Arsenal FC increased the pressure on Liverpool FC in the English championship and gave defending champions Manchester City a bitter lesson. Pep Guardiola experiences a debacle, Akanji a black evening.
Arsenal FC set an exclamation mark in the English championship race with a clear victory against champions Manchester City. In the Premier League top match on Sunday, the Gunners outclassed the star ensemble led by former Frankfurt player Omar Marmoush 5:1 (1:0) and initially reduced the gap to leaders Liverpool FC to six points.
City coach Pep Guardiola criticized his team's performance in the closing stages after the next low blow in a difficult season. "I only regret the last 25 minutes. We forgot to do what we should have done," he told the British broadcaster BBC.
The 54-year-old Catalan emphasized that his team had played a really good game after the opening phase with the quick 0:1. "I feel sorry for the last 15 or 20 minutes, the rest was a really good game from our side. It's hard to understand when you see the result, but that's my feeling," said Guardiola, but also conceded: "You can't finish the way we played." The team must remain stable, no matter what happens, he added.
Akanji with a bad pass before 0:1
Arsenal, runners-up behind champions City in each of the previous two seasons, took an early lead through Martin Ödegaard (2nd minute), but failed to add to their tally in the first half despite a number of chances. The 1:0 was scored after a catastrophic misplaced pass by national team defender Manuel Akanji. However, the Swiss had not received the best of passes from team-mate John Stones.
After the break, Erling Haaland (55) equalized for the Cityzens, for whom Marmoush was in the starting line-up, at London's Emirates Stadium. However, the jubilation for the team of embattled starting coach Pep Guardiola was short-lived.
One minute later, Thomas Partey (56') put the hosts, whose coach is Guardiola's former assistant Mikel Arteta, back in front. Substitute Myles Lewis-Skelly (62) increased the lead for Arsenal. German keeper Stefan Ortega had to make further saves as German international Kai Havertz (76) and substitute Ethan Nwaneri (90+3) completed the debacle for Man City and Guardiola.
Liverpool with a comfortable lead
After 24 games, Arsenal are second in the table with 50 points. Liverpool FC, who won 2-0 at AFC Bournemouth on Saturday, have 56 points. However, the Reds have played one game less. On matchday 36, the two top teams will meet in a direct duel at Anfield.
Arsenal
Manchester City
- Martin Ødegaard - 1:0 (2.)
- Thomas Partey - 2:1 (56.)
- Myles Lewis-Skelly - 3:1 (62.)
- Kai Havertz - 4:1 (76.)
- Ethan Nwaneri - 5:1 (90.+3.)
- (55.) 1:1 - Erling Haaland
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Liveticker
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Liveticker closed
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90.+4.End of 2nd half
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90.+3.Goal for Arsenal, 5:1 through Ethan Nwaneri (Declan Rice)
Ethan Nwaneri
Midfielder
Assist: Declan Rice
Midfielder
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76.Goal for Arsenal, 4:1 through Kai Havertz (Gabriel Martinelli)
Kai Havertz
Striker
Assist: Gabriel Martinelli
Striker
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71.Yellow card Arsenal
Martin Ødegaard
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62.Goal for Arsenal, 3:1 through Myles Lewis-Skelly (Declan Rice)
Myles Lewis-Skelly
Defender
Assist: Declan Rice
Midfielder
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56.Goal for Arsenal, 2:1 through Thomas Partey
Thomas Partey
Midfielder
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55.Goal for Manchester City, 1:1 through Erling Haaland (Savinho)
Erling Haaland
Striker
Assist: Savinho
Midfielder
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46.Kick-off 2nd half
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45.+2.End of 1st half
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25.Yellow card Arsenal
Jurriën Timber
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2.Goal for Arsenal, 1:0 through Martin Ødegaard (Kai Havertz)
Martin Ødegaard
Midfielder
Assist: Kai Havertz
Striker
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1.Start of the match
