Manchester City blitzed title rivals Arsenal away in a light-and-day contest at the Etihad with Kevin De Bruyne starring as Pep Guardiola’s side put one hand on the Premier League trophy
Manchester City totally dominated Arsenal with a 4-1 victory to take control of the Premier League title race.
The reigning champions raced out of the blocks and were ahead inside seven minutes when Kevin De Bruyne slotted past Aaron Ramsdale from outside the box. John Stones then doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time, heading home De Bruyne’s free-kick.
It was three within 10 minutes of the second half as the man of the moment grabbed his second of the game. De Bruyne caressed the ball into the bottom corner, this time from inside the box, to put City well into the ascendency.
Rob Holding scored what looked to be a late consolation which flattered an awful Arsenal performance, but Erling Haaland put gloss on the scoreline with a strike in the 95th minute.
Mikel Arteta must hold his hands up for most likely conceding the trophy to Pep Guardiola, with Daily Star Sport looking at five things he got wrong.
Starting Holding
Erling Haaland bullied Rob Holding who had a torrid game (Image: Getty Images)
Everyone and their grandma knew Holding wouldn’t able to be able to handle Erling Haaland – and it took just a matter of minutes for that to be proved.
City’s goal machine rolled the centre-back like he was getting out of bed before playing the ball off to De Bruyne for the opener.
Many Arsenal fans had pleaded with Arteta pre-match to bring Ben White into the heart of defence alongside Gabriel and use a makeshift right-back instead.
He could have even adapted and played three at the back, but having Holding in the back four was asking for trouble.
Not taking Holding off at half-time
Arteta should have put Holding out of his misery (Image: Getty Images)
Sometimes you’ve got to put pride aside and accept something isn’t working for the betterment of the team, and with his side 2-0 down at the break, Arteta had to take Holding off.
He’d been chasing Haaland’s shadow for the entire first half and had the finishing been better, he would’ve been at fault for another goal.
William Saliba being out injured was out of Arteta’s control, but the best managers make the hardest decisions and he took the easy option.
Not making any changes at half-time
The Spaniard failed to think on his feet (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
How Arteta watched the opening 45 minutes unfold before his eyes as it did and then decided to do absolutely nothing about it is beyond us. City barely broke a sweat in what was a canter for them, while the Gunners looked like 11 rabbits caught in headlights.
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results” – and Arteta was bats*** crazy to not address the issues at half-time.
It’s not like he didn’t have the options either – the ultra-experienced Jorginho could’ve been a calm head in midfield, and Leandro Trossard has been sensational since his January arrival.
But both only made it on 15 minutes after the restart when the third had gone in and the damage was done.
Playing around with set-pieces
Arsenal were wasteful with the few chances they did have (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
On a night like tonight, Arsenal really needed to make the most of their set-piece opportunities with City not the strongest side in the air.
But on the odd occasion they did get the chance to lump the ball in the box with a corner or free-kick, their players appeared to debut a bizarre new routine.
They all gathered together before moving like a flock of birds through the box, invariably getting nowhere near the delivery. Stick. To. The. Basics.
Setting up for a normal game
Kevin De Bruyne made Arteta and his side pay (Image: Getty Images)
Arteta knew he was entering the lion’s den in what would be by far and away their toughest game of the season, with the stakes as high as possible.
Yet he set out as if it was just another day at the office, which is complete and utter ignorance to City’s superiority.
Granted, you don’t fix what isn’t broke – but it isn’t like Arsenal have been excelling in recent weeks. You have to have a Plan B, and Arteta must spend the summer figuring out his.
