Arsenal produced a scintillating performance to dismantle Manchester City 5-1 at the Emirates Stadium.
The match sprang into life almost immediately. In just the second minute, City’s Manuel Akanji was caught dawdling in possession, allowing Kai Havertz to pounce and square the ball to Martin Odegaard.
The Arsenal captain made no mistake, slotting home to give his side an early lead. The Gunners thought they had doubled their advantage minutes later when Gabriel Martinelli lobbed Stefan Ortega, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
City slowly settled into the game, and their pressure paid off in the 55th minute. Phil Foden combined with Savinho, whose cross found Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker, who had been kept quiet for much of the first half, rose above William Saliba to head home his 19th league goal of the season.
However, Arsenal’s response was immediate. Just 38 seconds after the restart, Thomas Partey restored the hosts’ lead with a deflected strike from outside the box that left Ortega rooted.
In the 62nd minute, Declan Rice then delivered an inch-perfect pass to Myles Lewis-Skelly. The 18-year-old showcased his composure and skill, cutting inside John Stones and curling a shot in off the post to make it 3-1 – his first Premier League goal.
Full-time.
🔴 5-1 🩵 #ManCity | @okx pic.twitter.com/y0YQBcWsyM
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 2, 2025
City’s defence, uncharacteristically porous, was breached again in the 76th minute. Gabriel Martinelli led a blistering counter-attack and set up Havertz, who coolly finished past Ortega for his ninth league goal of the season.
This goal not only sealed the result but also served as a confidence booster for the German forward.
The Gunners were not done yet. In stoppage time, Rice once again demonstrated his playmaking powers, sending a sublime cross-field ball to substitute Ethan Nwaneri. The 17-year-old surged forward and rifled a shot into the side-netting for Arsenal’s fifth, marking his third league goal of the season.
The victory marks Arsenal’s first occasion scoring five against Manchester City in the Premier League since 2003 and highlights the vulnerabilities in Pep Guardiola’s side, who have now conceded four or more goals in a game for the fourth time this season – a record for a Guardiola-managed team.
For Mikel Arteta, this result is a testament to his squad’s depth and the effectiveness of integrating young talents like Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri into the first team.
As the season progresses, the win will serve as a significant morale boost in their pursuit of the Premier League title.