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Arsenal v Manchester City: Five classic Premier League encounters

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 13:  Sergio Aguero of Manchester City celebrates after scoring the first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between

Arsenal host Manchester City on Sky Sports on Sunday in a fixture that has served up plenty of entertainment over recent years.

Both sides are challenging for a top-four spot in the Premier League this season, with the Gunners sixth in the table and City in third.

Ahead of the Nissan Super Sunday clash, here's a look at some recent classics between the two teams...

Arsenal 2-2 Manchester City - September 2014

Four goals, 30 shots, a frantic finish. Barring a red card or penalty, there was not much missing from this entertaining draw as both sides failed to hold onto a lead.

It was City who went ahead first as Sergio Aguero swept in from 10 yards in the 28th minute.

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Danny Welbeck had earlier hit the post on his Arsenal debut, but the Gunners fought back in the second half.

Jack Wilshere levelled the scores with a clever chipped finish before setting up Alexis Sanchez to volley in for 2-1.

Arsenal, though, could not see out the win as Martin Demichelis headed past Wojciech Szczesny from a corner in the 83rd minute.

Manchester City's Argentinian defender Martin Demichelis (R) celebrates scoring a goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and
Image: Martin Demichelis celebrates scoring City's late equaliser

City almost snatched victory as Aleksandar Kolarov fired against the post, Laurent Koscielny cleared against the woodwork of his own goal and Szczesny saved well from Edin Dzeko.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini complained there were "clear fouls" before both Arsenal goals while Arsene Wenger described his team's comeback as "remarkable".

"The only disappointment for me is that we couldn't keep the lead," he added.

Manchester City 6-3 Arsenal - December 2013

Having already put six past Tottenham at the Etihad, City's array of attacking talent repeatedly purged another shaky north London defence - although the fact the Gunners registered three in reply at least gave the scoreline a little more respectability.

The nine-goal thriller began when an unmarked Aguero struck on the volley at the far post following a flick-on at a City corner.

Arsenal levelled through Theo Walcott after Yaya Toure had been caught in possession on the halfway line, but Alvaro Negredo restored City's lead from close range before half-time. Fernandinho then curled in a third soon after the break, to score his first goal for City.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 14: Fernandinho of Manchester City celebrates scoring their fifth goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manc
Image: Fernandinho celebrates scoring against Arsenal

Walcott got Arsenal back in it with a fine curler of his own, but the visitors' defensive line was breached again by David Silva just three minutes later, before Fernandinho doubled his tally.

A sensational game was rounded off deep into injury time by goals apiece for Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker and, from the penalty spot, Toure.

"We have a lot more points to fight for; we have to keep improving," stressed new City boss Manuel Pellegrini afterwards. "It is very important to be an entertaining team, but, for me, it will be more entertaining if we score six and concede none."

Manchester City 4-2 Arsenal - September 2009

Just a few weeks after City paid £37m to sign Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor from Arsenal, the clubs met at the Etihad.

Inevitably, and rather controversially, Adebayor would score on his first meeting with his former team, but the match witnessed several twists and turns before then.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12:  A cigarette lighter is thrown onto the pitch as Emmanuel Adebayor (front) of Manchester City celebrates with team-mate
Image: Emmanuel Adebayor celebrates in front of Arsenal fans

City initially went ahead on 20 minutes via a deflected Micah Richards header before Robin van Persie equalised with a powerful low shot from outside the box midway through the second half.

With the match in the balance, Craig Bellamy curled home Richards' cutback before Adebayor, who had already appeared to stamp on former team-mate Van Persie in an earlier clash, was involved in the match's most infamous moment.

After heading powerfully home past Manuel Almunia to make it 3-1 to City, the striker ran the length of the pitch and slid on his knees in front of Arsenal's travelling fans.

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The celebrations and 'stamp' were the main talking points from the match, meaning Shaun Wright-Phillips' fourth goal for City and substitute Tomas Rosicky's late consolation for Arsenal were somewhat overshadowed.

"I was surprised there was such animosity in his attitude towards Arsenal," said Wenger afterwards when asked Adebayor. "I think it was a very bad challenge, surprisingly bad. I didn't expect him to do that."

Manchester City 1-5 Arsenal - February 2003

Arsenal fans were used to fast starts from their team in the era of Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry, but even this 19-minute destruction of Kevin Keegan's Man City took the breath away.

Just four minutes were on the clock when Bergkamp ghosted in to get on to the end of a slide-rule pass from Lauren to tuck the ball under the advancing Carlo Nash.

Henry then cut the ball back to Robert Pires to sweep home first time before firing in the third himself three minutes later.

MANCHESTER - FEBRUARY 22:  Djamel Belmadi of Manchester City tackles Thierry Henry of Arsenal during the Barclaycard Premiership match between Manchester C
Image: Thierry Henry tussles for the ball against City

Another Henry assist for a bullet Sol Campbell header came from a corner and the game was already well and truly won after less than 20 minutes.

The struggling Richard Dunne was substituted at half-time and Arsenal only scored one more goal thereafter, Vieira finishing after a neat one-two with Bergkamp.

Former Gunner Nicolas Anelka grabbed a late close-range consolation but the gloss couldn't be taken off Arsenal's win, with Keegan saying of the then-defending Premier League champions and league leaders: "Arsenal, in my opinion, will win the Champions League. They're on a different planet."

However, despite opening up a five-point lead over City's rivals Manchester United with the impressive win, Arsenal's title defence unexpectedly fell apart over the final 10 games of the domestic campaign while they wouldn't even get beyond the last 16 in Europe.

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Ahead of their Super Sunday clash, we look at some of the best goals from over the years from Arsenal versus Manchester City

Arsenal 5-0 Manchester City - October 2000

Memorable mostly for Arsenal's brilliant display, as they swept City aside to keep pace with Manchester United at the top of the Premier League.

City manager Joe Royle said the red card shown to Danny Tiatto before half-time "changed the game", but the visitors had offered little in attack even before Ashley Cole scored from the subsequent free-kick.

Arsenal netted a second shortly after half-time when Bergkamp curled into the bottom corner from Freddie Ljungberg's backheel pass.

28 Oct 2000:  Manchester City keeper Nicky Weaver can only watch as Arsenal celebrate another goal during the FA Carling Premier League match played at Hig
Image: Nicky Weaver watches on as Arsenal celebrate

The Gunners finished strongly as substitute Sylvain Wiltord swept home and then teed up Henry to make it 4-0.

Henry added a fifth after a rapid counter and only City goalkeeper Nicky Weaver prevented a more one-sided scoreline.

"I have never played against that many good strikers," said Weaver afterwards. "They have so much pace, and the first touch and movement is unbelievable. They have midfielders coming on, full-backs coming wide. They come at you from all angles."

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