Manchester City climbed top of the Premier League table following their 3-1 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
After both sides dilly-dallying for 14 good minutes, Erling Haaland receiving a pass from Riyad Mahrez brought to life the game with his enticing short cross inside the fifteenth minute but there was no City player to send the ball to an empty net.
Eddie Nketiah then placed wide his header in the 21st minute following former City player Oleksandr Zinchenko’s cross.
The game had picked up some pace herein much to the detriment of the Gunners! While trying to deal with a charging Jack Grealish, Arsenal right back Takehiro Tomiyasu played a back pass which landed on Kevin De Bruyne’s feet.
The Belgium needed to do less for the opener as Aaron Ramsdale had left his line.
Arsenal got a glorious chance to make it level before the half hour mark. After an exchange of passes, Martin Odegaard set up Bukayo Saka, but the English man who has scored 7 league goals this season opted to dribble past the City defense when it looked easier to get business done with the first touch. His attempt was dealt with properly and Mikel Arteta and the fans were left ruing the chance.
As it was clocking the 40th minute, Man City were caught off guard! Nketiah had an attempt on goal which on-rushing Ederson tried to prevent . The Brazilian in the process fouled the Ghanian-born leading to City conceding a penalty. Saka made no mistake as he sent the City Custodian the opposite way for an equalizer.
From a throw-in, IIkay Gundogan drew a save from Ramsdale , but Arsenal survived conceding a corner after the German was adjudged to be offside from the build-up play. That happened in the 44th minute.
Unlike the first stanza, the second half hit off lively! Man City in the early stages of the half got a penalty through Haaland who was thought to have been fouled by Gabriel, but VAR reversed the decision as the Norwegian was found to be offside. The Brazilian had also seen yellow for that foul, but it was also overturned.
A poor decision making from Gabriel landed the visitors their second. De Bruyne stole the ball inside City’s half, passed to Haaland who was fine to set up Grealish for that goal.
The league top scorer Haaland then got his goal! Following a pass exchange from Rodri, Gundogan and De Bruyne, the former Chelsea and Wolfsburg midfielder set up Haaland for their 3rd goal.
The loss was Arsenal’s 11th defeat in a row against Man City. It is a result that sees Pep Guardiola’s men go top of the Premier League table, level on points with Arsenal, but with a superior goal difference.
