Arsenal delivered a statement of intent in the Premier League title race with a 5-1 hammering of champions Manchester City to close the gap at the top to six points on Sunday.
Captain Martin Odegaard gave Arsenal the lead in the second minute after woeful City defending and although Erling Haaland equalised after the break the hosts ran out comfortable winners to extend their unbeaten league sequence to 14.
City were level for less than a minute as Thomas Partey's deflected effort restored Arsenal's lead before teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly netted his first goal for the club.
Kai Havertz made sure there was no way back for Pep Guardiola's side with a sweet finish from a counter-attack and substitute Ethan Nwaneri put the icing on the cake with a stunning curler with the last kick of the game.
Arsenal moved to 50 points from 24 games with Liverpool on 56 having played a game less. City stay a distant fourth with 41 points from 24 games.
Arsenal vs Man City latest news
- GOAL! Partey restores lead 38 seconds later
- GOAL! Haaland equalises with towering header
- NO GOAL! Martinelli denied a second
- GOAL! Odegaard gifted early opener
Arsenal settle scores as Hale End humble Man City on night to remember
19:07 , Alex YoungWell, he knows who he is now. Erling Haaland, meet Myles Lewis-Skelly - he’s just scored, he’s in the corner, and he is, quite frankly, taking the Mick.
With his first Arsenal goal, the academy graduate here delivered the iconic moment of his side’s most significant win of the campaign, a 5-1 drilling of Manchester City that ensures Liverpool are not quite out of sight in the title race yet.
He marked it by co-opting Haaland’s celebration, crossed-legged in a pose of serene meditation while all around him the rest of the Emirates lost its you-know-what. Or perhaps that is, coincidentally, just Lewis-Skelly’s default setting; he was asleep when news of Arsenal’s successful red card appeal broke this week, freeing him up to play here at all.
With half an hour still to play, the lead only two goals at that stage and Haaland having already scored once, you wondered whether the 18-year-old had gone a bit early. Might be tempting fate. Had it been the unfortunate Kai Havertz delivering the jibe, City would almost certainly have come back to win 4-3.
Lewis-Skelly, though, is a young man playing with a frankly nonsensical lack of fear. The idea that a teenage defender without a goal in senior football might pre-plan his response to scoring it against the English champions is in itself joyously obscene.
Full-time
18:29 , Alex Young95min: A remarkable, remarkable day for the Gunners.
GOAL!
18:20 , Alex Young93min: Nwaneri puts the cherry on top with a stunning, circling effort from the edge of the area!
91min: Three minutes added on.
89min: Lewis-Skelly off to a standing ovation. Replaced by Calafiori.
Sterling is on for Havertz.
84min: Merino and Nwaneri on, Odegaard and Trossard off.
Simon Collings at the Emirates
18:11 , Alex YoungArsenal fans enjoying themselves. "Sacked in the morning," those behind the bench chant at Guardiola.
81min: Into the final 10 minutes and Arsenal look the more likely to score.
Ray Parlour is enjoying himself.
Arsenal Arsenal 👌 pic.twitter.com/R218BvPpkS
— Ray Parlour (@RealRomfordPele) February 2, 2025
Simon Collings at the Emirates
18:07 , Alex YoungArsenal fans doing the Poznan, while singing Waka Waka.
GOAL!
18:04 , Alex Young76min: Oh my, it’s a thumping! Havertz gets in on the act as a Martinelli runs through on the counter, feeds in Havertz to cut back and beat Ortega.
73min: City with the ball again but just aren’t doing anything with it.
Simon Collings at the Emirates
18:01 , Alex YoungCity are properly chasing this game now. Kevin De Bruyne not a bad substitute to throw on...
It’s fair to say Lewis-Skelly has finally told Haaland who he is.
67min: Haaland may have rattled Arsenal, but it’s City who are rattled now. Lost all composure.
Simon Collings at the Emirates
17:53 , Alex YoungLet's not forget that, if Arsenal hadn't won that appeal on Tuesday, Lewis-Skelly wouldn't even be playing today.
Malik Ouzia at the Emirates
17:53 , Alex YoungMyles Lewis-Skelly scores his first Arsenal goal and responds with Erling Haaland’s celebration. I don’t want to say he’s gone early - but there is a long old way to go here.
GOAL!
17:51 , Alex Young61min: Is that game over?!
Lewis-Skelly darts into the area, changes feet and beats Ortega with his right! Such composure, such confidence.
And he’s done the Haaland celebration!
59min: Arsenal scored just 38 minutes after the restart.
Simon Collings at the Emirates
17:46 , Alex YoungA mad few minutes, here. Great response from Arsenal, but they need to take the initiative in this game. City having too much of the ball.
GOAL!
17:45 , Alex Young57min: Instant reply from Partey!
Foden passes the ball straight to Partey, who winds up and beats Ortega via a huge deflection.
A huge, huge, huge goal!
GOAL!
17:43 , Alex Young55min: It had to be! Haaland has barely had a sniff, but he only needs one!
Haaland jumps way above Gabriel to head home Savinho’s super cross.
A huge, huge goal.
52min: It is Marmoush, and it’s towards Haaland, but Arsenal deal with it easily.
51min: Odegaard fouls Foden. A chance for Marmoush or Foden to whip it in...
50min: Haaland receives the ball with his back to goal but instead of turning and shooting, opts to find a team-mate who is then crowded out.
48min: Arsenal starting the second half how they ended the first: letting City have the ball.
47min: No changes, by the way.
Second half!
17:32 , Alex Young46min: Back underway!
Does Guardiola change anything at half-time? He’s never usually afraid to tinker.
Simon Collings at the Emirates
17:22 , Alex YoungArsenal started fast and took the lead through Odegaard. City settled since then and enjoyed a lot of possession, with Raya making a great save to deny Gvardiol. Arsenal should be 2-0 up, though, but Havertz missed a great chance.
A blistering start as Odegaard scored inside two minutes and then Havertz missed a sitter. But City have since grown into the game. A big 45 ahead.
Half-time!
17:19 , Alex Young47min: There’s the whistle.
Ha
17:17 , Alex Young45min: One minute added.
SAVE!
17:15 , Alex Young44min: Arsenal hanging on as half-time approaches. Raya with another great save to deny Savinho’s deflected shot at the near post.
42min: Gvardiol’s whipped ball across the face of goal is begging to be tapped in, but no City player makes the run.
40min: Arsenal are letting this game slip.
Simon Collings at the Emirates
17:10 , Alex YoungHard to tell if Arsenal are happy letting City have all this ball, if Arteta would want them to be more dominant. City having loads of possession, but doing little with it.
38min: To add to that, Sky Sports report that Haaland has touched the ball just twice... and not once since the fourth minute.
37min: Marmoush is the latest City player to try and find Haaland, but sees his pass cut out.
Haaland not in the game at all.
34min: Akanji backs into a mid-air Havertz to give away a free kick. That’s called ‘the Harry Kane’, I think.
Malik Ouzia at the Emirates
17:04 , Alex YoungPep Guardiola is furious that his team aren’t getting their crosses in quicker. Every delay is giving one of Saliba and Gabriel time to get tight to Haaland.
32min: Foden’s cross smacks Gabriel in the stomach, knocking the defender to the ground. Foden does the gamesmanship thing and tries to help him up, but Gabriel flatly refuses.
30min: Ortega boots a goal kick straight out of play.
28min: Bernardo knocks Odegaard to the floor, and it’s a clear foul. But the referee doesn’t give it.
Malik Ouzia at the Emirates
16:59 , Alex YoungThe replay has just flashed up on our screen and both Mr Collings and I nearly put our fingers through it pointing to the gap to Havertz’s left that he ought to have gone for there. Instead he drags it right.
CHANCE!
16:58 , Alex Young26min: A staggering miss from Havertz, with Ortega stranded and the goal gaping... but he puts it a yard wide!
No wonder Arsenal want a striker...
25min: Timber into the book for a late foul on Savinho.
SAVE!
16:54 , Alex Young23min: Incredible stop from Raya to deny Gvardiol’s header at the corner.
He barely had time to think, pure instinct.
Malik Ouzia at the Emirates
16:53 , Alex YoungCity have done a good job to settle this down. They’re moving the ball nicely now, albeit without so far troubling David Raya.
21min: City are slowly building, starting to see far more of the ball.
19min: Foden tries to wriggle through the centre, but Gabriel has other ideas and instead kickstarts an Arsenal counter which Gvardiol is forced to mop up.
18min: Marmoush spins sharply and bends a shot high and wide from 25 yards.
That’s as close as City have come.
16min: It’s all Arsenal at the moment. City haven’t woken up.
14min: Trossard is screaming for a foul after taking a tumble under pressure from Nunes. He’s got a point, but the ref isn’t interested.
Simon Collings at the Emirates
16:44 , Alex YoungThe home fans are loving the start Arsenal have made. Only a City booking for delaying the restart could lift the mood even more.
PM Keir Starmer is enjoying the show.
Malik Ouzia at the Emirates
16:41 , Alex YoungThe one advantage of having a No9 who isn’t a natural goal-getter is that he doesn’t have that selfish instinct when a chance opens up.
It’s been costly for Kai Havertz at times, and for a moment there I thought he’d made the wrong decision, but his pass left Odegaard a simple decision. It’s rocking in here now.
City conceded a goal of their own making similarly early on against Chelsea last week but Enzo Maresca’s side never really took advantage of a backline that looked visibly frazzled for a good period afterwards. Can Arsenal?
8min: TV cameras have picked up a bit of afters between Gabriel and Haaland, instigated by the former.
Not sure firing Haaland up is a good idea.
NO GOAL!
16:37 , Alex Young6min: Oh my word, Arsenal think they’ve got a second as Martinelli dinks one over Ortega, but he’s a mile offside.
3min: Right, what now from City. Long way back already.
GOAL!
16:34 , Alex Young2min: It’s been a quick start and the Gunners are gifted the perfect start!
Akanji gets caught in possession, Havertz robs him and simply passes to Odegaard to sweep home!
Kick-off!
16:31 , Alex Young1min: Here we go!
Simon Collings at the Emirates
16:29 , Alex YoungA nice subplot today is Myles Lewis-Skelly and Erling Haaland.
Lewis-Skelly made his debut in the reverse fixture of this game and when he squared up to Haaland, the Norwegian simply said: "Who the f*** are you?" I reckon Haaland knows who he is now.
Here they come.
“Saliba’s going to have Haaland right here in his jacket pocket,” says Arsenal cult hero Anders Limpar during a pre-match interview on the side of the pitch.
Players are heading back to the dressing rooms. Not long now.
Arteta to Sky Sports
16:09 , Alex Young"We know what is at stake, we're very used to these games and how to win them.
“Emotionally it is a game which we have to control, there will be micro-games involved too which you have to control."
Over in west London, Spurs have beaten Brentford to give their relegation hopes a boost. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace have won 2-0 at Manchester United.
Is a third away win of the day on the cards or will it be another London win over Manchester?
Kick off in just over half an hour.
Arteta must be bold as Arsenal aim to exploit Man City weakness
15:50 , Alex YoungMikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola have done their best to play down the rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester City - but they aren’t fooling anyone.
The two sides have gone head to head for the Premier League title over the past two seasons, however in September the animosity between them went up a notch.
After going down to 10 men just before half-time, Arsenal battled to a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium and after the full-time whistle players from both teams exchanged words.
Erling Haaland was caught on camera telling Arteta to “stay humble” - a jibe the Arsenal manager insists he has not taken personally - and the Spaniard was keen to play down the friction between the sides when asked about it on Friday.
“Normal,” said Arteta, when asked how the rivalry has developed between Arsenal and City. “It’s two teams trying to win.”
Guardiola was equally dismissive, simply replying “no” when pressed on whether Sunday will be a grudge match.
The City boss described his relationship with Arteta as “exceptional”. Arteta shares that view, insisting it has not been affected.
Odegaard: Haaland is a good friend, we leave animosity on the pitch
15:39 , Alex YoungMartin Odegaard and Erling Haaland are part of a WhatsApp group with some of the other players from the Norwegian national team.
The topic of conversation is rarely football, but even so it would not be surprising if it is a bit quieter for the next few days ahead of the latest chapter in Arsenal and Manchester City’s brewing rivalry.
The sides competed for the Premier League title over the past two seasons, but in September it felt like the rivalry went up a notch.
After the 2-2 draw at Etihad Stadium, players from both sides came together and words were exchanged, with Erling Haaland famously telling Mikel Arteta to “stay humble”.
Arteta insisted on Friday he did not take the jibe personally and it is the same with Odegaard, who insists any animosity between Arsenal and City players is confined to the pitch.
Here’s Simon and Malik with their thoughts.
"A strong Arsenal team against a punchy Man City one..."
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) February 2, 2025
Here's @sr_collings and @MalikOuzia_, at the Emirates, with more on the lineups.#ARSMCI pic.twitter.com/9e3nrxgeKC
Ederson is absent from the squad entirely today. Pep Guardiola says the goalkeeper has a minor injury which was enough to rule him out today.
So David Raya is fit to start for Arsenal after missing their midweek Champions League win.
Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard get the nod in attack, with Ethan Nwaneri on the bench.
For City, Omar Marmoush and Savinho both start and Stefan Ortega is in goal.
Team news: Raya starts for Arsenal
15:17 , Giuseppe MuroArsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Partey, Odegaard, Martinelli, Trossard, Havertz
Subs: Neto, Kiwior, Calafiori, Zinchenko, Tierney, Jorginho, Merino, Sterling, Nwaneri
Man City: Ortega, Nunes, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Silva, Savinho, Marmoush, Foden, Haaland
Subs: Carson, Grealish, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Reis, Khusanov, O'Reilly, Lewis, McAtee
Team news coming up from Emirates Stadium in the next 10 minutes. It looks like this man is fit for Arsenal...
Guardiola understands Haaland reaction at end of last Arsenal clash
15:03 , Giuseppe MuroPep Guardiola accepts Erling Haaland's emotions may have got the better of him in Manchester City's heated clash with Arsenal last September.
But the City manager insists it was a rare lapse from a player who continually rises above persistent attempts by opponents to unsettle him.
City striker Haaland was involved in a long-running battle with Gunners defender Gabriel in the 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium and tensions boiled over after John Stones' stoppage-time equaliser.
Haaland threw the ball at Gabriel's head and there were further angry scenes after the final whistle. The Norwegian told Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to "stay humble" amid the fiery exchanges.
"I'm surprised how he controls his emotions," said Guardiola ahead of Sunday's Premier League return encounter between the sides at the Emirates Stadium.
"Do you know that in every action he's being pulled and the referee plays on? How many times has it happened? He's never complained. He behaves incredibly well.
"When he pushes, it's his fault - that's for sure, 100 per cent - but he controls himself.
"He got emotional one time. For one day, I'm going to adjudicate what Erling has done? No, come on.
"It was not easy when you're (playing) 90 minutes then Gabriel, the central defender, pushes him, hugs him and hacks him and hugs him and kisses him and these things. At the end, he's a human being, he has to react.
"We cannot blame Erling. It's the defender that pushed Erling. All central defenders in the Premier League go against him. You know it's going to happen.
"Arsenal are a physical team - in a good way in many aspects - but at the end, what happened at the end for the emotions, happened. It's absolutely done."
Arsenal vs Man City Stats
14:57 , Giuseppe Muro- Arsenal can extend their unbeaten run to 14 Premier League games, which would be their best run under Mikel Arteta
- The Gunners have scored a league-high 12 set-piece goals this season (excluding penalties), while five of their last 10 goals versus City have come via corners
- City have scored 18 Premier League goals since Christmas, more than any other side prior to the latest round of fixtures, and are unbeaten in their past six league matches, claiming four wins
- City have conceded two top-flight goals from set-pieces this season (excluding penalties), a joint low with Brentford
Arteta defends right to ‘respectful’ criticism of referees
14:50 , Giuseppe MuroMikel Arteta has shut down wild conspiracy theories that his side's matches are being manipulated by bias referees - but defended his right to criticise decisions he does not agree with.
Referee Michael Oliver, who last weekend controversially sent off Myles Lewis-Skelly in Arsenal's win at Wolves - a decision which has since been overturned by the FA - has not been selected to take charge of the Gunners' Premier League clash against Manchester City on Sunday.
Oliver, regarded as one of the best officials in the Premier League, has faced death threats and abuse since the match at Molineux, and was tasked with officiating Ipswich's 2-1 defeat against Southampton instead of being thrust back into the spotlight at the Emirates.
Former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville this week accused Arsenal of "inflaming the situation" when it comes to certain refereeing decisions, with some fans having claimed corruption against their side.
But when asked if he is satisfied Arsenal are being refereed in the same way as every other team, Arteta replied: "For sure, and we all have to respect that.
"But that doesn't mean that we don't have to defend our position or give our views in a respectful way which is what we do, through the right channels, and the right communication with the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) or someone individual or the Premier League and that will continue to go on.
"A lot of times that communication has been there to give very positive feedback and about things that we can change to make it better and that has happened. It is always very constructive what we are trying to achieve here."
Arsenal vs Man City latest odds
14:44 , Giuseppe MuroArsenal to win: 1/1
Draw: 5/2
Man City to win: 14/5
Odds via Betfair and subject to change
Head to head history and results
14:36 , Giuseppe MuroArsenal wins: 100
Draws: 47
Man City wins: 65
Man City team news
14:29 , Giuseppe MuroOmar Marmoush is set to come back into the Manchester City team.
Marmoush was ineligible to face Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday but the January signing will hope to build on an impressive debut against Chelsea last weekend.
But Savinho is also pushing for a start after helping City turn things around against Brugge and being praised by Pep Guardiola for his impact off the bench.
Abdukodir Khusanov is also available again but he struggled against Chelsea and John Stones is in line to partner Manuel Akanji in the heart of the City defence.
Guardiola has confirmed he has no fresh injury concerns.
Rodri has made a surprise early return to training but Guardiola has warned the midfielder against rushing back to action following his serious knee injury.
Arsenal team news
14:22 , Giuseppe MuroArsenal hope David Raya will be fit to start.
Raya missed Wednesday’s Champions League win against Girona with what Mikel Arteta said was a muscular issue.
Neto started and looked shaky in Spain, so having Raya back would be a major boost for Arsenal.
Jurrien Timber and William Saliba are set to come back into the defence after getting a rest in midweek, while Myles Lewis-Skelly is available after having his red card against Wolves overturned.
Thomas Partey played at right-back in Girona but could return to the base of midfield against City.
Declan Rice will start after being rest on Wednesday. Arteta’s biggest dilemma is what he does in attack.
Ethan Nwaneri scored and excelled on the right flank in Girona, so will hope to keep his place.
Kai Havertz is expected to come in and play as the No9 after being rested on Wednesday.
Arsenal vs Man City prediction
14:15 , Giuseppe MuroIt remains to be seen if City really have turned a corner of late.
Arsenal will surely fancy their chances.
Arsenal to win, 3-1.
How to watch: Sky Sports
14:07 , Giuseppe MuroTV channel: The game will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.
Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch on a live stream via the Sky Go app.
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Arsenal vs Manchester City.
It’s a huge day in the Premier League title race as Arsenal bid to respond after Liverpool moved nine points clear at the top with their 2-0 win at Bournemouth on Saturday.
The reverse fixture at the Etihad was one of the games of the season, as City scored a 96th-minute equaliser to draw 2-2 on a controversial afternoon.
And this has all the makings of another classic in north London.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 4.30pm GMT from Emirates Stadium.
