Pep Guardiola and Manchester City side thrashed their direct challenger to this season’s Premier League title, Arsenal 4-1 to take advantage in the title race.
Pep Guardiola and Manchester City were clear favourites going into the game on Wednesday night at the Etihad, and they did not disappoint, as they dealt a huge blow to Arsenal’s hopes of clinching the title this season, after more than a decade.
Having drawn their last three games in embarrassing fashion, Arsenal were desperate to end their winless run against their title-rivals, but instead were humbled by Pep Guardiola’s side.
De Bruyne bagged a brace, with both goals being set up by Erling Haaland, and also assisted John Stones, with Haaland adding a fourth deep into injury time while Rob Holding’s late consolation was the only bright moment for the visitors.
City were quick out of the traps and arguably could have had a penalty within the opening few minutes after Thomas Partey appeared to foul De Bruyne after Aaron Ramsdale palmed the ball into the Belgian’s path but referee Michael Oliver was unmoved.
It mattered not as the home side took the lead after just seven minutes courtesy of De Bruyne’s effort from outside of the box following a swift counter-attack.
From there, City were in cruise control and ought to have put themselves five or six goals up within the first-half alone, with Ben White denying De Bruyne a second with a good block after the attacking midfielder had cut through Arsenal’s defence like a knife through butter.
Erling Haaland could have scored four goals all by himself, but was thrice denied by Ramsdale and had a shot curl just narrowly wide.
Eventually, City did find the back of the net again on the stroke of half-time when Stones headed in unmarked from a free-kick, with VAR awarding the goal after finding that White was playing the centre-back onside.
Arsenal meanwhile were unable to get into the game, looking shell-shocked and devoid of any ideas, failing to muster a shot on target until the 57th minute when Holding saw an effort deflected over the bar.
But by then it was already 3-0 and game over, with De Bruyne bagging his brace shortly after the break after Martin Odegaard gifted the ball to Haaland who easily put it on a plate for his teammate.
In such a big match as this, tempers unsurprisingly flared up on a few occasions, notably just before the break when Ruben Dias kicked out at White in what could well have been a red card incident, while Jack Grealish and Thomas Partey also came to blows towards the end.
Following the third goal, there was little action to speak of until the 86th minute when Holding grabbed consolation goal with a fine finish.