A classy second-half display saw Manchester City not only become the first team in history to win seven successive away games against Arsenal, but also leapfrog the Gunners at the top of the Premier League, as they won 3-1.
It took 22 minutes for the first meaningful goalmouth action to arrive, and it fell the way of the unmarked Eddie Nketiah, who directed his header narrowly wide.
Takehiro Tomiyasu’s miscued backpass sending Kevin de Bruyne racing clear on goal and the Belgian’s sumptuous lofted effort fired City into an early lead.
Tomiyasu spurned a glorious chance to clear his name moments later, thundering a volley over from 12-yards, but after falling behind, Arsenal’s response was impeccable. Their pressure eventually bore fruit before the break, and after succumbing to some refereeing controversy at the weekend, the Gunners were the beneficiaries of a penalty as Ederson wiped out Nketiah to allow Bukayo Saka to stroke home a leveller from the spot.
Having had a penalty given against City, they thought Anthony Taylor had levelled the penalty scores in the second period when Gabriel Magalhães hauled down Erling Haaland in the area, but to the relief of Arteta, a VAR offside call, this time a correct one, went in his side’s favour.
The game was more reminiscent of basketball at times, and it was Jack Grealish who found a three-pointer to ensure the spoils headed north. It was a rather unfortunate evening for Tomiyasu, who deflected Grealish’s tame effort beyond Aaron Ramsdale, leaving his side with a mountain to climb with a little under 20 minutes left on the clock.
It proved to be a hurdle Arsenal couldn’t overcome, as City wrapped up their 23rd-straight PL victory on a Wednesday with a customary Haaland strike, though perhaps none of those 22 prior Wednesday wins have been as pivotal as this one. The title race certainly isn’t over yet, and Arsenal will know that, but this defeat is certainly a crushing blow to their chances