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:
HT: Arsenal 1-0 Man City
Just six touches in that half for Erling Haaland – there were almost 37 minutes between his second and third, too.
Both teams are coming back onto the pitch ahead of the second half.
HT: Arsenal 1-0 Man City
It’s not been a great match for the neutral at the Emirates, with both sides looking tame in attack.
Arsenal’s goal came from a City mistake and neither side has really created anything from open play, with City’s best chance coming from a corner.
The hosts probably had the better of the first half, but since having a goal disallowed for offside, they’ve seen City go into the ascendancy before the half-time whistle.
As it stands though, Arsenal look to have been fairly happy to let City have it in certain areas, with Guardiola’s side looking uncharacteristically lacking in ideas.
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.
Gabriel sparks Erling Haaland tensions with heated goal celebration
HALF-TIME! Arsenal 1-0 Man City
HALF-TIME! Arsenal 1-0 Man City
The referee brings the first half to an end, and both sides head in with the hosts 1-0 up.
It’s been a tentative first half in north London, with Arsenal failing to capitalise on an early gift.
The Gunners should probably be 2-0 up, but City are not out of this by any means.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
45 mins
Just one minute of added time here. That suggests what sort of game it’s been so far. Both sides exchanging possession as we come to the end of the first 45.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
44 mins
Another decent save from Raya, as the cross is headed away to the feet of Savinho in the box, and he squeezes in a low shot that is deflected, with the Spaniard doing well to palm it away.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
42 mins
Half a chance for City now as Gvardiol gets into the box and fizzes in a promising cross that Raya doesn’t deal with, but the ball doesn’t fall kindly to Silva at the far post, with Lewis-Skelly doing well to shepherd him away from the ball.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
40 mins
Havertz is guilty of wasting another half-chance as he hesitates when up 1-v-1 against Stones and fails to pick out Rice – or anyone – in the box.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
37 mins
It’s become a slightly strange match-up here, with both sides seemingly accidentally taking the pace out of the game.
Arsenal haven’t exactly looked to play on the counter, even considering City’s frailties at defending them recently.
The visitors have been lacking ideas in attack themselves, but on another day they could be level.
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