quality to go for it now but I think the handbrake is on a little bit.

    If they go for it then I think they will have a better chance of winning the league.

  7. Get Involved - 'People are very quick to criticise'

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    People are very quick to criticise. I don't think there is anything controversial about playing a decent CM in place of Odegaard rather than a winger/number 10. City are not a bad side, despite what some suggest, and could easily rip Arsenal apart, like they did United, if too open.

    Paul, Liverpool

    I think its a harsh narrative the over celebration and mentality. City got accolades for their 97th minute equaliser against Arsenal last year, they defended brilliantly but Arsenal found a way. They’ve been sensational against the top 6 in recent years, are wins the minimum expectation else it's failure?

    Tom, Newcastle

  8. 'A touch safe but well reasoned' approach from Arteta

    Arsenal 1-1 Man City

    Of course, the noise about Arsenal on social media has not been all negative.

    BBC Sport football tactics correspondent Umir Irfan took to X to say that he doesn't agree with those who say Arsenal weren't attacking enough yesterday.

    Umir admits that playing Eberechi Eze over Mikel Merino made sense, but points out that Eze has not played much as a midfielder yet, and when he has it has been more on the left side - which is more 'natrual' for him.

    He added that Manchester City's '5-4-1 or 5-5-0' defensive shape is 'incredibly hard to score against even with the best players'

    Overall, he says Mikel Arteta's approach was 'a touch safe but well reasoned'

    Jurrien Timber heads over from a cornerGetty Images

  9. Get Involved - 'Arsenal have a paper mentality'

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    A team with a title winning mentality would have gone straight back to the halfway line ready to restart and look to score again rather than celebrate like they'd won the league.

    Phil, Leeds

    Arsenal do not have a title winning mentality. They celebrated the equaliser like it was a win, when they could have easily pushed for a winner, and they always overreact to the slightest misfortunes like it's the worst thing that's ever happened. Paper mentality.

    Matt, Manchester

  10. What is being said on social media?

    Arsenal 1-1 Man City

    Mikel ArtetaGetty Images

    Perhaps unsurprisingly, social media has been lively in the aftermath of yesterday's match...particularly from the Arsenal camp.

    Lots have been critical of Mikel Arteta's tactics, and the mentality of the manager and his players.

    'WelBeast' said on X that Mikel Arteta is 'sticking with a midfield that is not working' and called for Eberechi Eze to start whilst Martin Odegaard is injured.

    Elsewhere, Lee Gunner, who is known to be critical of Arteta on X, was unhappy with Gabriel Martinelli's reaction after scoring the equaliser - he says the fact he celebrated instead of taking the ball back to the halfway line 'sums up everything wrong with the club' under Arteta.

    Are these fair criticisms?

  11. Ben Ramsdale
    BBC Sport

    This is the type of content I need more of on a Monday morning.

    Thanks, Harv.

  12. Get Involved

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    RE: Ben @ 09:26..... .I think my old dinner lady at school 35 years ago was called Sue Perb... lol

    Harv, Herts

  13. Martinelli takes his chance

    Arsenal 1-1 Man City

    Martinelli snatches late draw for Arsenal against Man City

    When Arsenal did eventually manage to score, Gabriel Martinelli put away one of their most difficult chances.

    The Brazil winger made it two goals in as many games from the bench, lifting a through-ball from fellow sub Eberechi Eze over the giant frame of Gianluigi Donnarumma in the Manchester City goal to claim a 93rd-minute equaliser.

    It was a brilliant, improvised finish from a chance that had an xG of just 0.2.

  14. Goal chances at a premium - even from set plays

    Arsenal 1-1 Man City

    Arsenal

    The fact we had any goals at Emirates Stadium on Sunday was a blessing as both sides seemed to cancel each other out.

    Arsenal are usually strong from set-pieces, especially corners. They had 11 corners against City but produced very little in the way of attacking threat - ending the game with an xG of 0.39 from set plays.

    Of the home side's 12 shots, only three were on target all afternoon.

  15. Get Involved - 'Arteta has reached his limit'

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    It's not just the nervous energy and lack of confidence Arteta instils in his players or the starting 11 being shocking, the substitutions accepted a mistake was made but didn't correct it well enough. Trossard had to come off, Madueke had to stay on. Arteta has reached his limit.

    Harry, Maidstone

    I’m an Arsenal fan myself… but seeing how the fans, MA and players reacted when city were running down the clock (a tactic frequently seen in arsenal colours) seemed somewhat ironic. A hard point to steal from a game which we didn’t deserve much. More is needed…

    Will, Cardiff

    No they haven't got it [title winning mentality]. And won't have it all the time Arteta is in charge. Disgruntled Gooner!!!!

    Terry, Hampshire

  16. Get Involved - 'Records like that don't come from poor selections'

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    Since the start of the 23-24 season Mikel Arteta has delivered W12, D10, L1 against other 'Big Six' clubs, with a +21 goal difference. Records like that don't come from poor team selections, settling for draws, over-celebrating or any of the poorly supported suggestions floating round this morning.

    Chris, Wales

  17. When did Arsenal last lose to Man City?

    Arsenal 1-1 Man City

    Man City players celebrateGetty Images

    Arsenal's good run against Manchester City actually extends to six matches, if you include the 2023-24 Community Shield, which ended 1-1 and the Gunners won on penalties.

    You have to go back to April 2023 for their last loss.

    In the 2022-23 season, Mikel Arteta's side fell to three damaging defeats against City.

    They lost 4-1 at the Etihad in the season run-in, as their title challenge faltered, and 3-1 in the corresponding fixture in February that breathed new life into City's own title aspirations.

    City also claimed a 1-0 win at home to the Gunners in the fifth round of the FA Cup that season.

    Arsenal's recent results against Man City:

    2025-26

    • Sep - Arsenal 1-1 Man City

    2024-25

    • Feb - Arsenal 5-1 Man City
    • Sep - Man City 2-2 Arsenal

    2023-24

    • Mar - Man City 0-0 Arsenal
    • Oct - Arsenal 1-0 Man City
    • Aug - Arsenal 1-1 Man City - Arsenal won 4-1 on penalties (Community Shield)

    2022-23

    • Apr - Man City 4-1 Arsenal
    • Feb - Arsenal 1-3 Man City
    • Jan - Man City 1-0 Arsenal (FA Cup fifth round)

  18. High five for Arteta against Guardiola

    Arsenal 1-1 Man City

    Arsenal

    Pep Guardiola high fives Mikel ArtetaGetty Images

    Mikel Arteta may have been criticised for being too cautious with his initial team selection against Manchester City, but Sunday's draw continued Arsenal's rich vein of form against Pep Guardiola's side.

    Arteta is the first manager to avoid defeat in five consecutive league games against a Guardiola side.

    The Gunners have now won twice and drawn three of their last five against City in the Premier League.

  19. Recap: Monday morning's headlines

    Told you it was going to be a jam-packed one today, didn't I?

    Here's a look at what we've been discussing since we kicked things off this morning:

  20. Ben Ramsdale
    BBC Sport

    Active this morning you lot, aren't you?

    More so than me who's onto his third brew of the day already.

    Thanks for all your messages so far, though. Sue perb interaction.

    We'll have a little recap of what's been happening for you later risers and then get more into this Arsenal debrief.

    We'll then jump into dissecting City's performance a little later on.