Manchester City 3-1 Arsenal: Pep Guardiola's side outgun visitors as Kevin de Bruyne, Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus all get on the scoresheet

  • Kevin de Bruyne put Manchester City ahead when he beat Petr Cech with a low drive in the first half
  • Sergio Aguero doubled City's lead when he converted a penalty after Nacho Monreal fouled Raheem Sterling
  • Alexandre Lacazette came off the bench to bring Arsenal back into the game with nearly half an hour left
  • Gabriel Jesus wrapped up the points but David Silva appeared to be offside in the build-up to the goal 
  • PLAYER RATINGS: Sportsmail's Chris Wheeler was impressed by Kevin de Bruyne in City's win over Arsenal

Advertisement

It is just like they tell you in school. ‘Don’t play to the whistle,’ the sports teacher says. ‘If you see an infringement, stand in the middle with your hand in the air, as the game goes on around you. It’s bound to work out in your favour.’

Or maybe not.

Arsenal did not lose because David Silva was offside when creating Manchester City’s third goal. They probably would have lost anyway. What they surrendered, however, was the chance to test City’s defence under pressure. The scenario Pep Guardiola’s detractors have been waiting for, in fact. 


Kevin de Bruyne continued his excellent recent form when he put Manchester City ahead with a well directed effort

Kevin de Bruyne continued his excellent recent form when he put Manchester City ahead with a well directed effort

City's new record goalscorer Sergio Aguero added another to his tally when he converted a second half penalty

City's new record goalscorer Sergio Aguero added another to his tally when he converted a second half penalty

Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez looks dejected as the City players celebrate scoring the second in the background

Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez looks dejected as the City players celebrate scoring the second in the background

Alexandre Lacazette came off the bench to bring Arsenal back into the game, finishing through City keeper Ederson's legs

Alexandre Lacazette came off the bench to bring Arsenal back into the game, finishing through City keeper Ederson's legs

City were assured of all three points when they dialled up Gabriel Jesus from the bench to score the third

City were assured of all three points when they dialled up Gabriel Jesus from the bench to score the third

MATCH FACTS, RATINGS, TABLE AND MATCH ZONE 

Manchester City (4-3-3): Ederson 6, Walker 6.5, Stones 7.5, Otamendi 7, Delph 6.5, De Bruyne 8, Fernandinho 7, Silva 7.5, Sterling 6.5 (Gundogan 78, 6), Aguero 6.5 (Gabriel Jesus 62, 7), Sane 7 (Bernardo Silva 87). 

Unused subs: Bravo, Danilo, Mangala, Toure.

Bookings: Otamendi 

Goals: De Bruyne 19, Aguero 50 (pen), Jesus 74 

Arsenal (4-3-3): Cech 6, Bellerin 6, Koscielny 6.5, Monreal 6, Kolasinac 5, Xhaka 6 (Wilshere 78, 6), Coquelin 5.5 (Lacazette 56, 7), Ramsey 6.5, Ozil 5, Iwobi 6 (Giroud 78, 6), Sanchez 6.5. 

Unused subs: Debuchy, Walcott, Elneny, Macey.

Bookings: Koscielny, Xhaka, Monreal, Sanchez, Lacazette 

Goals: Lacazette 65 

Referee: Michael Oliver 6

MOM: De Bruyne 

Season at a glance

  • Premier League
  • Premier League
  • Championship
  • League One
  • League Two
  • Scottish Premiership
  • Scottish Div 1
  • Scottish Div 2
  • Scottish Div 3
  • Ligue 1
  • Serie A
  • La Liga
  • Bundesliga
Advertisement

A single-goal lead, against a good Premier League team gaining momentum. Faced with this, it was predicted, City will collapse as the season wears on and they tire under Guardiola’s unrelenting command. They didn’t. Instead, it was Arsenal who blinked.

There will be the standard complaints about injustice here. Standards of refereeing have never been worse, according to Arsene Wenger. The second was never a penalty (false), while the third was plainly offside (true). Yet, equally, human error is a fact of sporting life and Arsenal stopped playing at a vital time.

In addition, City did not need the third goal for victory and their three points were thoroughly deserved. They were much the better team, and could have won by many more had all the crosses that skimmed across Arsenal’s six-yard box met a target.

So sympathy has its limits. Wenger should be as perturbed by the mental failings of his players considering that, at the time of the third goal, the game was in the balance.

Eric Brook's daughter, Betty Cowgill, hugs City's new all time record goalscorer Aguero on the pitch before kick-off

Eric Brook's daughter, Betty Cowgill, hugs City's new all time record goalscorer Aguero on the pitch before kick-off

The home fans unveiled a banner in the Etihad stands to honour Aguero, who broke the club's goal record in midweek

The home fans unveiled a banner in the Etihad stands to honour Aguero, who broke the club's goal record in midweek

Almost instantly Aguero nearly added to his tally when City broke from an Arsenal corner, but the striker missed the target

Almost instantly Aguero nearly added to his tally when City broke from an Arsenal corner, but the striker missed the target

Mesut Ozil had a chance for Arsenal early on but he could not quite put a boot on Alexis Sanchez's ball across goal

Mesut Ozil had a chance for Arsenal early on but he could not quite put a boot on Alexis Sanchez's ball across goal

Arsenal, set up as sturdily as Wenger allows, had stuck in there and benefited from the introduction of a £50million striker in Alexandre Lacazette. 

He provided the cutting edge Arsenal had been missing, albeit now 2-0 down.

Laurent Koscielny played the ball out the back to Alex Iwobi, who in turn found Aaron Ramsey. He slipped it inside to Lacazette, who lashed a low shot past Ederson.

Suddenly, with 25 minutes still to play, it was game on. Whatever Arsenal’s faults, no one can argue that they do not have match-winning potential in this team. Lacazette, Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud. The Etihad was nervous, have no doubt of that.

At which point, fortune, and flawed thinking, intervened. And yes, Arsenal have a strong case that Silva, the provider, was offside in the build-up to the third. 

As every school child knows, however, those cases should not be made on the edge of the six-yard area. Action, not words, count there.

So when Sanchez lost the ball cheaply, Raheem Sterling took advantage and quickly played in Silva. He looked offside by a figurative mile. He wasn’t. His forward leg, however, was in an offside position. No matter. Arsenal had to keep going to defend the threat.

Instead, Granit Xhaka stopped, hand raised. He was the man who could have cut out the cross with greater determination. Now he was out of the game. Silva briefly hesitated, heard no whistle, and carried on. Gabriel Jesus, left alone in the middle, did the rest.

Xhaka, of course, continued his protests into the book. Wenger poured his fury into the ear of fourth official Andre Marriner. 

Yet, amazingly, despite this, there was no revision of policy and the result stood at 3-1, which is what City deserved. They were two goals better than Arsenal on the pitch, and twice that between the ears.

Arsenal didn’t play badly, as the scoreline suggests. City’s strength is that they are equally dangerous when not in possession. Like Liverpool, or Chelsea a year ago, one slip, even 80 yards from goal, and they are on you. An Arsenal attack, after two minutes, produced City’s first chance of the game.

Leroy Sane was causing Arsenal problems with his pace and skill on the left - here he takes the attack to the visitors

Leroy Sane was causing Arsenal problems with his pace and skill on the left - here he takes the attack to the visitors

John Stones was caught out by the quick-thinking Sanchez and was forced to foul the Arsenal forward 30 yards from goal

John Stones was caught out by the quick-thinking Sanchez and was forced to foul the Arsenal forward 30 yards from goal

City were knocking on the door and nearly scored from Sane's ball across goal but Raheem Sterling couldn't connect

City were knocking on the door and nearly scored from Sane's ball across goal but Raheem Sterling couldn't connect

However, the home fans did not have to wait much longer for a goal as De Bruyne broke the deadlock with a fine strike

However, the home fans did not have to wait much longer for a goal as De Bruyne broke the deadlock with a fine strike

Through a crowd of players, De Bruyne managed to thread a powerful effort past Petr Cech in the Arsenal goal

Through a crowd of players, De Bruyne managed to thread a powerful effort past Petr Cech in the Arsenal goal

The Belgian celebrates with City team-mates Stones, Sane and Sterling after giving his side the lead against the Gunners

The Belgian celebrates with City team-mates Stones, Sane and Sterling after giving his side the lead against the Gunners

Sane toys with Laurent Koscielny as City look to press home their advantage and extend their lead over Arsenal

Sane toys with Laurent Koscielny as City look to press home their advantage and extend their lead over Arsenal

De Bruyne was in impressive form pulling the strings in midfield - here he keeps a close eye on the ball as he brings it down

De Bruyne was in impressive form pulling the strings in midfield - here he keeps a close eye on the ball as he brings it down

City were looking likely to add to their lead as they relentlessly attacked Arsenal -  Koscielny denies Aguero

City were looking likely to add to their lead as they relentlessly attacked Arsenal -  Koscielny denies Aguero

Sterling led the break, four Arsenal shirts in pursuit, finding Kevin De Bruyne, who moved it on just as swiftly to Sergio Aguero, whose shot was snatched, wide, and wildly out of character for City’s newly crowned record goalscorer. 

The virtue of being a forward under Guardiola, of course, is that miss one chance and another comes along almost immediately, and pretty soon Aguero was putting Leroy Sane in on the left for what should have been the opener. 

His cross was low and lovely but Sterling couldn’t quite get there. Arsenal were reprieved — but not for long.

An Aguero cross was cleared and returned by De Bruyne, whose low shot forced a save from Petr Cech. 

That save was picked up by Sane, and recycled to Fabian Delph, who restored it to De Bruyne. 

He played a lovely one-two with Fernandinho before striking a low shot which this time flew beyond Cech’s reach. From there, it was only a case of how many. 

Sane hurdles over Francis Coquelin as City continue to pour forward against their visitors from north London

Sane hurdles over Francis Coquelin as City continue to pour forward against their visitors from north London

Fabian Delph has enjoyed an extended run in the side, filling in ably at left wing-back and  looked to get City going forward

Fabian Delph has enjoyed an extended run in the side, filling in ably at left wing-back and  looked to get City going forward

Arsenal were all hands to the pump to keep City at bay, such as winger Alex Iwobi getting back to challenge Aguero

Arsenal were all hands to the pump to keep City at bay, such as winger Alex Iwobi getting back to challenge Aguero

City got a chance to double their lead after the break when Nacho Monreal was adjudged to have fouled Sterling in the box

City got a chance to double their lead after the break when Nacho Monreal was adjudged to have fouled Sterling in the box

Aguero stepped up and sent Cech the wrong way with his spot kick, which went in after hitting the inside of the post

Aguero stepped up and sent Cech the wrong way with his spot kick, which went in after hitting the inside of the post

City's players huddle around goalscorer Aguero after the striker converted his penalty to double their advantage

City's players huddle around goalscorer Aguero after the striker converted his penalty to double their advantage

There was a hairy moment for City keeper Ederson when he fumbled a routine catch and got barged into his own goal

There was a hairy moment for City keeper Ederson when he fumbled a routine catch and got barged into his own goal

Second half subsitute Lacazette gave Arsenal some hope when he made it 2-1 with just under half an hour left to play

Second half subsitute Lacazette gave Arsenal some hope when he made it 2-1 with just under half an hour left to play

The Arsenal striker punches the air after his goal briefly gave the visitors some hope  of getting a result at the Etihad

The Arsenal striker punches the air after his goal briefly gave the visitors some hope  of getting a result at the Etihad

Plenty, with better finishing. Silva had a ball fly across goal in the 34th minute and from the next break — again from an Arsenal attack — Sterling had only to hit an adequate pass to find Sane alone advancing on goal. 

He over-hit it horribly.

In the 50th minute City at last achieved the distance their play merited. It was a clumsy challenge by Nacho Monreal that did the damage, a shoulder barge on Sterling that ended with legs entangled, and didn’t really come over as a serious attempt to play anything bar the man. 

Michael Oliver gave the penalty, Aguero sent Cech the wrong way, scoring off the inside of his left post. Some would claim it was lucky; to be fair, as long as the ball rebounds the right way, off the inside of a post with the goalkeeper in the opposite direction is about as good as a penalty gets. After goal No 179, Aguero would surely know.

Jesus thought he had made it 3-1 when he pounced on a loose ball from a set-piece, but Cech made a stunning save

Jesus thought he had made it 3-1 when he pounced on a loose ball from a set-piece, but Cech made a stunning save

The Brazilian would not be denied for long, converting David Silva's pass across goal to secure the points for his team

The Brazilian would not be denied for long, converting David Silva's pass across goal to secure the points for his team

Jesus celebrates but there was some controversy over his goal as Silva appeared to be in an offside position before his cross

Jesus celebrates but there was some controversy over his goal as Silva appeared to be in an offside position before his cross

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.