As Manchester City continue to hunt down Arsenal in the Premier League, the under-21s have shown their senior colleagues how it's done with an emphatic win against the Gunners on Saturday.
Resuming their Premier League 2 campaign after nearly two months off, City were trailing Arsenal by two points at the top of the table. But by halftime of their clash at the Academy Stadium on Saturday, the Blues were 5-0 up and on course to leapfrog Arsenal and move top of the table.
Led by Alex Robertson, Carlos Borges and Dire Mebude, City's Elite Development Squad showed no signs of rustiness to show Arsenal in no uncertain terms that they are more than ready to defend their PL2 title.
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City led within nine minutes, as conductor Oscar Bobb lifted a perfect ball over the defence from the centre-circle into the path of midfielder Robertson, who strode onto the ball, rounded the goalkeeper, and converted into an empty goal.
Eight minutes later, and City had two, as Mebude was sent into the area from another lovely through-ball, before waiting for the run of Borges to unselfishly square for another open-goal finish.
And it was three before the half-hour mark, with Robertson grabbing his second after a lovely piece of skill to spin his defender. The midfielder has returned from injury this season and featured in senior training on multiple occasions - as well as being named in Pep Guardiola's matchday squad vs Liverpool in the Carabao Cup after featuring in the friendly vs Girona.
Mebude then got a goal of his own, finishing after a one-two with Bobb, before Borges scored City's second in as many minutes before half-time to make it five. Bobb was again at the heart of the move, keeping possession to find Borges in the area. Faced with three defenders, Borges nutmegged his closest marker to find Robertson, who quickly returned the ball for Borges to slot into the bottom corner and register his 14th goal of the season in as many games.
The flow of goals naturally dried up after the break, but there was still time for Mebude to join Borges and Robertson in grabbing his break as he finished from a tight angle following some impressive skill in the area.
With an FA Cup tie coming up for the senior side on Sunday, there was a small team news hint as left-back Josh Wilson-Esbrand played 60 minutes for the EDS against Arsenal, perhaps suggesting he won't be involved across the road at the Etihad the following day.
City's win ensured they moved a point clear of their opponents at the top of the table just before the halfway stage of the campaign - with the 12-goal swing over their closest rivals meaning Brian Barry-Murphy's side now have a better goal difference of 11 against Arsenal. Liverpool could still overtake both clubs as they sit two points behind City with a game in hand.
Meanwhile, City's under-18s kept up their title ambitions with a 3-0 win over Newcastle to go top of the U18 Premier League. Nico O'Reilly, Justin Oboavwoduo and Joel Ndala were on the scoresheet, with the young Blues now a point ahead of closest rivals Sunderland, who also have a game in hand.
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