Arsenal v Manchester City | Premier League | Match Highlights

Arsenal blew Manchester City away with a brilliant second-half performance at the Emirates Stadium to send a statement to Liverpool that the Premier League title race is still far from over. Their 5-1 win over the reigning champions gave them revenge after the sour taste the 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium left in their mouths earlier this season.

It took just 103 seconds for Arsenal to take the lead through Martin Ødegaard. Man City defender Manuel Akanji got caught in possession on the edge of his own box by Leandro Trossard. After the Belgian’s interception, the ball reached Declan Rice, who played in Kai Havertz to square for Ødegaard before the Norwegian passed the ball into the City net. The Gunners had only completed two passes before Rice received the ball, with Havertz’s assist only their fourth successful pass of the game.

Havertz should have scored himself midway through the first half following yet another defensive error from City. The German had time to pick his spot with his 26th-minute shot but pulled his strike inches wide of the post following another Rice interception.

Arsenal held onto the lead until Erling Haaland headed home the equalizer in the 55th minute. Savinho’s excellent floated cross came following a neat passing move by City and ended with their striker guiding the ball over David Raya and into the Arsenal net. It was Haaland’s 250th senior club goal and just his ninth touch of the game. This would prove to be Man City’s last shot of the game.

The scores would remain level for less than two minutes, however. Just 105 seconds after Haaland’s goal, Thomas Partey’s long-range strike took a huge deflection off John Stones’ back to leave Stefan Ortega no chance and hand the Ghanaian midfielder his third Premier League goal of 2024-25. The goal came after a loose Phil Foden pass was intercepted by Partey, who made the England international pay for his sloppiness.

It would soon be 3-1 to Arsenal, with exciting youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly scoring his first goal for the Gunners after traveling into the box and cutting inside onto his right foot before unleashing a strike that proved too powerful for Ortega to keep out. At 18 years and 129 days old, Lewis-Skelly became the fourth-youngest player to score for Arsenal in the Premier League after Ethan Nwaneri, Cesc Fàbregas, and Serge Gnabry.

Havertz made it 4-1 in the 76th minute after Arsenal pinched the ball in their own half and broke with pace. Havertz’s overlapping run was found by Gabriel Martinelli before the German scored his 15th competitive goal of the season. That tally is his best in a campaign at a Premier League club and his highest since 18 goals for Bayer Leverkusen in 2019-20.

Nwaneri completed an incredible victory with the pick of the goals in added time. The teenager curled in a fantastic strike to compound City’s misery and make it 5-1 with almost the final kick of the game.

This win means that Arsenal are now unbeaten in 14 Premier League matches (W9 D5) and have won the most points of any side from Matchday 11 onwards (32). The Gunners have never been on such a long unbeaten run under Mikel Arteta, last going 14 without defeat between August and December 2018 under Unai Emery.

City are now nine points behind Arsenal, but more crucially, 15 points behind league leaders Liverpool, having played a game more. There’s little doubt that City will fail to win a fifth successive Premier League title, but the question is whether Arsenal can make up the gap between them and Arne Slot’s side and pick up their first league crown since 2004.

The performance was a testament to Arsenal’s tactical discipline and clinical finishing. Arteta’s men exploited City’s vulnerabilities, pressing high and punishing mistakes ruthlessly. Rice and Partey dominated midfield, disrupting City’s rhythm and launching rapid counter-attacks. The inclusion of young stars like Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri showcased Arsenal’s promising future, reinforcing their squad depth as they push for the title.

For City, this defeat raises serious concerns. Pep Guardiola’s side looked uncharacteristically fragile under pressure, with defensive errors proving costly. Their attacking fluency was stifled, with Haaland isolated and ineffective despite his goal. With key players struggling to hit top form, City’s hopes of mounting a comeback in the title race appear increasingly slim.

As Arsenal continue their charge, this statement victory could prove pivotal. The momentum is firmly with them, and with fixtures against lower-ranked teams approaching, their destiny remains in their hands. Liverpool will now feel the pressure, knowing that Arsenal are breathing down their necks in the title race. If Arteta’s side can maintain their intensity and focus, their long-awaited Premier League triumph may finally become a reality.