Arsenal triumphed 5-1 over Manchester City on Sunday to keep their Premier League title aspirations intact, while Manchester United suffered another disappointing 2-0 home loss to Crystal Palace. In the clash between the top two teams from the previous seasons, Arsenal emerged victorious, narrowing the gap to just six points behind leaders Liverpool, who still have a game in hand. “It is a great day for us, especially with the necessity that we had to win the game,” said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal were handed the perfect start after just two minutes when Manuel Akanji lost possession, allowing Kai Havertz to set up Martin Ødegaard for the opening goal.
Erling Haaland equalized early in the second half, scoring his 250th career club goal, but City, struggling this season, conceded again just 105 seconds later. Thomas Partey’s shot deflected off John Stones, putting Arsenal back in the lead.
City manager Pep Guardiola expressed frustration, saying, “It’s happened all season, we are giving away too many things. You cannot lose control; it’s 95 minutes. You cannot finish in the way we played.”
Myles Lewis-Skelly, who would have faced suspension had his controversial red card in a 1-0 win at Wolves not been overturned, took full advantage of his reprieve. The 18-year-old scored Arsenal’s third with a curling shot for his first goal for the club.
Havertz then added another, firing a low strike into the far corner after Arsenal’s quick counter-attack left City exposed. The rout was completed in stoppage time when another Arsenal teenager, Ethan Nwaneri, curled a beautiful shot into the net.
The defeat leaves City in fourth place, now 15 points behind the leaders and effectively dethroned after four consecutive seasons as champions.
