Arsenal good start to the season and subsequent good run will after all, count for nothing as the Gunners suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat at the hands of a rampant Manchester City side at the Etihad on Wednesday evening, the defeat all but crushing their title hopes.A brace by Kevin De Bruyne and goals by John Stones and Erling Haaland were enough for Man City to secure the maximum points but they remain second on the log with 73 points with two matches at hand while the Gunners are at the helm with 75 points from 33 matches. Arsenal’s consolation goal was scored by Rob Holding.The game got to a fiery start with both teams looking to opening the scoring from the onset. It was the home side that did so on seven minutes, Kevin De Bruyne beating Ramsdale with a clean shot from just outside the box after Haaland had done well to control a long ball and square the ball to him.The Belgian midfielder almost doubled the lead on 25 minutes in similar style after turning Gabriel Martinelli inside out inside on the edge of the box, but Rob Holding did well to block his subsequent shot.##NAJAVA_MECA_7208831##Man City continued to dominate the proceedings by the half hour mark with Haaland particularly eager to find the back of the net. His first clear cut chance came on 31 minutes but his shot from inside the box was blocked by Ramsdale. The Gunners could have equalized three minutes later in what was their first real chance but Thomas Partey placed his shot from just outside the box wide. Haaland almost doubled the lead for City a minute later but he also placed his shot wide.Pep is the greatest manager of the modern age and there’s no doubt city have handled this match tactically, but what I’m most struck by is the quality gap between city’s spine and arsenal’s. Both sides well coached but city’s execution is pure insanity— Kees van Hemmen (@HemmenKees) April 26, 2023 John Stones doubled the lead for City just before the breather, heading in a perfect freekick from De Bryune after Partey had fouled Haaland outside the box.Second half De Bryune grabbed his brace on 53 minutes, easily slotting past Ramsdale after another assist from Haaland. Arsenal made a double change six minutes later, Jorginho and Trossard coming in for the largely ineffective Xhaka and Martinelli respectively. City replaced Gundogan with Marhez on 71 minutes while the Gunners also minutes later pulled out Odegaard for Trossard. Brace hero De Bruyne was also rested with Alvarez taking his place later on.Man City are just the better team. The team we want to become. The team we all envy in this league. They have the better players. More experience and the depth. At times you just have to admit when you ain’t in that level yet.— Japheth Mutinda (@JaphMutinda) April 26, 2023 The latter stages of the match were more balanced with Arsenal rarely threatening City but doing well to defend any further damage. Rob Holding pulled one back for the Gunners on 85 minutes, calmly slotting from inside the area but that was just that, as City grabbed a late goal courtesy of the man machine Haaland and held on for the maximum points and effectively put an end to Arsenal’s title ambitions.Line ups Manchester City Starting XI; Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji, Stones, Rodrigo; De Bruyne (Alvarez 79′), Gundogan (Marhez 71′), Silva, Grealish, Haaland.Unused Subs: Ortega Moreno, Phillips, Laporte, Gomez, Mahrez, Foden, Palmer, Lewis.Arsenal Starting XI; Ramsdale, White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Odegaard (Smith Rowe 72′), Partey, Xhaka (Jorginho 59′), Saka, Jesus, Martinelli (Trossard 59′).Unused Subs: Turner, Kiwior, Tierney, Nelson, Nketiah, Vieira.
