Manchester City 3, Arsenal 1
Fernandinho playing centre back
The usually reliable Brazilian was responsible for errors leading to Newcastle Utd’s goals in midweek. He was given a role change – coming in for John Stones at centre back – against the Gunners.
There had been much head scratching about City’s formation but it turned out that Laporte was pushed out to left back to accommodate Fernandinho and Bernardo Silva was used at right wing instead of Leroy Sane with Raheem Sterling swapping wings to the left flank.
Ilkay Gundogan replaced Fernandinho at the base of midfield but the Brazilian was not there when Laurent Koscielny scored off the Arenal set piece.
Tempo drop for both sides
After yet another quick start, City’s intensity dropped once again despite offering sporadic threat and allowed the Gunners back into the game with an early equaliser after some slack defending at a corner.
City did have their chances but didn’t take one until constructing a brilliant goal just before half time when Raheem Sterling roasted Stephan Lichtsteiner, laying off a pass to Ilkay Gundogan before volleying his lobed return across the penalty area for Sergio Aguero to tap in from 3 yards.
If City were strangely becalmed in the first half the Gunners were completely limp after the break as they didn’t attempt a shot on Ederson’s goal but that was due in part to City’s increased doggedness in tracking down Arsenal more effectively as much as the Gunners raised the white flag especially after Sergio Aguero’s third goal.
Kyle Walker and the Sead Kolasinac test
Kyle Walker didn’t venture forward much in City’s new defensive unit. He had Sead Kolasinac to deal with instead and generally passed that test.
Left to concentrate on his defending Walker diligently went about his business.
It was surprising just how much the Gunners lost their attacking impetus in the second half as Walker and his defensive unit prevented any Arsenal shots in the second half.
Sergio Aguero’s hat trick
The Argentine hit man netted his 14th hat trick for the club, and his 10th goal in 12 games against Arsenal.
They were all finishes from close range after Arsenal’s right flank was attacked from City’s left side.
There was a question mark against his third goal, which may have come off his elbow as he slid in for his third close range finish, but there was no questioning his attacking instincts even though he fell foul of the offside flag a few times in this game.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 3, Arsenal 1
Ederson: 7. Out of his box quick to make a clearance after Lacazette found Aubameyang who began to accelerate towards goal.
Kyle Walker: 6. Has been poor for a while but cleared some danger early on as Arsenal attacked after a poor start. A bit more solid in defence without the license to roam forward in a new defensive line-up.
Nicolas Otamendi: 7. Saw an early shot saved but was also marshalling a new defensive formation and got better as the game went on.
Fernandinho: 7. Started as a centre back but spent more time in midfield, not so much at the centre – a high risk strategy but the Gunners were swamped out of the game in the second half.
Aymeric Laporte: 7. Robbed Alex Iwobi to supply a great cross for Sergio Aguero’s opening goal. Very solid in defence.
Ilkay Gundogan: 7. Operating in Fernandinho’s midfield role but not every pass came off except for an eye catching chipped return pass for Raheem Sterling to provide City’s second goal for Sergio Aguero. Booked for diving after being bodychecked in the area.
Kevin De Bruyne: 7. Missing some quality delivery and found himself offside too but kept going and tested Leno directly several times in the second half.
David Silva: 6. Fluffled his lines a bit, misplacing passes and tackles but still had the odd bit of magic in the locker including a late shot saved by Bernd Leno.
Bernardo Silva: 7. Stationed on the right wing and was dangerous coming inside too, finding passes and making many tackles on an increasingly demoralised Arsenal side.
Raheem Sterling: 8. Was used down the left flank where he made the most of Stephan Lichtsteiner’s lack of pace, his cross allowing Sergio Aguero to put City into the lead again at the end of the first half. A mazy run and cross in the second half created Aguero’s hat trick and could have put him through for another chance later but undercooked his pass.
Sergio Aguero: 9. Deadly. Scored very early again, just before half time, and just after the hour mark for his 14th City hat trick (10 in the Premier League, one behind Alan Shearer’s record 11). Scored 10 in 12 against the Gunners now and could have had more with a shot saved and a penalty not given.
Gabriel Jesus (on for Sergio Aguero, 81): Should have passed to Raheem Sterling who was free to his right but had a shot which was saved.
Riyad Mahrez (on for Kevin De Bruyne, 88): Too late to mark.
GOALS – Manchester City 3, Arsenal 1
Man City 1, Arsenal 0: 1. Sergio Aguero opened the scoring with a diving header after 46 seconds once Aymeric Laporte had robbed Alex Iwobi and put a left wing cross in.
Man City 1, Arsenal 1: 11. Lucas Torreira’s corner flicked on by Nacho Monreal and headed in by Laurent Koscielny from just 3 yards out.
Man City 2, Arsenal 1: 44. Sergio Aguero had a tap in from 3 yards out after Raheem Sterling’s volleyed cross found him right in front of goal following a delightful lifted pass from Ilkay Gundogan.
Man City 3, Arsenal 1: 61. Sergio Aguero slid in to convert Raheem Sterling’s mazy run and cross from the left. There was a hint of elbow about the goal after it bounced off his midriff but it stood.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 3, Arsenal 1
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne (Mahrez 88), Gundogan, David Silva (C), Fernandinho, Sterling, Aguero (Jesus 81)
Man City Subs not used: Muric, Danilo, Stones, Delph, Sane, Mahrez
Booked: Gundogan 65 (Simulation)
Goals: Aguero 1, 44, 61
Arsenal: Leno, Mustafi (Mavropanos 79), Koscielny, Monreal, Lichtsteiner, Torreira, Guendouzi, Kolasinac (Suarez 67), Iwobi (Ramsey 67), Aubameyang, Lacazette
Arsenal Subs not used: Cech, Elneny, Ozil, Nketiah
Booked: Torreira 40 (Foul on De Bruyne)
Goal: Koscielny 11