Arsenal Smash Man City to Keep Premier League Title Hopes Alive

Arsenal took revenge to the city of Manchester

Arsenal sent a powerful message in the Premier League title race, dismantling a struggling Manchester City side at the Emirates Stadium to close the gap on leaders Liverpool to six points.

With Liverpool stretching their advantage earlier in the day with a win over Bournemouth, Mikel Arteta’s side knew nothing less than victory would do—and they responded in breathtaking style, overpowering the reigning champions in a statement performance.

Despite having played one more game than Liverpool, this emphatic win keeps Arsenal in the hunt, while City’s fading title defense took another crushing blow.

Arsenal’s Young Guns Shine as City Collapse

Manchester City, just as they did against Chelsea last week, handed Arsenal an early breakthrough, with Manuel Akanji’s costly mistake allowing captain Martin Ødegaard to slot home Kai Havertz’s pass inside the opening two minutes.

Havertz, however, looked set to rue a shocking first-half miss when Erling Haaland leveled the game for City after 55 minutes with a powerful header. But Arsenal responded instantly. Just two minutes later, Thomas Partey’s shot took a wicked deflection off John Stones, wrong-footing Stefan Ortega to restore the home side’s lead.

Then came the moment that lit up the Emirates—a stunning goal from 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly. The teenager smashed a powerful drive past Ortega to score his first goal for Arsenal, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

As City’s resistance crumbled, Havertz atoned for his earlier miss by guiding a precise left-footed finish into the far corner with 14 minutes remaining. And Arsenal weren’t done yet. The final flourish came from 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who curled a sensational strike beyond Ortega after being picked out by Declan Rice.

It was a performance bursting with energy, aggression, and belief—one that underlined Arsenal’s determination to chase down Liverpool in what is shaping up to be a thrilling title race.

“Who Are You?” Lewis-Skelly Answers Haaland in Style

Back in September, when Arsenal met City at the Etihad, Erling Haaland famously barked, “Who are you?” at young Lewis-Skelly during a heated exchange. The teenager was a mere substitute back then. This time, he didn’t need words—his performance spoke loud and clear.

The fearless midfielder bossed the game, driving forward with confidence and capping off his display with a crucial goal. If Haaland didn’t know who he was then, he certainly does now.

Man City’s Free Fall Continues

For a team that made history last season with a fourth consecutive Premier League title, City’s decline has been astonishing. This was yet another spectacular collapse, reminiscent of their disastrous second half against PSG in the Champions League.

After Haaland’s equalizer, there was a glimmer of hope—but it vanished almost immediately as Arsenal tore them apart. Pep Guardiola cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines, powerless to stop his side’s implosion.

Much has been made of Rodri’s season-ending injury as a turning point, but it does little to explain the sheer scale of City’s struggles. Their defense crumbled, their midfield was overrun, and their attack lacked the ruthless edge that once made them unstoppable.

With a crucial Champions League playoff against Real Madrid looming, City’s vulnerability will not go unnoticed. Kylian Mbappé and company must be licking their lips at the prospect of facing this fragile side.

For Arsenal, though, this was a night of triumph—a performance that reignites their title hopes and sends a warning to Liverpool: the Gunners are not going away.

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