Arsenal’s 2022/23 season has been one of many highs, with massive wins against Tottenham, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United living long in the memory. But one team has been able to keep up with the hugely impressive Gunners – Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s side have won four out of the last five Premier League titles, and despite the Gunners containing top spot throughout the current campaign, City showed the class of champions to beat their title rivals 1-3 in a thrilling encounter in North London.
Mikel Arteta was dealt a strong blow hours before kick-off, with a precautionary muscular injury keeping star player Thomas Partey out for the huge clash. The Ghanian’s absence meant that Italian Jorginho made his first start in red and white and despite the former Chelsea man having a strong game, he couldn’t prevent his side’s eventual defeat.
Arsenal started well, with the N5 crowd roaring them on they came out with a point to prove, showing good intensity. However, City drew first blood when Takehiro Tomiyasu – replacing Ben White for the first time in the Premier League this season – got his back pass to Ramsdale all wrong and Kevin De Bruyne pounced to make it 0-1. Arsenal thought responded well. And got their reward when Eddie Nketiah was fouled by Ederson after the ball had been knocked round him. Bukayo Saka stepped up and scored to give Arsenal a deserved equaliser.
It was a great first half for Arsenal, but unfortunately they couldn’t keep it up. With City stepping up the pressure and coming close twice to getting the lead with Ramsdale saving from Haaland and Jorginho clearing one off the line. Arsenal almost took the lead themselves with Nketiah close to tapping home Tomiyasu’s cross. However, minutes later the sucker punch came when a poor pass from Gabriel gifted City an attack, and Jack Grealish punished Arsenal to make it 1-2 with twenty minutes to go.
Despite their best efforts, Arsenal couldn’t find a way back into the game and the contest was sealed when Erling Haaland finished off an impressive City move to make it 1-3 and seal the win for his side. Arteta’s team will be disappointed but their were encouraging signs in the first half and with four games without a win, they’ll need to pick things up and fast if they want to push City all the way who now take the lead in the title race although only on goal difference.
Arsenal’s next match is away to Aston Villa, where they’ll look for a first win in four games against former manager Unai Emery.
Player Ratings:
Aaron Ramsdale: 5 – made a good save in the second half but got away with some slow distribution, potentially could have done better with City’s first two goals
Takehiro Tomiyasu: 5 – Did ok against Grealish but his poor backpass was the reason Arsenal went 0-1 down
William Saliba: 6.5 – Had a solid afternoon against Haaland
Gabriel: 5 – Was at fault for the second goal with a loss in concentration in possession
Oleksandr Zinchenko: 5 – Struggled to have a significant impact
Jorginho: 7 – Arguably Arsenal’s best player. Some very good passes and interceptions but did get turned a few times
Granit Xhaka: 4 – A rare poor game from Xhaka. Decision making and passing way off-it at times
Martin Odegaard: 5 – Tried but struggled to have a strong impact on the game
Bukayo Saka: 7 – Did well up against Bernardo Silva and scored a great penalty
Eddie Nketiah: 4 – A poor game from Eddie. Mostly ineffective and missed two good chances
Gabriel Martinelli: 5 – An average performance from Martinelli
Great piece. Falling away in the 2nd half was disappointing but having a young team go toe-2-toe with the established City team for the season to date, and for a sustained period in this match looks good for the future.