Man City 1-0 Arsenal LIVE REACTION: Gunners crash out of FA Cup after first defeat in three months as Premier League title rivals grab initiative after Ake’s goal steers Guardiola and co into fifth round

Premier League champions Manchester City sent a message to table-toppers Arsenal with a 1-0 win in their FA Cup fourth round clash.

The two standout teams in England's top flight this season were yet to face each other so far but their eventual showdown fell flat.

Numerous changes from both Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta meant neither side grabbed the iniative during a cagey first half.

But Nathan Ake, who had a standout game marshalling inform Bukayo Saka, popped up with an Erling Haaland-esque finish after the break after substitute Julian Alvarez had smashed the post.

And Arsenal couldn't find a response despite throwing on a number of their heavy hitters late on with this being their first defeat in all competitions since the end of October.