Arsenal kept their Premier League hopes alive by thrashing defending champions Manchester City 5-1 on Sunday evening.
Premier League
Result: Arsenal 5-1 Manchester City
Date: 02 February 2025
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Pep Guardiola surprisingly dropped goalkeeper Ederson for Stefan Ortega while John Stone was back in the line-up after starting on the bench against Chelsea last weekend.The hosts went ahead inside two minutes when Manuel Akanji gifted the ball to Kai Havertz, who unselfishly teed up captain Martin Odegaard for the close-range finish.
After a slow start, City nearly pulled themselves level in the 22nd minute when Josko Gvardiol met Omar Marmoush's corner but saw his header brilliantly palmed away by goalkeeper David Raya.
The Gunners wear nearly gifted a second goal eight minutes later after Mateo Kovacic lost possession to Havertz in the box, but the German somehow sent his effort wide of the mark with only Ortega to beat.
City restored parity ten minutes into the second half as Savinho sent a neat ball to the far post where Erling Haaland was on hand to send a floating header over Raya.
That joy only lasted a minute as Thomas Partey intercepted a pass from Phil Foden before unleashing a strike from distance that deflected off Stones and sailed into the far corner.
Mikel Arteta's men went on to grab the two-goal cushion in the 62nd minute when 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly weaved his way into the box before curling one into the back of the net. The youngster went on to copy Haaland's signature celebration the process.
The rout continued with 14 minutes left on the clock as a swift-counter attack ended with Gabriel Martinelli playing in Havertz, who carve out a little space before firing into the far corner.
There was enough time for the Gunners to grab a fifth goal as substitute Ethan Nwaneri got his name on the score-sheet with a lovely curling effort from distance to round off an emphatic victory.
Here's how they lined up:
Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard.
Manchester City: Ortega; Nunes, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Bernardo; Savinho, Marmoush, Foden; Haaland.
