Manchester City vs Arsenal: Sergio Aguero at his best as Pep Guardiola's side put pressure on Liverpool

Re-live the match at the Etihad

Arsenal release first interview with new loan signing Denis Suarez

Sergio Aguero scored his 14th Manchester City hat-trick as the champions beat Arsenal 3-1 to cut Liverpool's Premier League lead to two points.

Aguero, who opened the scoring after just 46 seconds, netted all three from close range as City bounced back from their midweek defeat Newcastle with a convincing display at the Etihad Stadium.

Arsenal did pose some awkward questions after finding a quick equaliser through Laurent Koscielny, but two more from Aguero either side of the break put the result beyond doubt.

There was an element of controversy over Aguero's third after the ball struck his arm as he bundled it in, but it was not deemed deliberate.

City eased through the final stages to put the onus on Liverpool to respond at West Ham on Monday. Re-live the action in the live blog below:

Key Points

• City XI: Ederson, Walker, Laporte, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Gundogan, D Silva, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Sterling, Aguero
• Subs Muric, Danilo, Stones, Delph, Sané, Mahrez, Jesus
• Arsenal XI: Leno, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Lichtsteiner, Torreira, Guendouzi, Kolasinac, Iwobi, Aubameyang, Lacazette
• Subs: Cech, Elneny, Ramsey, Ozil, Suarez, Mavropanos, Nketiah

[3 February 2019 18:04 · Michael Jones]

75 mins: Man City 3 - 1 Arsenal

Ramsey pulls Aguero back as he tries to get past him. Man City have a free kick on the left hand side of the box. De Bruyne sends it flatly across the box and Leno punches it away to Aguero who drills one back at him, only for Arsenal's keeper to dive and push it wide of goal. 

[3 February 2019 18:06 · Michael Jones]

78 mins: Man City 3 - 1 Arsenal

Mustafi took a knock and the game took a pause. We're back up and running though and it's business as usual for Man City.

[3 February 2019 18:09 · Michael Jones]

81 mins: Man City 3 - 1 Arsenal

Sergio Aguero is replaced by Gabriel Jesus. That's not a bad change is it?

[3 February 2019 18:12 · Michael Jones]

84 mins: Man City 3 - 1 Arsenal

Arsenal manage to work the ball down the left wing and get it into the area but there's no-one waiting and Ederson collects it. 

[3 February 2019 18:15 · Michael Jones]

87 mins: Man City 3 - 1 Arsenal

De Bruyne goes down with what looks like cramp and Pep wastes no time in subbing him off. Riyad Mahrez comes on in his place.

[3 February 2019 18:18 · Michael Jones]

90 mins: Man City 3 - 1 Arsenal

Mahrez and Jesus look to shoot whenever they get near Arsenal's box.That's how confident this Man City side is. 

[3 February 2019 18:21 · Michael Jones]

90+3 mins: Man City 3 - 1 Arsenal

Arsenal were simply outclassed in the second half. Man City ran them ragged and you could see it clearly. Arsenal didn't have a single chance on goal in the last 45 minutes and made it too easy for City to work the ball into their box. 

At the end of the day City deserve the win which sees them move two points behind Liverpool in the table. Arsenal drop to sixth after Manchester United's earlier win.