Man City vs Arsenal LIVE: Result and reaction from Premier League title decider as City thump Gunners

Manchester City 4-1 Arsenal: Kevin De Bruyne scored twice in a star performance before Erling Haaland sealed the rout in a huge blow to the Gunners’ title hopes

Pep - City 'cannot deny' importance of Arsenal game

Champions Manchester City produced a stunning performance to seize complete control of the Premier League title race with a devastating 4-1 win over leaders Arsenal.

Kevin De Bruyne struck twice with John Stones and Erling Haaland also on the scoresheet at the Etihad Stadium as City delivered a potentially decisive blow to the Gunners’ hopes of lifting the crown.

Arsenal claimed a late reply through Rob Holding but treble-chasing City had long since asserted their dominance and Haaland wrapped up the contest with his 49th goal of the season in stoppage time.

The result lifted Pep Guardiola’s men to within two points of the Londoners at the top of the table and, with two games in hand, they are now strong favourites to land their fifth title in six years.

Arsenal and their manager Mikel Arteta simply had no answer to the pace, strength and determination of the hosts, who were at their ruthless best and powered to their 12th win in their last 13 games in all competitions.

Follow all the reaction as Man City closed in on the Premier League title

Man City vs Arsenal

• Man City demolish Arsenal in a Premier League title decider to move within two points of the leaders
• Arsenal’s humiliation proves the title race was only an illusion
• 90+5’ GOAL! - Haaland gets his goal with the last kick of the game (MCI 4-1 ARS)
• 86 GOAL! - Holding scores a consolation for Arsenal (MCI 3-1 ARS)
• 54’ GOAL! - De Bruyne and Haaland combine to earn City’s third (MCI 3-0 ARS)
• 45+1 GOAL! - Stones nods in a De Bruyne free kick to double City’s lead (MCI 2-0 ARS)
• 30’ SAVE! - Ramsdale keeps out Haaland’s effort from close range (MCI 1-0 ARS)
• 27’ BLOCK! - White gets in front of De Bruyne’s effort (MCI 1-0 ARS)
• 22’ SHOT! - Bernardo forces Ramsdale into a low save from the right side of the box (MCI 1-0 ARS)
• 7’ GOAL! - De Bruyne sends City in front with a lovely curling shot (MCI 1-0 ARS)

[26 April 2023 20:29 · Mike Jones]

Man City 1-0 Arsenal

27 mins: Block! City work the long ball release up to Erling Haaland once more who brings it down and provides Kevin De Bruyne whi another opportunity to score.

De Bruyne weaves into the box and shoots only for Ben White to make a fantastic last ditch block to deny him a second.

[26 April 2023 20:27 · Mike Jones]

Man City 1-0 Arsenal

25 mins: It’s better from Arsenal but they’re still not threatening City’s goal. The Gunners maintain possession and work it out wide to Gabriel Martinelli.

He gives it to Oleksandr Zinchenko who threads the ball into Granit Xhaka but the midfielder is knocked out of possession and City win a free kick as Martinelli makes the foul trying to recover the ball.

[26 April 2023 20:23 · Mike Jones]

Man City 1-0 Arsenal

22 mins: Shot! Bernardo Silva brings the ball down the right wing and decides to take on former teammate Oleksandr Zinchenko.

He nips inside and dribbles into the box before curling a left-footed effort past Gabriel and forcing a low stop out of Aaron Ramsdale.

[26 April 2023 20:22 · Mike Jones]

Man City 1-0 Arsenal

19 mins: Kevin De Bruyne looks to spin around Rob Holding in the middle of the pitch. He flicks the ball on then draws the foul out of the Arsenal centre-back.

Arsenal have been slightly off the pace in these opening stages.

[26 April 2023 20:18 · Mike Jones]

Man City 1-0 Arsenal

16 mins: Manuel Akanji steps into the left side of midfield and receives the ball. He decides to run it forward and Arsenal let him go.

They drop away from the defender until he carries the ball into the penalty area then there’s a sudden scramble to recover the ball as though the danger of a shot at goal is finally realised.

[26 April 2023 20:14 · Mike Jones]

Man City 1-0 Arsenal

13 mins: Man City’s intense press is doing wonders to nullify Arsenal’s desire to get the ball out wide. At the minute the Gunners are being forced to knock the ball around the back before resorting to pumping it long.

Rob Holding fires an aerial pass up to Bukayo Saka who can’t control the dropping ball and lets it bounce out for a throw in.

[26 April 2023 20:10 · Mike Jones]

Man City 1-0 Arsenal

10 mins: That’s the worst possible start for Mikel Arteta’s men. City have only lost one of their last 53 matches when scoring the first goal.

Arsenal haven’t settled at all yet and now they need to come back from a goal down.

[26 April 2023 20:09 · Mike Jones]

GOAL! Man City 1-0 Arsenal (De Bruyne, 7’)⚽️

7 mins: Man City lead! A long ball comes up to Erling Haaland who chests the ball down and releases the ball into the feet of Kevin De Bruyne.

He drives towards the box, checks to the right of Rob Holding then curls a wonderful low strike past Aaron Ramsdale and sneaks it into the smallest gap next to the right hand post.

[26 April 2023 20:07 · Mike Jones]

Man City 0-0 Arsenal

6 mins: Arsenal try to play through Manchester City but can’t find a way through the middle of the pitch. Thomas Partey is given the ball and he sends it long down the right side.

Gabriel Jesus sets off but the pass is too heavy for him and Ederson scoops it up.

[26 April 2023 20:05 · Mike Jones]

Man City 0-0 Arsenal

3 mins: Ilkay Gundogan storms down the inside left channel before slipping the ball out wide to Jack Grealish. Grealish knocks it back to Kevin De Bruyne whose ball into the middle comes too close to Aaron Ramsdale.

Nearly!

Grealish leads another City attack and pulls the ball back into the middle of the penalty area. Ramsdale palms it into the path of De Bruyne who looks to shoot first time.

Just as he’s readying to take the shot, Thomas Partey steps across him and receives a kick in the leg. Both men go down and the referee awards a free kick to Arsenal.