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:
Mikel Arteta warns against gloating after rampant Arsenal humble Man City
Mikel Arteta warned Arsenal to focus on themselves after they ruthlessly dismantled Manchester City 5-1 and rubbed it in the face of Erling Haaland in the process.
The Gunners scored four times in an outstanding second-half display at the Emirates to inflict more pain on Pep Guardiola’s fragile Premier League champions.
Haaland’s actions in the 2-2 draw between the clubs in September dominated the pre-match discourse, with the Norwegian throwing a ball at Gabriel Magalhaes’ head following John Stones’ stoppage-time leveller, while he also told Arteta to “stay humble” during fiery full-time scenes.
A dose of humble pie was served to Haaland in north London with Gabriel shouting in the face of the City striker after Martin Odegaard’s early opener before Arsenal full-back Myles Lewis-Skelly copied the Norwegian’s celebration after he made it 3-1.
Mikel Arteta warns against gloating after rampant Arsenal humble Manchester City
Erling Haaland's dad hits back at Arsenal's celebrations with trophy dig
Erling Haaland’s father hit back at the nature of Arsenal’s celebration following their 5-1 victory over Manchester City with a reminder of their lack of trophies under Mikel Arteta.
Haaland had a difficult afternoon at the Emirates and although he scored City’s equaliser the striker was kept quiet by Gabriel while Myles Lewis-Skelly appeared to mock him by copying his ‘Zen’ celebration when he netted his first Gunners goal.
Gabriel also celebrated in Haaland’s face and clapped towards the Norwegian, who made headlines by telling Arsenal boss Arteta to “stay humble” following a heated 2-2 draw between the teams in September.
Erling Haaland's dad hits back at Arsenal's celebrations with trophy dig
The Myles Lewis-Skelly moment that summed up Arsenal and Man City’s new reality
A huge result, in many more senses than an incredible 5-1 margin. There was a lot more going on here than Pep Guardiola’s worst ever league defeat, and a statement victory for Arsenal’s young side. It was full circle. This is what Manchester City had themselves subjected Mikel Arteta's side to before, but with far more edge to the celebrations.
Erling Haaland at least knows who Myles Lewis-Skelly is now. His City side, however, were left wondering where they were. The champions don’t look anything like a true Guardiola team, as they suffered a defeat that has been coming for weeks.
Arsenal, meanwhile, finally looked like what they should be. That was in no small part down to the assertiveness of their 18-year-old, whose urgency changed the entire tone of this game. It was also in quite a contrast of the meditative celebration that added insult to injured pride for Haaland and City. Lewis-Skelly went there, having surged through the champions.
The Myles Lewis-Skelly moment that summed up Arsenal and Man City’s new reality
Gabriel sparks Erling Haaland tensions with heated goal celebration
Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes wasted no time renewing his rivalry with Erling Haaland after the Gunners scored within two minutes against Manchester City in their huge Premier League clash at the Emirates.
Champions City made a calamitous start as Pep Guardiola’s side were caught playing out from the back and Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard finished first-time to give the hosts the lead after just 104 seconds.
And Gabriel, who clashed with Haaland during the fractious 2-2 draw between the teams in September, celebrated by shouting into the Norwegian’s face as he ran past him to celebrate with his team-mates by the corner.
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Gabriel sparks Erling Haaland tensions with heated goal celebration
Myles Lewis-Skelly mocks Erling Haaland with goal celebration as Arsenal thrash Man City
Myles Lewis-Skelly celebrated his first Arsenal goal by appearing to mock Erling Haaland as the Gunners turned the tables on rivals Manchester City at the Emirates.
Lewis-Skelly was involved in the heated scenes at the end of September’s fractious 2-2 draw as the teenager, then only 17, was booked for clashing with Haaland.
The Manchester City striker turned to Lewis-Skelly and asked “Who the f*** are you?” after Haaland told Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to “stay humble” in the match between the teams earlier this season.
Myles Lewis-Skelly mocks Erling Haaland with celebration as Arsenal thrash Man City
Arteta reacts
"During the game, it [my feelings] was so-so. At the end maybe more than unusual. It's a great day for us, especially against the level of opposition we played today.
"To beat them in the manner we've done, a lot has to go your way. We played aggressively, with a lot of courage.
“Even if you want it, they are that good that sometimes you have to stay deep and suffer, and enjoy those moments as well. We had a bit of luck in some moments,” he adds.
"Just enjoy the day, it's something we will learn from as well and understand still that a lot of things have to go your way to win in that manner.
“One is to create the unbelievable energy in the stadium, we cannot waste one minute. It transforms the team and makes it tough for the opposition. It makes the players believe we can beat anyone on their day. It's going to be very helpful for the future,” he says.
On the situation after the match in September, he adds: “You have to focus on us and believe in anything that can happen.
Guardiola speaks
Speaking in his post-match conference, Pep Guardiola says that he agrees that the result is unacceptable.
"We reacted really well. After the Havertz miss, we played the game in the high, high level we can be.
"You can lose two, three, four. But what we have done in 65, it was not done.
"Hopefully we can learn the lessons for the future,” he added.
"We are not used to that. Other results, this team has grown up. We allowed the space we wanted to avoid, the space in between the lines, that's why we have the feeling at home.
"We have done 60 minutes really good. I know Arsenal here, teh aount of chances they created. We didn't create much. We didn't give a lot for Havertz, didn't' give away from set pieces.
"But the last 20 minutes we were found out.
“It happens. It's football. There are a lot of goals. It happens. I don't like it, I'm a bit sad. But it's time to continue. We have a long week, we learn from that again. I know the players want to do it.
"It's not easy Arsenal are really good, the physicality and pressing were really good. In the future we will have games where we have to be stable.
“Those moments will pass and we have to take the game again. It's the responsibility of me as the manager to do it."
Stones: "It is hard to put into words straight after a game like that"
Speaking to Sky, John Stones says that this kind of result “is hard to put into words”.
"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.
"It is difficult when there is an overload at the back, and you have a split second decision to come out and they got the luck on that one.
"I could have stayed more square, I'd have to watch it back. We cannot let those situations get on top of us.
"We stopped doing the things we meant to.
"A lot of different things that I have not figured out why we are not picking up results.
"The passion is there, the training and everyone has the right intention.
"We have not got to where we are without difficult times and that is through everyone's career right now.
"We all have to stick together, that's a key point that we don't start to point fingers."
Rice: "It’s been one of the best days since I've been at Arsenal"
Declan Rice is speaking to Sky right after his two teammates, and he says that “the scoreline in the end is an unbelievable score”.
“From the moment we stepped onto the pitch we had that fire in our belly. We wanted to go out there and amend that [the 2-2].
“They had a lot of the ball, we had to sit deep at times. They can still punish teams.
“In the end, to win 5-1 was top but I thought it was a really tough game,” he adds.
On his own involvement, he says: “To get two assists is really big, and I need to add goals and assists to my game, especially if I’m going to continue playing in the ‘8’ position.”
“It’s been one of the best days since I’ve been at Arsenal,” he adds.
On the title race, he says: “It’s down to us to hunt them [Liverpool]. We know the goal we want, that’s to hunt them down.
“We need to keep taking reach game as it comes.”
Odegaard and Havertz react
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is first to speak to Sky, and he’s with Kai Havertz.
Odegaard says that “in the end a scoresheet like that can’t be better, so we’re very happy”.
Havertz adds that Arsenal “managed to press them well and to not give them much time.
“Our energy was good as we used our chances,” he adds.
“I think it’s the timing, we train it a lot [the press]. It’s not only us, it’s everyone. I think the energy there is very important, the rest of the team did it excellently.”
Odegaard calls Havertz a “top player with and without the ball”, adding that it’s “good to have him in the team”.
“We just kept on going, and in the end I think we got what we deserved,” adds Odegaard.
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