Arsenal 0, Manchester City 3
Kevin De Bruyne scored twice and laid on a third for Raheem Sterling as Manchester City comfortably beat Arsenal at the Emirates in Pep Guardiola’s 200th game in charge of the club.
Embed from Getty ImagesEderson saved early from Gabriel Martinelli after racing off his line to smother a shot before City turned on the style.
Phil Foden made the most of a rare Premier League start, laying on De Bruyne’s second goal while the industrious Gabriel Jesus’ run and cut back during a breathless first few minutes for the Blues saw the Belgian smash in his first goal within 2 minutes.
The ball was side footed cleverly past Bernd Leno to put the Gunners on the back foot immediately.
City doubled that lead after 15 minutes when De Bruyne exchanged passes with Jesus and squared the ball to the edge of the 6 yard box where Raheem Sterling was waiting for a tap in.
And in the 40th minute, while Arsenal were down to ten men and trying to replace the injured Sead Kolasinac, Foden laid on the ball to De Bruyne who drilled the ball in past Leno and in curled in City’s third inside the post.
It was his 7th goal of the season and De Bruyne could have had a hat trick before the break with Arsenal in disarray but his thunderbolt was tipped onto the post by Leno.
The heart had been ripped out of their hosts but they managed to get shots away through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Mesut Ozil summed up their mood when he walked off slowly after being substituted, drop kicking his gloves onto the sidelines in frustration.
Callum Chambers was robbed by Jesus but was denied by Leno who had seen the danger and raced off his line to meet the Brazilian – one of few acts of defiance by the home side on a forgettable night for them.
The win leaves City 4 points adrift of Leicester City in second place – and 14 points behind runaway league leaders Liverpool – but City have the chance to close the gap to the Foxes on Saturday when they meet in a tea time kick off.
MATCH STATS – Arsenal 0, Manchester City 3
Arsenal: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Chambers, Sokratis, Kolasinac (Saka 40), Guendouzi, Torreira (Willock 81), Pepe, Ozil (Smith-Rowe 59), Martinelli, Aubameyang
Arsenal Subs not used: Martinez, Lacazette, Luiz, Nelson
Booked: Sokratis
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Mendy, Fernandinho, Mendy (Zinchenko 85), Rodri, Gundogan (Mahrez 70), Sterling, De Bruyne, Foden (Bernardo Silva 56), Jesus
Man City subs not used: Bravo, Angelino, Cancelo, Garcia
Booked: Fernandinho, Rodri, Gundogan
Goals: De Bruyne 2, 40; Sterling 15
Referee: Paul Tierney