Arsenal mock rivals Man City and spark Premier League title race into life with statement result - reaction
Arsenal 5-1 Manchester City: The Gunners ran riot against the champions to cut Liverpool’s lead at the top
Arsenal sparked their Premier League title challenge back into life by trashing rivals Manchester City in a heated 5-1 win that saw the Gunners earn revenge against the champions.
Tensions between the teams were high after September’s 2-2 draw between the teams but Arsenal earned a statement victory against Pep Guardiola's side, who had pipped them to the title in the last two seasons.
Goals from teenagers Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri ensured a triumphant victory for Mikel Arteta’s side, after Martin Odegaard fired Arsenal in front inside two minutes.
Erling Haaland equalised in the second half but Arsenal restored their advantage within 38 seconds off the restart as Thomas Partey’s strike deflected in off John Stones.
Lewis-Skelly added the third minutes later with his first Arsenal goal, before appearing to mock Haaland by copying his trademark “Zen” celebration.
Kai Havertz made it four, making up for his earlier miss, before Nwaneri came off the bench to complete the demolition of the champions and cut Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table.
Follow all the updates from the Emirates Stadium with our live blog below:
Arsenal 2-1 Man City
59 mins
Half a chance for City as Marmoush gets free in the box, but he can’t get the shot away properly.
Moments later, Arsenal’s attack breaks down as Havertz and Trossard find themselves too isolated.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Man City
57 mins
GOAL! Oh my word, Arsenal are ahead again!
Very lucky for the hosts, as Foden fires a pass straight to Partey, who is in space and lines up a shot from outside the box.
It takes a huge deflection off Stones and wrong-foots Ortega, landing in the bottom corner for 2-1.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Man City
55 mins
GOAL! City are level in London!
It’s a great goal from City, and who else but this man.
Nunes picks it up on the right and plays it back to Foden, but this time Savinho is making a brilliant diagonal run into the box, and the Englishman finds him.
From there, the Brazilian looks up and stands up a great cross to the back post, with Erling Haaland there to nod in past Raya.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
54 mins
There’s some great play from Arsenal in their own box to bypass the City high press, before Odegaard tries to control a pass that wasn’t meant for him and the attack breaks down. That would’ve been a good chance for the hosts.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
53 mins
Trossard does well to create the space for the cross, and it’s deflected off Foden, narrowly missing Odegaard at the far post. The referee misses the deflection and gives a goal kick, however.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
51 mins
Foden wins a free-kick after Nunes had won possession well on the right.
From the set-piece, Foden sees his cross headed away, and Arsenal have a chance to counter, though they decide to recycle the ball.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
49 mins
Better from City as they attack through the middle, with Kovacic feeding in Haaland, whose through ball into the path of Marmoush had just a little too much on it.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
47 mins
Stones’ first action of the half is to cushion a header back to Ortega.
City go up the other end but Foden can’t find the gap in the defence, exchanging passes with Nunes six times in a couple of minutes before another pass bounces over the Portuguese’s head for a throw.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
A game that has gone from strange to difficult to watch. It is so cagey. Arsenal seem to be psychologically set up for the City of 2023 rather than 2025. Omar Marmoush one of the few players injecting a bit of intensity into the game but he isn't fully in sync with his teammates.
Back underway.
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