Man City 4-1 Arsenal.
Manchester City welcomed
Arsenal to the Etihad knowing that if they could get a victory here, they could take pole position in the title race.
The home side got off to a rapid start, controlling the play and attacking Arsenal on the break at every opportunity presented to them, and that was a lot of opportunities.
The away team were slightly fortunate not to concede a penalty when Thomas Partey tackled Kevin de Bruyne in the box, and the referee awarded it as a free to Arsenal.
The opening goal did come when Erling Haaland controlled the ball and played through De Bruyne on the turn, who put it in the back of the net.
City continued to pelt Mikel Arteta's defence, and eventually a John Stones header penetrated right before the break to give them a 2-0 lead.
The goal was initially ruled out by VAR but after much deliberation it was eventually awarded by the tightest of margins.
Arsenal needed to come out swinging in the second half, but really it was more of the same, in fact it was exactly the same given that it was De Bruyne who found the net once again.
Ron Holding did manage to pull one back, but Erling Haaland put the final nail in the coffin at the death, to make sure that he finished the game with a goal and an assist.
Ratings:
Manchester City XI:
- Ederson - 9
- Akanji - 8
- Dias - 8
- Walker -8
- Stones - 9
- Rodri - 8
- Bernardo Silva -8
- Gundogan - 8
- De Bruyne - 10
- Grealish - 8
- Haaland - 9
Arsenal XI:
- Ramsdale -4
- White -4
- Holding - 4
- Gabriel - 3
- Zinchenko - 5
- Xhaka - 5
- Partey - 5
- Saka - 6
- Odegaard - 5
- Martinelli -4
- Jesus -5
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