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Arsenal thumped again by Manchester City

Simon A. M. Milham
·Contributor
Leroy Sane gave Manchester City an unassailable lead with a third goal before half-time
Leroy Sane gave Manchester City an unassailable lead with a third goal before half-time

Manchester City continued to showcase their authority over the rest of the Premier League with another ruthless performance, as they thumped Arsenal 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium.

Anyone believing Arsenal would avenge Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Pep Guardiola’s men in the Carabao Cup final were silenced after just 15 minutes when Bernardo Silva swept home Leroy Sane’s pass. Though Arsene Wenger opted for a more attacking formation than the one beaten at Wembley, the Gunners were kept on the back foot throughout the first half.

Despite having just six shots on target to the Gunners’ eight in the first period, City went through the gears and on 28 minutes, Sergio Aguero set up David Silva for a brilliant second. It soon got worse five minutes later as Sane got in on the act, firing home from Kyle Walker’s assist.

AS IT HAPPENED: Arsenal v Manchester City – Premier League

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Arsenal had never conceded three goals before half-time at home in the Premier League before, but they were perhaps fortunate to escape without further punishment, Petr Cech denying Sergio Aguero his 200th City goal. Having inflicted Arsenal’s worst first-half performance of the Premier League era, the Gunners were booed off at half-time by their own fans and booed when they returned for the second half.

Although the game had already been lost, the Gunners showed more determination after the interval and they finally got a break seven minutes into the second half when Henrikh Mkhitaryan was felled inside the box following a clumsy challenge from Nicolas Otamendi. Referee Andre Marriner pointed to the spot but declined to give the City defender a second yellow card. However, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang summed up the Gunners’ night when his weak spot-kick was brilliantly saved by City keeper Ederson.

Arsene Wenger cut a dejected figure long before the half-time whistle
Arsene Wenger cut a dejected figure long before the half-time whistle

Despite easing off in the second period, Manchester City continued to over-run Arsenal in the midfield areas, with Kevin de Bruyne running the show.

Aubameyang blasted a snap-shot over the bar, but the Gunners’s chances were increasingly few and far between in a largely uneventful second half. The Gunners were were always susceptible on the break and Cech had to be at his best to deny Aguero a second time when Vincent Kompany’s raking pass put the Argentinian through with 12 minutes remaining. The striker was withdrawn soon after, but the damage had long been done.

Defeat leaves Arsenal 10 points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham with 10 games remaining and 30 points behind City, increasing the pressure on Wenger. City, meanwhile, increased their lead at the top over Manchester United to 16 points.

Key Opta Facts:

  • Arsenal suffered their joint-heaviest home Premier League defeat, having also lost by three-goal margins to Coventry (1993), Middlesbrough (2001) and Chelsea (twice in 2009).

  • Manchester City have now scored more Premier League goals this season (82) than they scored in the entirety of last season (80).

  • This was Manchester City’s biggest away win at Arsenal in any competition since a 4-0 triumph in November 1912.

  • The Gunners have lost more matches in all competitions in 2018 than any other Premier League team (7).

  • Manchester City scored nine goals from just 13 shots on target against Arsenal this season.

  • Arsenal are now on their longest Premier League run without a clean sheet (10 matches) since February 2002 (11 matches).

  • Leroy Sane has provided 11 assists in the Premier League this season – only teammate Kevin De Bruyne (14) has provided more.

  • David Silva is only the third David to score on St. David’s Day in the Premier League, after David Dunn (Blackburn v Man City in 2003) and David Luiz (Chelsea v Man Utd in 2011).

  • This was the first time Arsenal conceded three goals in the first half of a home Premier League game and the first time they’d done so in a home league game since March 1989 against Nottingham Forest.

  • Sergio Aguero has had a hand in 14 goals in his last nine Premier League starts (11 goals, 3 assists).

  • Man City have saved 11 of the last 19 penalties they have faced in all competitions (excluding penalty shootouts), with Ederson saving three of the five he has faced this season, including both in the Premier League (also against Crystal Palace).