Arsenal recorded a five-star performance to earn a 5-1 win over Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday night to put pressure on Liverpool in the Premier League title race.
The Gunners produced arguably their best performance of the season to put the defending champions to the sword in style, which earned them only their second victory in 22 matches against Guardiola’s men.
Odegaard gave the hosts an early lead, taking advantage of Manuel Akanji’s mistake to fire Arsenal ahead in the second minute.
Haaland restored parity for Manchester City with a powerful header in the 55th minute. Partey quickly restored Arsenal’s lead with a deflected effort a minute later to stun the visitors.
Myles Lewis-Skelly made it 3-1 with his first senior goal for Arsenal with a powerful volley before Kai Havertz made amends for his miss in the first half with a thumping finish to make it 4-1.
Another young star, Ethan Nwaneri, scored a belter from outside the box to make it 5-1 to complete the rout.
The victory reduced Liverpool’s nine-point lead over Arsenal to six in the Premier League title race.
Reactions have continued to trail Arsenal’s stunning performance against the defending champions.
Mikel Arteta was full of praise for his team for taking Manchester City to the cleaners to keep up their title aspirations.
He said, “It is a great day for us, especially with the necessity that we had to win the game. The manner in which we have done it, I am really pleased.
“We had to suffer and in moments we needed a bit of luck, and we had it.
“They hold you very deep and in those moments you have to suffer and as I said, there were moments that we were lucky.
“Overall, we scored some beautiful goals and the team showed a high competitive level.”
“You need big individual performances to beat them. Myles was certainly one of them—the maturity he showed and competitiveness as well.
“He plays with that personality and he’s scored a beautiful goal.
“He has been pushing us since he has been with us. We like his character and personality. He has so much courage.
“He has qualities that fit into the way we want to play. He got some minutes and he is asking for more. He deserves to play.”
Pep Guardiola admitted that he regretted Man City’s performance in the last 25 minutes.
He said, “I only regret the last 25 minutes; we forgot to do what we should do, what we have done for 65/70 minutes. Of course, it’s a difficult game starting in this stadium; against that team, in the first minutes, it’s happened many times this season.
“But after 10/15 minutes, I think we took the game and played really, really, really, really good and we are in it after 1-1 and good momentum we passed to make the transition with Omar [Marmoush] and a deflection and the third goal.
“But after that, we then continued to do what you have to do in terms of defensiveness and [be a] little bit more patient. and when you’re playing that way they can run and of course, at 3-1 they are comfortable, it’s more difficult. I regret the last 15/20 minutes; the rest was a really good game for our side. It’s difficult to understand when you see the result but this is my feeling.
“You have to overcome it; you cannot lose control; it’s 90/95 minutes. You cannot finish in the way we played, we could’ve scored three more but the team has to be stable; it doesn’t matter what happens.”
Manchester City defender John Stones apologised to the club’s supporters following the heavy defeat.
He said, “It is difficult. I think all of us don’t take losing well.
“It is hard to put into words straight after a game like that. Pride hurts. Sorry to the fans that have travelled to come and watch that.
“How we played in the last 30 minutes was not acceptable. Personally and collectively, it’s not us.
“It is not nice to be involved in that when you know it’s not your team in those situations. Credit to Arsenal; this is not an easy place to come to. For 65 minutes, we played some great football at times.
“We were in the game and it was a swinging point. It swung the wrong way for us. I am angry, upset personally and collectively about how the game finished.”
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard hailed Kai Havertz’s contribution in the encounter.
He said, “It was a top game and a top performance.
“With the fans and the atmosphere and the scoresheet like that, it can’t be better.”
“Massive impact again today. You see everything he does. He scored and assisted; he is always there with and without the ball—a top player. It is good to have him on the team.
“We have a good connection and we understand each other. Intelligent player and it is good to play with him.
“We have a great connection with everyone and we know each other so well.”
“It was about time and it was good after as we didn’t stop—we kept on going. We got what we deserved. It was a good one.”
Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri (17y 318d) and Myles Lewis-Skelly (18y 129d) became the youngest players to score in the Premier League against the reigning champions since Wayne Rooney netted for Everton against Arsenal in March 2003 (17y 150d).
The Gunners will be back in action against Newcastle United on Wednesday in the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final.
Arsenal lost the first leg 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium; they will need to overturn the deficit to stand a chance of qualifying for the final of the competition.
Man City will visit Leyton Orient on Saturday in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Arsenal Humble Man City 5-1 To Pile Pressure On Liverpool is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Source: The Whistler
