Manchester City got the better of Arsenal in their highly anticipated top-of-the-table clash in London to leapfrog their opponents in the Premier League table.
After an entertaining contest that featured numerous chances for each team, City earned a deserved 3-1 win thanks to goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland with Bukayo Saka netting a penalty for the Gunners.
Arsenal and Manchester City trade blows in the first half:
After blowing through their competition, the league leaders faced their first true test of character against the defending champions and the two teams did not disappoint.
The Gunners had the better of early chances with Ruben Dias making vital blocks early to keep his side from going down. The first clear goal-scoring opportunity also fell Arsenal’s way with Eddie Nketiah heading a perfect cross wide.
City was quick to punish their mistakes as De Bruyne seized on a poor back pass from Takehiro Tomiyasu to lob the game’s opening goal past Aaron Ramsdale in the 24th minute.
Arsenal was not down for long and equalised through a Saka penalty in the 42nd minute after Ederson had fouled Nketiah but were lucky to head into the break on level terms after Dias’ effort hit Ake before crashing into the crossbar.
Fireworks continue in the second half:
The frantic action between the two sides did not relent after the break.
City had a penalty taken away early in the second half after Haaland was judged to be offside before he was fouled by Gabriel Magalhães.
Nketiah soon missed a glorious chance of his own to put his side in the driving seat.
Arsenal’s profligacy was punished by City once again in the 72nd minute when Grealish finished off a flowing team move for the 2-1 lead.
But as the home went looking for an equaliser, Haaland sealed the game in the 82nd minute with his 26th league goal of the season, the most by a City player ever.
The win sees Manchester City leapfrog Arsenal on goal difference on the league table with both on 51 points while Man United remains third, five points behind the leaders.
Though Arsenal has a game in hand, they have taken just one point from their previous 3 games, a worrying sign for Mikel Arteta.
