Manchester City 3-1 Arsenal
How very lax!
Manchester City took 46 seconds to break the deadlock in this one – a whole 22 seconds longer than it took them to open the scoring against Newcastle in midweek.
Unlike then, however, the reigning champions were in no mood to surrender this lead.
They are determined not to relinquish the Premier League crown as shown by a start which stunned many SBOBET fans, as well as Arsenal themselves.
Coach Unai Emery just stared on in disbelief, helpless at what he had seen.
Highlights of the game
To their credit, the opener – the unmarked Sergio Aguero heading home Aymeric Laporte’s cross after the Spaniard dispossessed Alex Iwobi – didn’t lead to the floodgates being opened.
Aguero was unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty after being hauled down by Shkodran Mustafi shortly afterwards, while only an offside flag denied Laporte a second goal.
Then, with their first attack, the shell-shocked Gunners were level and it was City’s turn to be stunned.
Nacho Monreal flicked on a Lucas Torreira corner and Laurent Koscielny, returning from an injury sustained only nine days ago, was this time left unmarked and made no mistake.
As Premier League 2019 highlights go, has there been a more thrilling start to a game since the turn of the year?
City had actually started the match in third place following Spurs’ victory over Newcastle yesterday and were aiming to win a fourth consecutive top-flight game against the Gunners – a feat they last managed from 1935-37.
However, they weren’t in the best of form having lost four of their nine Premier League away matches – as many defeats as in their previous 72 matches (won 56, drawn 12).
They had also been beaten in three of their last seven Premier League games when they have scored first – they had lost just three of their previous 96 matches after taking a 1-0 lead.
In their favour, Arsenal were winless in their last 20 league games away to the other sides in the established top six since a 2-0 win at the Etihad Stadium in January 2015 – losing 10 of 12 such fixtures.
Despite dominating possession, the equaliser certainly took City by surprise after such a relentless start.
Indeed, had Ederson not been more alert nine minutes before the break, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang would have been clean through as the hosts’ early momentum was disrupted.
Just when it seemed Pep Guardiola would cut a frustrated figure at the break, Aguero proved his top-class status yet again.
Ilkay Gundogan played a one-two with Raheem Sterling and the England man’s low first-time cross found Aguero at the back post who tapped home with aplomb.
The victory was sealed just after the hour.
Sterling again was the provider and, while Bernd Leno got a touch, Aguero completed his hat-trick, albeit via his elbow.
Arsenal’s complaints were justified but there was no arguing against the scoreline.
City are two points off the pace – for now at least – and in Aguero have the Premier League’s finest performer.
After Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United in 2009, the tag of the world-class Premier League star waned for a few years.
Since Aguero moved to the other side of the city in 2011, he has fulfilled that with arrogant ease.
What a player!
Key statistics
Aguero has now scored the two fastest Premier League goals this season – both in the past week.
Aguero has 10 goals in 12 games against the Gunners and 10 Premier League hat-tricks. Only Alan Shearer (11) has more.
Aguero has been directly involved in 27 goals in his last 16 Premier League home starts (24 goals, five assists).
Guardiola is unbeaten in 12 games as a manager against Emery (won eight, drawn four), while Arsenal haven’t kept a Premier League clean sheet on the road this season.
They also have lost the last four meetings with City in all competitions, conceding 14 goals and scoring just twice.
City have won their previous six home games in league and cup.
Arsenal have lost 12 of their last 20 away league games (won five, drawn three), with their sole clean sheet coming in a 1-0 win at Huddersfield in May.
Emery’s side are without a win in their last six top-flight away games (drawn two, lost four), with their last victory coming at Bournemouth on November 25.
What’s next?
As the Premier League 2019 betting odds fluctuate, the tough games keep coming for City. They are at Goodison Park on Wednesday night to face Everton before returning to the Etihad to take on Chelsea a week today (February 10).
Arsenal travel to bottom club Huddersfield next weekend and then return to European action by visiting BATE Borisov on February 14 in the Europa League.
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