Manchester City 1, Arsenal 0 (FA Cup 4th Round)
Nathan Ake scored the only goal as Manchester City beat Arsenal 1-0 in their FA Cup Fourth round game at the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal had successfully frustrated Manchester City at home in the first half, starving Erling Haaland of service and pressing City high up all over the pitch.
City lost John Stones at the end of the first half to a suspected hamstring injury but they picked up the pace in the second half after and Nathan Ake scored the winning goal after Arsenal failed to clear a shot by Julian Alvarez that came back off the post.
But with Arsenal bringing on their big guns in response to going behind City had to dig deep to hold on to the win to qualify for the 5th Round.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 1, Arsenal 0 (FA Cup 4th Round)
Stefan Ortega: 8. Early saves from Takehiro Tomiyasu and Leandro Trossard warmed him up fast and he was impressive later coming off his line too for a couple of late saves.
Rico Lewis: 6. Had to be initially cautious against Leandro Trossard but was soon detailed to watch him even closer. Unlike recent weeks Arsenal had other players covered.
John Stones: 6. Covered the right flank well until he went down after pulling his hamstring trying to stretch to dispossess Leandro Trossard just before half time.
Manuel Akanji: 6. Some long range passing didn’t come off for him. Some sloppy moments towards the end.
Nathan Ake: 8. Relished his battle with Bukayo Saka and slid in the winning goal in the second half.
Rodri: 6. Found himself in traffic against Arsenal. Vital clearance in the second half.
Kevin De Bruyne: 6. Great curling shot in the first half deserved to go in but otherwise a quiet night marshalled by the Gunners.
Ilkay Gundogan: 6. Often under pressure from Arsenal, still sought out what space he could.
Riyad Mahrez: 6. Well covered by Kieran Tierney but did well going forward and also helped out at the back.
Jack Grealish: 7. Stayed wide on the left to give Takehiro Tomiyasu something to think about. His probing passes into the channel gave Erling Haaland something to run onto. His cut back set up Nathan Ake for City’s opening goal and he also did some defensive work too.
Erling Haaland: 6. Tried an overhead kick from 35 yards after Matt Turner had raced off his line to try and dispossess him. Not much joy from the Arsenal defence although service was poor thanks to Arsenal man marking.
Aymeric Laporte (on for John Stones, 45+3): 6. Some hairy moments at the back but a couple of clearances kept Arsenal at bay.
Julian Alvarez (on for Riyad Mahrez, 58): 7. Introduced more urgent pressing, long range shots too, and hit the post to start the move that finished with the winning goal as City unbalanced Arsenal at the back.
Kyle Walker (on for Rico Lewis, 58): 6. Gave City more width on the right, defensively sound as City came under pressure late on despite one crucial wobble.
Bernardo Silva (on for Kevin De Bruyne, 75): 6. Helped mop up in midfield.
GOAL – Manchester City 1, Arsenal 0 (FA Cup 4th Round)
Man City 1, Arsenal 0: 64. Nathan Ake slid in the opening goal after a cut back by Jack Grealish after Julian Alvarez had hit the post
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 1, Arsenal 0 (FA Cup 4th Round)
Man City: Ortega, Lewis (Walker 58), Stones (Laporte 45+3), Akanji, Ake, Rodri, De Bruyne (Bernardo Silva 75), Gundogan, Mahrez (Alvarez 58), Grealish, Haaland
Man City Subs not used: Ederson, Dias, Phillips, Cancelo, Palmer
Booking: Gundogan 90+3 (timewasting)
Goal: Ake 64
Arsenal: Turner, Tomiyasu, Holding (Saliba 46), Gabriel, Tierney (Zinchenko 66), Fabio Vieira, Partey (Sambi Lokonga, 46), Xhaka, Saka (Odegaard 75), Nketiah, Trossard (Martinelli 66)
Arsenal Subs not used: Ramsdale, White, Kiwior, Marquinhos
Bookings: Holding 42 (foul on Erling Haaland); Zinchenko 90+2 (foul on Kyle Walker)
Referee: Paul Tierney