Mike, Liverpool: As an Arsenal fan traumatised by so many capitulations and last-minute disappointments, you will forgive me if l exude no confidence whatsoever that we will come away with three points. Obviously l hope l'm wrong but painful experience tells me that we will be undone.

Lovely feet from Alexis Sanchez on the left of the area as he cuts inside but his shot has the embarrassment of going for a throw. Fernandinho is then booked for a handball. 100mph stuff.

Image source, Getty Images

Better from Jesus Navas as he middles a shot on the run right at David Ospina, who has to beat it away. The crowd are up, the tempo is through the roof.

David Silva then wriggles inside and Fernandinho's shot is deflected over. You'd think it was stoppage time, not the first five minutes of the half!

Former Scotland international Pat Nevin
BBC Radio 5 live at Etihad Stadium

"The second half has started at an absolutely brilliant pace. Yes we knew that City would speed up after break, but Arsenal, in the way they are approaching the match, are making for an extremely open game. It's great to watch."

Jesus Navas and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are having their own personal battle today - who can waste the most possession on the right wing? I'd call it a draw so far as the Ox hits the first defender when well placed. With one midfielder less out there there's a lot more space for both sides. I wager it won't finish 1-0.

Sergio Aguero has another shot blocked - and now Arsenal can break. More room for them now, the game already stretched and open. A better game already.

Already much better from Manchester City as Sergio Aguero gets a shot away for the first time, hard, left-footed - deflected away for a corner. They take it short and Francis Coquelin clears.

So City going into a more orthodox 4-4-2 in the second half. Can they break through the yellow wall?

Stevan Jovetic is on at the break, in place of James Milner. Can he make the difference?

Arsenal are winning at half-time in a Premier League away game at Manchester City/Manchester United/Chelsea for the first time since Oct 2010 (12 games ago).

If all else fails for City, a fan has just nailed a 20-yard strike through the 'o' in a 'Feed the Goat' mural over the goal. I'm not sure what he wins, but he celebrated in style.

Get him a shirt, and get him on.

Image source, Reuters

Zambia have a half-time lead over DR Congo in the African Nations Cup.

Check out the latest in a separate live text commentary here.

Brandon, Bradford: Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero up front will unlock this Arsenal defence. City need a front man to link the play and that is Dzeko.

James, Bath: Mentally City are stuck in 2009 (mid-table). Their players have the quality to walk this, but every time they face a realistic challenge they bottle it.

Terence Smith: Does anyone else think Nacho Monreal looks like a miniature Peter Crouch?

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Former Scotland international Pat Nevin
BBC Radio 5 live at Etihad Stadium

"Over the past couple of seasons I have noticed City start slowly before then tending to lift it in the second half. I do expect them to ask much more of Arsenal after the break. Maybe Manuel Pellegrini will consider moving David Silva out wide, or bringing on Edin Dzeko or Stevan Jovetic, with Sergio Aguero coming a bit deeper."

Jonathan Pearce
BBC Match of the Day commentator at Etihad Stadium

"Vincent Kompany returned to the Manchester City starting line-up but he was the one who gave away a clumsy penalty as Nacho Monreal tumbled. City will believe it was soft, but Arsenal have played well. The big question for me is can Arsenal repeat this performance in the second half? They will need to be even better defensively because Manchester City will have a real go."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City have 232 Premier League goals on the bench in Frank Lampard, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic. Time for a change?Jovetic is getting some heavy instructions from Brian Kidd as he warms up.

Former Scotland international Pat Nevin
BBC Radio 5 live at Etihad Stadium

"It's extraordinary it took Arsenal so long to play like this away from home. They are well-drilled and, although they are not playing brilliantly, the tactics are spot on. They got the break with the goal and have made big use of it. This is not a naive performance. So far so good for Arsenal, but I would expect City to come back stronger in the second half."

Who predicted more excitement from Hull than Manchester City this afternoon? So far, so poor from the champions.

Just one minute of added time and Jesus Navas again wastes a crossing position after a turnover in midfield. Arsenal fans will like this - Francis Coquelin dealing out a verbal barrage to his team-mates for losing the ball. A team lacking leadership?

Image source, AP