One-nil to the champions.
Neither of these teams will define the success of their season by the FA Cup, but if the league leaders came away without suffering too many blows from another defeat at the Etihad then City will take every victory they get. A curled effort from Nathan Ake was enough to separate the teams on a night of low quality when the Premier League champions just about did enough to suggest the pretenders to their crown still have a way to go.
As much as City will hope this night eventually leads to Wembley and more silverware, they will not mind one bit if it cranks up some pressure on an Arsenal team that have soared so far this season. A night that became business as usual may well be seen on reflection as a significant moment when the guard stopped changing - and potentially an important night in Julian Alvarez's City career.
