Arsenal 5-1 Manchester City Player Ratings: Five Star Arsenal thump The Citizens to stay in the title race

Arsenal pulled off an emphatic 5-1 win at home against their rivals Manchester City, thanks to goals from Odegaard, Partey, Lewis Skelly, Havertz and Nwaneri. Arsenal are currently six points away from the top but after playing a game extra. Manchester City missed a golden chance to get to second as they are now nine points away.

The parity of the match was immediately thrown out of the window, thanks to a horrendous defensive error from Akanji that cost the visitors as Odegaard slotted it into an empty net off the back of Stones. Arsenal continued to dominate and had a golden chance to double the lead when Havertz got an opportunity to finish a very simple chance, which he surprisingly hit wide. Apart from the opening error, Manchester City did a decent job of holding down but did not find joy in the attack. But Savinho almost scored the equalizer, when he hit a low shot but Raya pulled off an excellent save to keep the hosts in the game.

City improved in the second half and looked threatening, as Foden plays a good pass to Savinho into the box who puts a brilliant cross to Haaland as he heads it in comfortably. But the visitors could not stay happy for even a minute long as Partey’s long-range effort gets deflected from the back of John stones and into the back of the net.

Arsenal quickly scored the third one too as he cut inside of Stones and wrapped a curling shot on the goal. The pain continued for the Cityzens as Havertz got the fourth goal from the counter, as City overcommits their players into attack. The final goal from another academy lad Nwaneri was the icing on the cake as he brilliantly curled one into the corner from outside the box.

Here are Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings.

Arsenal Player Ratings vs Manchester City

Goalkeeper

Raya: 7/10 – Coming back from injury, he pulled off some amazing saves, especially in the first half.

Defenders

Timber: 6/10 – The full-back did his job in defending his flank and apart from the booking, he looked solid.

Saliba: 7/10 – He did not shy away from physical duels and was excellent even in his passing tonight.

Gabriel: 7.5/10 – His every duel with Haaland was entertaining to watch and he did a great job neutralizing him.

Lewis-Skelly: 9/10 – He looked comfortable in possession, carrying the ball forward, getting himself on the scoresheet. His defensive performance stood out too, reading the game well like a veteran player.

Midfielders

Partey: 7/10 – A long-range effort has helped his side get back on leading terms. He was also solid defensively and broke down the opposition’s attacks.

Odegaard: 8/10 – The captain was back to his goal-scoring ways as he comfortably tapped in the opener.

Rice: 8.5/10 – He was so difficult to escape when he pushed up into the press. He played a crucial role in the third goal of his side and was constantly playing some clever forward passes.

Forwards

Trossard: 5/10 – The only attacker to not contribute directly to the scoresheet tonight, as he was not his usual self.

Havertz: 6/10 – While he kicked things off with a simple assist to the opening goal, he was horrendous later on, wasting multiple chances. But in the end, he got himself on the scoresheet.

Martinelli: 7/10 – He showed great awareness on the blistering counter to find Havertz on the overlap and got rewarded with an assist.

Substitutes

Nwaneri: 8/10

Merino: 6/10

Calafiori: NA

Sterling: NA

Manager

Mikel Arteta: 9/10 – A statement win over his guru, Arteta will be buzzing. His team carried themselves and dominated the game throughout. The players and fans must be in a dreamland after seeing such a scoreline.

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Manchester City Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Goalkeeper

Ortega: 4/10 – A night to forget for the German keeper as he struggled in the match, especially in the passing areas.

Defenders

Nunes: 6/10 – The midfielder turned full-back got the joy playing against youngster Lewis-Skelly and looked threatening at times.

Stones: 5/10 – A disappointing game for the Englishman, as he struggled to keep up with the attackers of the hosts.

Akanji: 4.5/10 – A fatal error for the opening goal cost his side, which set the momentum of the match.

Gvardiol: 6.5/10 – He was amazing in attack today and tried to make things tick in the tepid Manchester City attack.

Midfielders

Kovacic: 5/10 – While he made some progressive passes, he struggled massively to win the duels in midfield.

Silva: 5/10 – The captain looked gassed as his work rate was not up to the standards that he set.

Forwards

Savinho: 6.5/10 – He looked threatening tonight and almost got his name on the scoresheet, but was denied by an incredible save.

Foden: 5/10 – The goal-scoring streak came to an end tonight and to make things worse, he made an error that resulted in a goal for Arsenal

Haaland: 6.5/10 – Despite failing to even get proper touches on the ball in the first half and getting pocketed by Gabriel, he equalized in the second half.

Marmoush: 6/10 – He initially looked to be the most creative outlet for the Cityzens, but all things considered, he was not up to the mark.

Substitutes

McAtee: 5.5/10

De Bruyne: 5.5/10

Manager

Pep Guardiola: 3/10 – A terrible result for him, as his team imploded in the second half to the extent that there was no chance to fight back by making substitutions.

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