Arsenal sparked their Premier League title challenge back into life by trashing rivals Manchester City in a heated 5-1 win that saw the Gunners earn revenge against the champions.
Tensions between the teams were high after September’s 2-2 draw between the teams but Arsenal earned a statement victory against Pep Guardiola's side, who had pipped them to the title in the last two seasons.
Goals from teenagers Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri ensured a triumphant victory for Mikel Arteta’s side, after Martin Odegaard fired Arsenal in front inside two minutes.
Erling Haaland equalised in the second half but Arsenal restored their advantage within 38 seconds off the restart as Thomas Partey’s strike deflected in off John Stones.
Lewis-Skelly added the third minutes later with his first Arsenal goal, before appearing to mock Haaland by copying his trademark “Zen” celebration.
Kai Havertz made it four, making up for his earlier miss, before Nwaneri came off the bench to complete the demolition of the champions and cut Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table.
Follow all the updates from the Emirates Stadium with our live blog below:
Arsenal vs Man City LIVE
- Arsenal thrash Man City 5-1 and spark life into title race with statement win
- 90+3' GOAL! Ethan Nwaneri makes it five in stoppage time (ARS 5-1 MCI)
- 76' GOAL! Kai Havertz makes up for earlier miss to add to Gunners rout (ARS 4-1 MCI)
- 63' GOAL! Myles Lewis-Skelly adds third with first Arsenal goal (ARS 3-1 MCI)
- 55' GOAL! Arsenal re-take the lead 38 seconds after restart with deflected Partey strike (ARS 2-1 MCI)
- 54' GOAL! Haaland heads brilliant equaliser to punish Arsenal misses (ARS 1-1 MCI)
- 25' CHANCE! Kai Havertz misses golden chance as Man City give ball away again (ARS 1-0 MCI)
- 22' SAVE! David Raya makes brilliant stop to tip Gvardiol header onto bar (ARS 1-0 MCI)
- 2' GOAL! Martin Odegaard strikes early after Man City give ball away (ARS 1-0 MCI)
Arsenal FC 5 - 1 Manchester City FC
The Myles Lewis-Skelly moment that summed up Arsenal and Man City’s new reality
20:35
,
Miguel Delaney, at the Emirates
A huge result, in many more senses than an incredible 5-1 margin. There was a lot more going on here than Pep Guardiola’s worst ever league defeat, and a statement victory for Arsenal’s young side. It was full circle. This is what Manchester City had themselves subjected Mikel Arteta's side to before, but with far more edge to the celebrations.
Erling Haaland at least knows who Myles Lewis-Skelly is now. His City side, however, were left wondering where they were. The champions don’t look anything like a true Guardiola team, as they suffered a defeat that has been coming for weeks.
Arsenal, meanwhile, finally looked like what they should be. That was in no small part down to the assertiveness of their 18-year-old, whose urgency changed the entire tone of this game. It was also in quite a contrast of the meditative celebration that added insult to injured pride for Haaland and City. Lewis-Skelly went there, having surged through the champions.
Gabriel sparks Erling Haaland tensions with heated goal celebration
20:20
,
Chris Wilson
Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes wasted no time renewing his rivalry with Erling Haaland after the Gunners scored within two minutes against Manchester City in their huge Premier League clash at the Emirates.
Champions City made a calamitous start as Pep Guardiola’s side were caught playing out from the back and Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard finished first-time to give the hosts the lead after just 104 seconds.
And Gabriel, who clashed with Haaland during the fractious 2-2 draw between the teams in September, celebrated by shouting into the Norwegian’s face as he ran past him to celebrate with his team-mates by the corner.
Myles Lewis-Skelly mocks Erling Haaland with goal celebration as Arsenal thrash Man City
20:00
,
Chris Wilson
Myles Lewis-Skelly celebrated his first Arsenal goal by appearing to mock Erling Haaland as the Gunners turned the tables on rivals Manchester City at the Emirates.
Lewis-Skelly was involved in the heated scenes at the end of September’s fractious 2-2 draw as the teenager, then only 17, was booked for clashing with Haaland.
The Manchester City striker turned to Lewis-Skelly and asked “Who the f*** are you?” after Haaland told Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to “stay humble” in the match between the teams earlier this season.
Arteta reacts
19:30
"During the game, it [my feelings] was so-so. At the end maybe more than unusual. It's a great day for us, especially against the level of opposition we played today.
"To beat them in the manner we've done, a lot has to go your way. We played aggressively, with a lot of courage.
“Even if you want it, they are that good that sometimes you have to stay deep and suffer, and enjoy those moments as well. We had a bit of luck in some moments,” he adds.
"Just enjoy the day, it's something we will learn from as well and understand still that a lot of things have to go your way to win in that manner.
“One is to create the unbelievable energy in the stadium, we cannot waste one minute. It transforms the team and makes it tough for the opposition. It makes the players believe we can beat anyone on their day. It's going to be very helpful for the future,” he says.
On the situation after the match in September, he adds: “You have to focus on us and believe in anything that can happen.
Guardiola speaks
19:17
,
Chris Wilson
Speaking in his post-match conference, Pep Guardiola says that he agrees that the result is unacceptable.
"We reacted really well. After the Havertz miss, we played the game in the high, high level we can be.
"You can lose two, three, four. But what we have done in 65, it was not done.
"Hopefully we can learn the lessons for the future,” he added.
"We are not used to that. Other results, this team has grown up. We allowed the space we wanted to avoid, the space in between the lines, that's why we have the feeling at home.
"We have done 60 minutes really good. I know Arsenal here, teh aount of chances they created. We didn't create much. We didn't give a lot for Havertz, didn't' give away from set pieces.
"But the last 20 minutes we were found out.
“It happens. It's football. There are a lot of goals. It happens. I don't like it, I'm a bit sad. But it's time to continue. We have a long week, we learn from that again. I know the players want to do it.
"It's not easy Arsenal are really good, the physicality and pressing were really good. In the future we will have games where we have to be stable.
“Those moments will pass and we have to take the game again. It's the responsibility of me as the manager to do it."
Stones: "It is hard to put into words straight after a game like that"
19:00
,
Chris Wilson
Speaking to Sky, John Stones says that this kind of result “is hard to put into words”.
"How we played in the last 30 minutes was not acceptable. Personally and collectively, it's not us.
"It is not nice to be involved in that when you know it's not your team in those situations. Credit to Arsenal, this is not an easy place to come to. For 65 minutes, we played some great football at times.
"We were in the game and it was a swinging point. It swung the wrong way for us.
"It is difficult when there is an overload at the back, and you have a split second decision to come out and they got the luck on that one.
"I could have stayed more square, I'd have to watch it back. We cannot let those situations get on top of us.
"We stopped doing the things we meant to.
"A lot of different things that I have not figured out why we are not picking up results.
"The passion is there, the training and everyone has the right intention.
"We have not got to where we are without difficult times and that is through everyone's career right now.
"We all have to stick together, that's a key point that we don't start to point fingers."
Rice: "It’s been one of the best days since I've been at Arsenal"
18:54
Declan Rice is speaking to Sky right after his two teammates, and he says that “the scoreline in the end is an unbelievable score”.
“From the moment we stepped onto the pitch we had that fire in our belly. We wanted to go out there and amend that [the 2-2].
“They had a lot of the ball, we had to sit deep at times. They can still punish teams.
“In the end, to win 5-1 was top but I thought it was a really tough game,” he adds.
On his own involvement, he says: “To get two assists is really big, and I need to add goals and assists to my game, especially if I’m going to continue playing in the ‘8’ position.”
“It’s been one of the best days since I’ve been at Arsenal,” he adds.
On the title race, he says: “It’s down to us to hunt them [Liverpool]. We know the goal we want, that’s to hunt them down.
“We need to keep taking reach game as it comes.”
Odegaard and Havertz react
18:48
,
Chris Wilson
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is first to speak to Sky, and he’s with Kai Havertz.
Odegaard says that “in the end a scoresheet like that can’t be better, so we’re very happy”.
Havertz adds that Arsenal “managed to press them well and to not give them much time.
“Our energy was good as we used our chances,” he adds.
“I think it’s the timing, we train it a lot [the press]. It’s not only us, it’s everyone. I think the energy there is very important, the rest of the team did it excellently.”
Odegaard calls Havertz a “top player with and without the ball”, adding that it’s “good to have him in the team”.
“We just kept on going, and in the end I think we got what we deserved,” adds Odegaard.
FULL-TIME! Arsenal 5-1 Man City
18:37
,
Chris Wilson
Arsenal’s next match is a second leg tie in the Carabao Cup, with the Gunners needing to overturn a two-goal deficit against Newcastle at St James’ Park.
City have almost a week off, as they face Leyton Orient in the FA Cup on Saturday, 8 February.
FULL-TIME! Arsenal 5-1 Man City
18:30
,
Chris Wilson
That result pulls Arsenal to within six points of Liverpool at the top of the table, though the Reds have a game in hand.
City stay in fourth, on 41 points, though they could be overtaken by Chelsea tomorrow night.
FULL-TIME! Arsenal 5-1 Man City
18:24
,
Chris Wilson
FULL-TIME! Arsenal 5-1 Man City
18:22
,
Chris Wilson
That goal is more or less the last action of the game, and Arsenal have earned an emphatic win against their rivals.
They’re still a way off Liverpool, but that win will give them some serious confidence.
GOAL! Arsenal 5-1 Man City
18:21
,
Chris Wilson
92 mins
GOAL! Out of nowhere, and Ethan Nwaneri is clearly determined not to be outdone by fellow youngster Lewis-Skelly.
He makes it look deceptively simple. He picks the ball up from a great pass from Rice, and cuts inside before curling in a perfect effort that nestles at the bottom of the far corner.
Arsenal 4-1 Man City
18:19
,
Chris Wilson
90 mins
More good dribbling from Nwaneri ends with Martinelli receiving the pass on the overlap, but his cross is palmed away by Ortega.
There’ll be three minutes of added time here.
Arsenal 4-1 Man City
18:17
,
Chris Wilson
89 mins
OFF THE BAR! From the set-piece, Timber’s header at the front post hits the woodwork and bounces out.
Arsenal make another couple of changes as Lewis-Skelly and Havertz come off for Riccardo Calafiori and Raheem Sterling.
Arsenal 4-1 Man City
18:16
,
Chris Wilson
88 mins
Arsenal are certainly hunting a fifth too, with Nwaneri seeing his cross put behind by Akanji.
Arsenal 4-1 Man City
18:15
,
Chris Wilson
86 mins
Silva catches Nwaneri with a late challenge, and he might get a booking when the period of play ends.
‘Ole’ is ringing around the Emirates as Arsenal string together plenty of passes.
Silva avoids a booking in the end.
Arsenal 4-1 Man City
18:13
,
Chris Wilson
84 mins
A lovely little turn from Gabriel on the edge of the box plays in Timber, but he can’t create anything and has to settle for a corner, which eventually comes to nothing.
Arsenal 4-1 Man City
18:11
,
Chris Wilson
82 mins
A nice combination in attack between Odegaard, Havertz and Lewis-Skelly, before Gabriel wins a free-kick.
Arsenal make their first changes of the evening as Odegaard and Trossard make way for Mikel Merino and Ethan Nwaneri.
Arsenal 4-1 Man City
18:08
,
Chris Wilson
79 mins
The ball breaks free to Odegaard midway into the City half but he misses the run of Trossard, who would have been clean through, and instead sees his pass to Havertz cleared before Arsenal win a corner.
From the set-piece, Gabriel tries the extravagant overhead effort, but he can’t connect with it properly.
GOAL! Arsenal 4-1 Man City
18:05
,
Chris Wilson
76 mins
GOAL! Brilliant from the hosts and that is the result wrapped up.
Arsenal win the ball on the edge of their box and there’s acres of space ahead of Partey. He only has to play one pass and Havertz is 1-v-1 with Ortega.
He races into the box and cuts back outside before rifling an effort into the far corner.
Arsenal 3-1 Man City
18:01
,
Chris Wilson
73 mins
Some great play from Timber to win a corner when isolated, and Arsenal fans are enjoying themselves at the moment.
From the set-piece, Odegaard’s ball in is punched away by Ortega, but Arsenal win it back immediately.
Arsenal 3-1 Man City
17:59
,
Chris Wilson
71 mins
A needless booking for Odegaard, who thinks he’s won the ball on the edge of the box and is booked for dissent.
City make two changes, as Foden and Marmoush make way for Kevin De Bruyne and James McAtee.
Arsenal 3-1 Man City
17:58
,
Chris Wilson
70 mins
Rice’s ball in is cleared by Kovacic at the near post, but Arsenal will come again.
We’re about to see the first changes of the day.
Arsenal 3-1 Man City
17:56
,
Chris Wilson
68 mins
CLOSE! A great chance for Arsenal and a great save too.
The Gunners go on the counter and Rice looks up to see Martinelli racing through. He threads in the pass but it’s not a perfect ball, forcing the Brazilian a little wide, and his shot across goal is saved well by Ortega.
Moments later, Trossard wins a foul on the wing, near the corner flag.
Arsenal 3-1 Man City
17:54
,
Chris Wilson
66 mins
Another period of sustained City possession that is lacking in threat at the moment. It ends with Savinho fizzing in a pass that Gvardiol can’t control.
GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 Man City
17:51
,
Chris Wilson
63 mins
GOAL! A brilliant goal to put the hosts 3-1 up!
It’s one of the first times when Arsenal have put some pace and directness into the attack, and it’s paid off.
Rice fires in a pass to Lewis-Skelly in the box on the half-turn. He stands up Stones and curls an effort goalwards, and Ortega can only force it onto the post and in for 3-1!
Arsenal 2-1 Man City
17:49
,
Miguel Delaney, at the Emirates
A game that has at last come alive, after City caused Arsenal to wake up. Mikel Arteta's side had allowed the game to drift, which is always going to cost you against City, even one that isn't as sharp as in the last decade. There was of course a moment where Savinho got his cross right and Erling Haaland caught it brilliantly. The equalising header was superb, and the Norwegian conspicuously didn't go to Gabriel to celebrate. A spell at 1-1 would have been an interesting test for Arsenal but they immediately responded, again exposing City's own issues. Phil Foden gave the ball away and City's defence gave Thomas Partey so much time to shoot. His effort cannoned off John Stones and in.
Arsenal 2-1 Man City
17:48
59 mins
Half a chance for City as Marmoush gets free in the box, but he can’t get the shot away properly.
Moments later, Arsenal’s attack breaks down as Havertz and Trossard find themselves too isolated.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Man City
17:45
,
Chris Wilson
57 mins
GOAL! Oh my word, Arsenal are ahead again!
Very lucky for the hosts, as Foden fires a pass straight to Partey, who is in space and lines up a shot from outside the box.
It takes a huge deflection off Stones and wrong-foots Ortega, landing in the bottom corner for 2-1.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Man City
17:44
,
Chris Wilson
55 mins
GOAL! City are level in London!
It’s a great goal from City, and who else but this man.
Nunes picks it up on the right and plays it back to Foden, but this time Savinho is making a brilliant diagonal run into the box, and the Englishman finds him.
From there, the Brazilian looks up and stands up a great cross to the back post, with Erling Haaland there to nod in past Raya.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
17:42
,
Chris Wilson
54 mins
There’s some great play from Arsenal in their own box to bypass the City high press, before Odegaard tries to control a pass that wasn’t meant for him and the attack breaks down. That would’ve been a good chance for the hosts.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
17:40
,
Chris Wilson
53 mins
Trossard does well to create the space for the cross, and it’s deflected off Foden, narrowly missing Odegaard at the far post. The referee misses the deflection and gives a goal kick, however.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
17:39
,
Chris Wilson
51 mins
Foden wins a free-kick after Nunes had won possession well on the right.
From the set-piece, Foden sees his cross headed away, and Arsenal have a chance to counter, though they decide to recycle the ball.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
17:37
49 mins
Better from City as they attack through the middle, with Kovacic feeding in Haaland, whose through ball into the path of Marmoush had just a little too much on it.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
17:35
,
Chris Wilson
47 mins
Stones’ first action of the half is to cushion a header back to Ortega.
City go up the other end but Foden can’t find the gap in the defence, exchanging passes with Nunes six times in a couple of minutes before another pass bounces over the Portuguese’s head for a throw.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
17:33
,
Miguel Delaney, at the Emirates
A game that has gone from strange to difficult to watch. It is so cagey. Arsenal seem to be psychologically set up for the City of 2023 rather than 2025. Omar Marmoush one of the few players injecting a bit of intensity into the game but he isn't fully in sync with his teammates.
Back underway.
KICK-OFF! Arsenal 1-0 Man City
17:33
,
Chris Wilson
The hosts get us back underway at the Emirates.
HT: Arsenal 1-0 Man City
17:32
,
Chris Wilson
Just six touches in that half for Erling Haaland – there were almost 37 minutes between his second and third, too.
Both teams are coming back onto the pitch ahead of the second half.
HT: Arsenal 1-0 Man City
17:29
It’s not been a great match for the neutral at the Emirates, with both sides looking tame in attack.
Arsenal’s goal came from a City mistake and neither side has really created anything from open play, with City’s best chance coming from a corner.
The hosts probably had the better of the first half, but since having a goal disallowed for offside, they’ve seen City go into the ascendancy before the half-time whistle.
As it stands though, Arsenal look to have been fairly happy to let City have it in certain areas, with Guardiola’s side looking uncharacteristically lacking in ideas.
Gabriel sparks Erling Haaland tensions with heated goal celebration
17:23
,
Chris Wilson
Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes wasted no time renewing his rivalry with Erling Haaland after the Gunners scored within two minutes against Manchester City in their huge Premier League clash at the Emirates.
Champions City made a calamitous start as Pep Guardiola’s side were caught playing out from the back and Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard finished first-time to give the hosts the lead after just 104 seconds.
And Gabriel, who clashed with Haaland during the fractious 2-2 draw between the teams in September, celebrated by shouting into the Norwegian’s face as he ran past him to celebrate with his team-mates by the corner.
HALF-TIME! Arsenal 1-0 Man City
17:21
HALF-TIME! Arsenal 1-0 Man City
17:18
,
Chris Wilson
The referee brings the first half to an end, and both sides head in with the hosts 1-0 up.
It’s been a tentative first half in north London, with Arsenal failing to capitalise on an early gift.
The Gunners should probably be 2-0 up, but City are not out of this by any means.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
17:16
,
Chris Wilson
45 mins
Just one minute of added time here. That suggests what sort of game it’s been so far. Both sides exchanging possession as we come to the end of the first 45.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
17:15
,
Chris Wilson
44 mins
Another decent save from Raya, as the cross is headed away to the feet of Savinho in the box, and he squeezes in a low shot that is deflected, with the Spaniard doing well to palm it away.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
17:13
,
Chris Wilson
42 mins
Half a chance for City now as Gvardiol gets into the box and fizzes in a promising cross that Raya doesn’t deal with, but the ball doesn’t fall kindly to Silva at the far post, with Lewis-Skelly doing well to shepherd him away from the ball.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
17:11
,
Chris Wilson
40 mins
Havertz is guilty of wasting another half-chance as he hesitates when up 1-v-1 against Stones and fails to pick out Rice – or anyone – in the box.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
17:10
,
Chris Wilson
37 mins
It’s become a slightly strange match-up here, with both sides seemingly accidentally taking the pace out of the game.
Arsenal haven’t exactly looked to play on the counter, even considering City’s frailties at defending them recently.
The visitors have been lacking ideas in attack themselves, but on another day they could be level.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
17:05
,
Chris Wilson
35 mins
A brief reprieve for Arsenal as Havertz wins a free-kick in his own half.
The hosts look happy to let Nunes have the ball on the right wing at the moment when City do attack.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
17:04
,
Chris Wilson
33 mins
Another good delivery from the corner from Marmoush, but Raya manages to collect after a header is deflected.
Arsenal try and mount a counter but City win it back quickly – they’ve made a marked improvement but they’re still not threatening enough from open play.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
17:01
,
Chris Wilson
30 mins
Trossard skips away from Nunes with a lovely little nutmeg but he can’t capitalise on the space in front of him.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
16:59
,
Chris Wilson
26 mins
CLOSE! How has Havertz not made it 2-0! So poor from the German really.
It’s a mistake from City again as Ortega sells short Kovacic with the pass. Rice goes sliding in on the edge of the box to dispossess him, and the ball rolls to Havertz.
The German has the ball in the box, around a yard from the penalty spot and he stands up Ortega before dragging his effort wide of the far post!
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
16:57
,
Miguel Delaney, at the Emirates
A strange opening quarter, where Arsenal have been deserved leaders but also kind of let it drift a bit. Manchester City have again been so lacking in intensity, especially at the back, which has been a feature of all recent games. Arsenal initially did exactly what they should have in attacking that, and forcing an error from a lax Manuel Akanji after John Stones' telegraphed pass.
These were two of the best defenders in the world in this system but a year ago, and now look so lacking in bite. Martin Odegaard was left so free to just pick his spot from Kai Havertz's assist. Arsenal are almost making the same mistake as Chelsea last week, however, in not really pressing home.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
16:56
,
Chris Wilson
25 mins
Another half-chance for City straight away as Marmoush finds the side-netting from inside the box.
City have grown into the game now, with Savinho doing well to win foul from Timber near halfway.
The Dutchman is the first player to be booked.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
16:55
,
Chris Wilson
23 mins
CLOSE! Brilliant from both sides.
Marmoush swings in a lovely set-piece and Gvardiol rouses highest, powering a header goalwards that forces a brilliant reaction save from Raya, who tips it onto his own bar.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
16:53
,
Chris Wilson
23 mins
Better from City and good defending from Timber as he backtracks to head Nunes’ cross behind for a corner.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
16:52
21 mins
Arsenal waste a promising counter as Odegaard puts too much on a pass to Martinelli.
City go on the attack but it’s all too pedestrian and side-to-side, before Foden’s cross is headed away.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
16:48
,
Chris Wilson
18 mins
A little better from City as Savinho squares a pass to Marmoush, but the Egyptian can only rifle an effort over the bar from outside the box.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
16:48
,
Chris Wilson
17 mins
Trossard tries a clever reverse pass into the path of Martinelli, but Ortega is off his line well to collect.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
