Don Hutchison
Ex-Liverpool midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Arsenal outclassed Watford.

The hosts worked tirelessly and never gave up but Arsenal deserve the three points.

Arsenal

Speaking to Sky Sports, Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka said: "This is the dream this year to be in the top four and qualify for Champions League football. We have to stay humble and focus on ourselves."

Asked if they would be supporting Manchester City in the late kick-off, Arsenal captain Alexandre Lacazette said: "Yes."

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Etihad Stadium

Manchester United taking a couple of hefty hits there with the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane. The tough task is now even tougher for Ralf Rangnick's side on a day when the stakes are so high for them if Arsenal close out the win at Watford to maintain fourth spot.

Manchester City

Man City boss Pep Guarduiola, asked about the Manchester United line-up and how they might play on Sky Sports: "I don't know.

"I guess with the philosophy from Ralf Rangnick they will have a lot of players inside and deep runners. High intense pressing and aggressive. We expect that.

"It is an option [the false nine]. They have played like this. Or maybe 4-4-2 diamond. They can play with the wingers as Bruno and Pogba and come inside. We will see after five minutes.

"Always United is a tough opponent."

Manchester United

Man Utd boss Ralf Rangnick, speaking to Sky Sports: "We had two covid cases midweek with Rafa Varane and Luke Shaw. Cristiano had some problems with his hip flexor again on Friday. That is why they are not available.

"We decided wit the formation to be as compact as possible and still in transitional moments be able to create chances.

"We have to be compact, always put them under pressure and keep them away from our box and at the same time, when we have possession, to be dangerous on the counter-attack."

Man City had a little wobble against Tottenham recently but this remains a game between two of the division's form sides.

Pep Guardiola's side have won 15 of their last 17 Premier League games (D1, L1), while Manchester United are unbeaten in eight Premier League games (W4, D4), the longest current run without defeat in the division.

However, Ralf Rangnick's lads do come in to it off the back of a disappointing result of their own - the 0-0 at home with Watford, during which they spurned chance after chance after chance.

And they're without their top scorer...

What adds a bit more intrigue to this afternoon's derby is that this fixture has produced more away wins than any other in Premier League history.

This will be the 50th Premier League meeting between the clubs. There have been 21 away wins in those.

The respective away side has won seven of the last nine Manchester derbies in all competitions, with the only home victory in this sequence being Manchester United's 2-0 win in March 2020.

United are vying to win four consecutive league and cup away games against City for the first time since a four-match streak between 1993 and 2000.

That uncomfortable feeling Manchester City currently have down the back of their neck is the breathe of Liverpool.

What at one stage looked like a title-winning gap at the top of the Premier League is now down to just three points.

The door is open for Jurgen Klopp's team. And just look who is next up to try and kick it fully open.

Manchester United are not a club that like to do Liverpool favours, but it will be a necessary evil this afternoon as they go in search of a big win to give them local bragging rights and a vital three points in the race for the top four.

Cheers Neil.

Well, that Arsenal result just cranks up the importance of this Manchester derby another notch. Not that it really needed it!

Arsenal move above Manchester United into fourth. But for how long? United are around half an hour from kicking off against Manchester City. Guiding you through the Manchester derby in Phil Dawkes.

Four Premier League wins in a row for Arsenal. Eight Premier League home defeats in a row for Watford.

Mikel Arteta is pacing his technical area. He can hardly watch.

It's all happening. Kieran Tierney goes down and Cucho Hernandez has now been booked. Still they play on.

Mikel Arteta wants the final whistle. He's in the ear of the fourth official.

What a moment that would have been. Samuel Kalu has a pop from outside the box. Aaron Ramsdale saves.

It's tense out there. Eddie Nketiah has been shown a yellow card.

Play is stopped after Cedric Soares goes down. He's going to be fine.

Lots of character about this Watford team but they need points.

Five additional minutes. Arsenal are not so comfortable now.