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:
Arsenal 4-1 Man City
82 mins
A nice combination in attack between Odegaard, Havertz and Lewis-Skelly, before Gabriel wins a free-kick.
Arsenal make their first changes of the evening as Odegaard and Trossard make way for Mikel Merino and Ethan Nwaneri.
Arsenal 4-1 Man City
79 mins
The ball breaks free to Odegaard midway into the City half but he misses the run of Trossard, who would have been clean through, and instead sees his pass to Havertz cleared before Arsenal win a corner.
From the set-piece, Gabriel tries the extravagant overhead effort, but he can’t connect with it properly.
GOAL! Arsenal 4-1 Man City
76 mins
GOAL! Brilliant from the hosts and that is the result wrapped up.
Arsenal win the ball on the edge of their box and there’s acres of space ahead of Partey. He only has to play one pass and Havertz is 1-v-1 with Ortega.
He races into the box and cuts back outside before rifling an effort into the far corner.
Arsenal 3-1 Man City
73 mins
Some great play from Timber to win a corner when isolated, and Arsenal fans are enjoying themselves at the moment.
From the set-piece, Odegaard’s ball in is punched away by Ortega, but Arsenal win it back immediately.
Arsenal 3-1 Man City
71 mins
A needless booking for Odegaard, who thinks he’s won the ball on the edge of the box and is booked for dissent.
City make two changes, as Foden and Marmoush make way for Kevin De Bruyne and James McAtee.
Arsenal 3-1 Man City
70 mins
Rice’s ball in is cleared by Kovacic at the near post, but Arsenal will come again.
We’re about to see the first changes of the day.
Arsenal 3-1 Man City
68 mins
CLOSE! A great chance for Arsenal and a great save too.
The Gunners go on the counter and Rice looks up to see Martinelli racing through. He threads in the pass but it’s not a perfect ball, forcing the Brazilian a little wide, and his shot across goal is saved well by Ortega.
Moments later, Trossard wins a foul on the wing, near the corner flag.
Arsenal 3-1 Man City
66 mins
Another period of sustained City possession that is lacking in threat at the moment. It ends with Savinho fizzing in a pass that Gvardiol can’t control.
GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 Man City
63 mins
GOAL! A brilliant goal to put the hosts 3-1 up!
It’s one of the first times when Arsenal have put some pace and directness into the attack, and it’s paid off.
Rice fires in a pass to Lewis-Skelly in the box on the half-turn. He stands up Stones and curls an effort goalwards, and Ortega can only force it onto the post and in for 3-1!
Arsenal 2-1 Man City
A game that has at last come alive, after City caused Arsenal to wake up. Mikel Arteta's side had allowed the game to drift, which is always going to cost you against City, even one that isn't as sharp as in the last decade. There was of course a moment where Savinho got his cross right and Erling Haaland caught it brilliantly. The equalising header was superb, and the Norwegian conspicuously didn't go to Gabriel to celebrate. A spell at 1-1 would have been an interesting test for Arsenal but they immediately responded, again exposing City's own issues. Phil Foden gave the ball away and City's defence gave Thomas Partey so much time to shoot. His effort cannoned off John Stones and in.
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