Arsenal reignited their Premier League title challenge in spectacular fashion, thrashing reigning champions Manchester City 5-1 in a heated encounter at the Emirates. The Gunners, eager to avenge their past disappointments against Pep Guardiola’s side, made an emphatic statement with a ruthless display. Captain Martin Ødegaard set the tone early, finding the net inside two minutes to give Arsenal the lead.
City responded in the second half through Erling Haaland’s equalizer, but their joy was short-lived as Thomas Partey’s shot deflected off John Stones just 38 seconds after the restart, restoring Arsenal’s lead. The young duo of Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri then stole the spotlight, with Lewis-Skelly netting his first senior goal and taunting Haaland by mimicking his famous “Zen” celebration.
Kai Havertz redeemed himself after an earlier miss by adding a fourth, while 16-year-old Nwaneri came off the bench to complete the humiliation of City. The result not only dealt a psychological blow to the champions but also cut Liverpool’s lead at the top, keeping Arsenal firmly in the title race.
Mikel Arteta’s men delivered one of their finest performances of the season, outplaying City in every department. With young talents stepping up and the team brimming with confidence, Arsenal now look set to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League crown in the final stretch of the season.