Kai Havertz shone with a goal and an assist as Arsenal crushed Manchester City 5-1 at the Emirates Stadium, extending their unbeaten Premier League streak to 14 matches and keeping their slim title chances alive.
City’s defensive frailties were apparent from the word go, when Manuel Akanji lost the ball in the second minute, which enabled Havertz to set up Martin Ødegaard for an open tap-in. Gabriel Martinelli believed he had doubled Arsenal’s lead moments later, but his effort was ruled out for off-side.
David Raya made a strong save to deny Joško Gvardiol but City failed to take enough of their opportunities. Erling Haaland, largely passive in the first half, equalized after the break, steering a header home from Savinho’s cross. But City’s celebration proved short-lived as a deflected strike from Thomas Partey put Arsenal back in front.
A third was doubled for teenage sensation Myles Lewis-Skelly, whose curling shot from just outside the box mimicked Haaland’s classically iconic celebration in front of the delighted home crowd. Havertz then redeemed an earlier miss by adding Arsenal’s fourth after a lightning counterattack. The rout was completed by Ethan Nwaneri in stoppage time after a dominant performance.
City now find themselves 11 points adrift, Arsenal celebrating a first league unbeaten run of longer than one this season since 2018.
