Arsenal produced a sensational performance to dismantle Manchester City 5-1 on Sunday afternoon in a result that keeps them firmly in the Premier League title race. Goals from Martin Ødegaard, Thomas Partey, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kai Havertz, and Ethan Nwaneri sealed an emphatic victory, while Erling Haaland scored the only goal for Pep Guardiola’s lackluster City side.
⚽ Match Summary
The Gunners came flying out of the blocks and capitalized on an early mistake from Manuel Akanji, with Martin Ødegaard finishing calmly inside two minutes. Arsenal dominated the early stages, pressing with intensity and exposing City’s defensive frailties.
Despite some resistance from City and an equalizer from Erling Haaland in the second half, Arsenal responded with three goals in quick succession, showcasing their attacking flair and tactical superiority. The Gunners added insult to injury with a brilliant fifth from Ethan Nwaneri, leaving City shell-shocked and facing the prospect of dropping out of the top four if Chelsea win their next game.
⭐ Arsenal Player Ratings (4-3-3)
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: David Raya | 7.1/10 |
| RB: Jurrien Timber | 6.7/10 |
| CB: William Saliba | 7.2/10 |
| CB: Gabriel | 7.1/10 |
| LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly | 8.2/10 |
| CM: Martin Ødegaard | 7.9/10 |
| CM: Thomas Partey | 8.5/10 |
| CM: Declan Rice | 8.9/10 ⭐ |
| RW: Gabriel Martinelli | 7.7/10 |
| ST: Kai Havertz | 8.6/10 |
| LW: Leandro Trossard | 6.6/10 |
🔑 Player of the Match: Declan Rice (8.9/10)
Rice controlled the midfield with authority, breaking up play, distributing the ball with precision, and contributing significantly to Arsenal’s attacking transitions. His work rate was phenomenal, making him the standout performer in this dominant display.
❌ Manchester City Player Ratings (4-2-3-1)
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: Stefan Ortega | 3.9/10 |
| RB: Matheus Nunes | 4.4/10 |
| CB: John Stones | 3.9/10 |
| CB: Manuel Akanji | 4.6/10 |
| LB: Josko Gvardiol | 5.5/10 |
| DM: Bernardo Silva | 4.5/10 |
| DM: Mateo Kovacic | 5.4/10 |
| RW: Phil Foden | 5.1/10 |
| AM: Omar Marmoush | 6.3/10 |
| LW: Savinho | 7.5/10 ⭐ |
| ST: Erling Haaland | 6.8/10 |
😞 Flop of the Match: John Stones (3.9/10)
Stones struggled to cope with Arsenal’s attacking intensity. His poor positioning, combined with Akanji’s errors, left City’s defense vulnerable throughout the match.
⚡ Key Moments
- 2’ – Goal! (Ødegaard 1-0): Akanji’s error allowed Ødegaard to slot home an early opener.
- 55’ – Goal! (Haaland 1-1): Savinho’s perfect cross found Haaland, who headed City level.
- 56’ – Goal! (Partey 2-1): Immediate response from Arsenal as Partey’s deflected strike restored the lead.
- 62’ – Goal! (Lewis-Skelly 3-1): A brilliant solo effort followed by Haaland’s celebration mockery.
- 75’ – Goal! (Havertz 4-1): Clinical counter-attack with Havertz smashing it home.
- 85’ – Goal! (Nwaneri 5-1): Stunning solo goal, cutting inside and curling a beauty into the far corner.
📊 Match Stats
- Possession: Arsenal 54% | Man City 46%
- Shots: Arsenal 17 (10 on target) | Man City 11 (4 on target)
- Pass Accuracy: Arsenal 88% | Man City 85%
- Corners: Arsenal 6 | Man City 4
- Fouls: Arsenal 10 | Man City 12
🤔 What This Means
- Arsenal: Closes the gap on Liverpool to six points, reigniting their title challenge.
- Manchester City: At risk of dropping out of the top four if Chelsea win against West Ham. Pep Guardiola’s side looks vulnerable defensively, with questions mounting over their form in big games.
🚀 Final Verdict
A statement win for Arsenal and one of their best performances under Mikel Arteta. They outplayed, outworked, and outclassed Manchester City in every department. Declan Rice was a midfield maestro, while Ethan Nwaneri’s late goal was the cherry on top.
For City, this was a humiliating defeat that exposed defensive weaknesses and raised serious doubts about their title credentials.
