
Manchester City extended their winning run to 18 games as they continued their impressive march towards the Premier League title with victory at Arsenal.
The visitors have not dropped a point since 15 December and looked confident right from the outset, taking the lead with just two minutes on the clock as Raheem Sterling somehow managed to outjump Rob Holding to head in Riyad Mahrez’s cross.
City had four shots to Arsenal’s none in the opening quarter of an hour and it looked like the Gunners were in danger of being on the end of a heavy defeat as Pep Guardiola’s side poured forward at every opportunity.
To Arsenal’s credit they weathered that early storm and grew into the game as Kieran Tierney tested Ederson with a strong effort from distance, while there were glimpses of a threat on the break through the pace of Bukayo Saka.
City failed to kick on after the break although still looked the most likely to add to their lead as Kevin de Bruyne – making his first start in over a month – lifted an effort just wide while Ilkay Gundogan saw a shot saved by Bernd Leno before Joao Cancelo clipped a lovely strike inches past the post late on.
In the end, a second goal was not needed as City took the three points that means they remain 10 points clear at the top of the table with 13 games remaining.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are 10th and six points off the top six.
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Arsenal
Starting XI
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Squad number1Player nameLeno
Average rating4.83
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Squad number2Player nameBellerín
Average rating4.39
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Squad number16Player nameHolding
Average rating4.73
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Squad number22Player nameMarí
Average rating4.63
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Squad number3Player nameTierney
Average rating5.58
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Squad number25Player nameMohamed Elneny
Average rating4.85
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Squad number34Player nameXhaka
Average rating4.67
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Squad number19Player namePépé
Average rating4.30
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Squad number11Player nameØdegaard
Average rating4.71
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Squad number7Player nameSaka
Average rating5.84
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Squad number14Player nameAubameyang
Average rating4.78
Substitutes
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Squad number8Player nameDani Ceballos
Average rating4.64
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Squad number9Player nameLacazette
Average rating4.85
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Squad number23Player nameDavid Luiz
Average rating4.53
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Squad number32Player nameSmith Rowe
Average rating5.22
Manchester City
Starting XI
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Squad number31Player nameEderson
Average rating6.63
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Squad number27Player nameJoão Cancelo
Average rating6.70
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Squad number5Player nameStones
Average rating7.12
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Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias
Average rating7.37
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Squad number11Player nameZinchenko
Average rating6.63
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Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne
Average rating6.59
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Squad number25Player nameFernandinho
Average rating6.74
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Squad number8Player nameGündogan
Average rating6.79
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Squad number26Player nameMahrez
Average rating6.82
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Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva
Average rating6.63
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Squad number7Player nameSterling
Average rating6.99
Substitutes
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Squad number9Player nameGabriel Jesus
Average rating6.44
Line-ups
Arsenal
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Leno
- 2BellerínBooked at 87mins
- 16HoldingSubstituted forDavid Luizat 82′minutes
- 22Marí
- 3Tierney
- 25ElnenySubstituted forCeballosat 86′minutes
- 34XhakaBooked at 53mins
- 19PépéSubstituted forSmith Roweat 73′minutes
- 11ØdegaardSubstituted forLacazetteat 73′minutes
- 7Saka
- 14Aubameyang
Substitutes
- 6Gabriel
- 8Ceballos
- 9Lacazette
- 12Willian
- 17Cédric Soares
- 23David Luiz
- 32Smith Rowe
- 33Ryan
- 35Martinelli
Man City
Formation 4-3-3
- 31Ederson
- 27CanceloBooked at 64mins
- 5Stones
- 3Rúben Dias
- 11Zinchenko
- 17De BruyneSubstituted forGabriel Jesusat 63′minutes
- 25Fernandinho
- 8Gündogan
- 26Mahrez
- 20Bernardo SilvaBooked at 51mins
- 7Sterling
Substitutes
- 2Walker
- 9Gabriel Jesus
- 10Agüero
- 13Steffen
- 14Laporte
- 16Rodri
- 21Torres
- 22Mendy
- 47Foden
- Referee:
- Jonathan Moss
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Arsenal 0, Manchester City 1.
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Second Half ends, Arsenal 0, Manchester City 1.
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Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Dani Ceballos (Arsenal).
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Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal).
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Rúben Dias (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by David Luiz (Arsenal).
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Foul by Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City).
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Dani Ceballos (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by David Luiz (Arsenal).
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Attempt missed. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Oleksandr Zinchenko following a fast break.
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Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).
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Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).
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Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by David Luiz.
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Héctor Bellerín (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.