Arsenal maintain title pursuit with dominant 5-1 victory over Manchester City
Arsenal Crush Champions Manchester City to Narrow Premier League Gap to Six Points
Arsenal reignited their Premier League title hopes with a resounding 5-1 victory over a struggling Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium, cutting Liverpool’s lead to six points.
Following Liverpool’s 2-0 win at Bournemouth on Saturday, Mikel Arteta’s side needed a flawless performance to keep pace, and they delivered in style. Martin Odegaard set the tone just 103 seconds into the match, calmly slotting in the opener after a defensive blunder by City.
Erling Haaland equalized for City in the 55th minute, notching his 25th goal of the season from Savinho’s cross. However, Arsenal quickly regained control when Thomas Partey pounced on Phil Foden’s misplaced pass to restore the Gunners’ lead with a powerful strike.
The floodgates opened as Myles Lewis-Skelly netted his first goal for Arsenal, followed by sharp finishes from Kai Havertz and Ethan Nwaneri in stoppage time, sealing a dominant win for the North London side.
City’s defensive frailties, highlighted by errors from John Stones and Manuel Akanji, were brutally exposed. Despite controlling possession, Pep Guardiola’s men were lethargic and ineffective in key moments. Stones apologized post-match, admitting the team’s performance was unacceptable.
With Liverpool sitting atop the table on 56 points with a game in hand, Arsenal’s spirited display kept them within striking distance, having amassed 50 points from 24 games. City, meanwhile, languish in fourth place with 41 points, their title defense in tatters.
Despite Arsenal’s formidable unbeaten streak of 14 matches, Liverpool remain in control of the title race. Arteta, however, vowed to maintain pressure, praising his side’s resilience and relentless attack. “We got what we deserved,” said Odegaard. “It was about time I scored, and we never stopped.”
City, plagued by poor form, now face a daunting task of securing a Champions League spot while dealing with mounting criticism of Guardiola’s defensive strategies and faltering midfield energy.
