S Poddar
Arsenal delivered a resounding statement in the Premier League title race with a dominant 5-1 victory over Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium. In a fixture charged with intensity and a growing rivalry, the home side exhibited their determination and resilience, keeping their championship hopes alive.
The star of the show was Myles Lewis-Skelly, a prodigiously talented 18-year-old who sealed the match with an effervescent curling shot for 3-1. He celebrated, going into meditative yoga, an ode directly to Erling Haaland-a memory that will outlast the final whistle. It was a response to the heated exchanges in the previous meeting at the Etihad Stadium, where the tensions had boiled over between Haaland and Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhães. That encounter had ended with a 2-2 draw, having Haaland famously advising Mikel Arteta to “stay humble.” This time, Arsenal had the last laugh.
For a brief spell, it looked like Haaland was going to have the last laugh once more. The Norwegian striker rose over the defense to level the game in the 55th minute after Martin Ødegaard’s early opener. But Arsenal were brimming with energy and intent and refused to be rattled. They restored their dominance nearly at once to make sure that City had no way back.
Thomas Partey restored Arsenal’s lead with a deflected strike, and Lewis-Skelly’s sensational moment only reinforced their superiority. The visitors could not muster much of a response to this point, and Kai Havertz made up for an earlier miss by adding a fourth goal. The emphatic performance was rounded off by 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who curled a stunning shot past the helpless Stefan Ortega to put the game well beyond doubt.
City looked unlike the relentless force they have been for previous seasons. Defensive lapses, slow movement, and a lack of usual urgency were evident as the side of Pep Guardiola struggled for a satisfactory finish to this rather frustrating afternoon. The champions had already ceded the title race, but it was their show here which brought to the fore worries regarding the Champions League as well with Real Madrid scheduled next.
They wasted no time in taking control of this tie, capitalizing on a defensive mistake from Manuel Akanji within the opening two minutes. City’s center-back took too long over his pass after receiving it from John Stones and his heavy touch was seized upon by Leandro Trossard. Declan Rice released the ball quickly to Havertz, who found Ødegaard unmarked in front of goal. The Norwegian made no mistake in scoring at the back post to give Arsenal the perfect start.
The match simmered with underlying tension. Gabriel Martinelli had the ball in the back of the net soon after but was flagged offside. At the other end, Gabriel Magalhães made his presence known, turning to scream in Haaland’s face after winning a duel. The bad blood from the Etihad meeting was evident, with both teams playing on the edge.
City settled into the game well despite a shuddering start and nearly drew level through Josko Gvardiol, who headed a corner past David Raya and onto the crossbar with Haaland lurking dangerously. Savinho tested the Arsenal goalkeeper with another attempt but the home side held firm.
City’s insistence on building from the back proved costly, and Arsenal capitalized on their weakness. Ortega fell into a well-laid trap in the 26th minute when he played the ball into pressure. Mateo Kovacic picked possession with Rice pressing hard, and the Arsenal midfielder won the ball back just outside the penalty area. The loose ball rolled to Havertz, who had a clear sight of goal, but his finish lacked precision, letting City off the hook.
Knowing they needed to respond, City pushed higher up the pitch in search of a breakthrough. Phil Foden did his part in that equalizer, threading a precise pass out to Savinho, who lifted a cross into the box. And as he often does, Haaland positioned himself perfectly and slammed a powerful header home to bring City level.
However, their joy was short-lived. Just 38 seconds later, Arsenal regained the lead in dramatic fashion. Foden’s errant cross-field pass gifted possession to Partey, who wasted no time in letting fly from distance. His shot took a decisive deflection off Stones, wrong-footing Ortega and sending the home fans into raptures.
With the momentum firmly on their side, Arsenal turned the screw. Lewis-Skelly’s spectacular strike added further gloss to an already impressive display, and Havertz ensured there would be no comeback from the visitors. The final insult came when Nwaneri, showing composure beyond his years, cut inside and curled a delightful shot into the net, completing the rout.
As the final whistle blew, the Emirates faithful revelled in a comprehensive victory, one that reaffirmed their side’s credentials as serious contenders. Over the stadium speakers, a fitting choice of song played—”Humble” by Kendrick Lamar—serving as the ultimate parting shot at City. The win not only kept Arsenal in the title race but also sent a clear message to their rivals: they are not backing down.
