Arsenal moved back to within six points of Premier League leaders Liverpool with a 5-1 rout of rivals Manchester City, helped by Myles Lewis-Skelly's first senior goal.
2024/2025 Premier League
5-1
Match Report
Lewis-Skelly, who was sent off in last week's victory at Wolves but saw his ban rescinded on appeal, curled home just after the hour as the Gunners earned a statement win.
Fellow teenager Ethan Nwaneri was also among the scorers as Mikel Arteta's Gunners swept the champions aside with a devastating second-half performance.
Things started poorly for City, who fell behind within just 103 seconds of kick-off. Manuel Akanji was put in trouble by John Stones' pass and lost possession on the edge of his area, allowing Kai Havertz to square for a Martin Odegaard tap-in.
Havertz missed a glorious chance to double Arsenal's lead midway through the first half and City drew level 10 minutes after the interval, Erling Haaland heading Savinho's cross back across goal and in.
However, that parity was short-lived as Arsenal retook the lead 38 seconds after the restart. Phil Foden's pass was picked off by Thomas Partey, whose long-range effort deflected off Stones and sailed in.
5 - Mikel Arteta is now unbeaten in five games against Manchester City (W2 D3); the joint-longest run by a manager against Pep Guardiola, after Thomas Tuchel (2016-2021) and Jürgen Klopp (2021-2022). Equals. pic.twitter.com/tUVbtRs3jH
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 2, 2025
Lewis-Skelly had his first Premier League goal five minutes later as he bent a finish beyond Stefan Ortega, and he celebrated by mimicking Haaland's iconic meditation pose.
But Arsenal were not done there as Havertz finished a lightning break to make it 4-1, then substitute Nwaneri completed the rout with a spectacular left-footed finish at the death.
While Arsenal maintain the pressure on Liverpool, who face Everton in their game in hand in nine days, City stay fourth and could drop lower when Chelsea host West Ham on Monday.
4 - Manchester City have conceded 4+ goals in a game for the fourth time this season, which is now the most in a single campaign in Pep Guardiola's managerial career. Uncharacteristic. pic.twitter.com/0kI3uFWokl
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 2, 2025
Data Debrief: The kids are alright
Arsenal had their youngsters to thank for putting some shine on a magnificent performance, with both Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri on target.
It was only the fourth time that two players aged 18 or younger had scored for the same team in a Premier League match, and the first since Everton against Fulham in April 2007 (James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe).
Nwaneri (at the age of 17 years and 318 days) and Lewis-Skelly (18 years, 129 days) also became the youngest players to score against the reigning champions in the Premier League since March 2003, when a 17-year-old Wayne Rooney netted for Everton against Arsenal.
Nwaneri has seven Premier League goals following his sensational stoppage-time curler. Only Michael Owen and Rooney (nine apiece, for Liverpool and Everton respectively) have scored more for one club while aged 17 or younger.
City, meanwhile, were left counting the cost of mistakes in the build-up to Arsenal's first and second goals. Their eight errors leading to goals in the Premier League this term are their most in a single campaign under Pep Guardiola.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
2' What a start! Akanji loses the ball and Ødegaard nets it! Arsenal 1-0 Man City
2' Haertz's shot from outside the box is a comfortable catch for Ortega
6' Martinelli lifts a fine shot over Ortega but it's ruled out for OFFSIDE
9' Gabriel and Haaland have renewed their rivalry, the two were seen jostling
15' Highlight from Arsenal vs Man City
17' The effort of Marmoush is struck powerfully enough but goes over
23' Savinho has a shot from a tight angel is just wide
24' Superb save by Raya! He reacts instinctively to deny Gvardiol's header
25' Timber he picks up his seventh yellow of the season following a foul on Savinho
26' What a miss from Havertz! He pretty much has goal at his mercy but shoots wide
28' Odegaard gets fouled by Bernardo and the referee says nothing
34' Match Event for Arsenal vs Man City
36' Match Event for Arsenal vs Man City
42' Good delivery by Gvardiol and Raya pushes it away from Silva at the back post
44' Highlight from Arsenal vs Man City
44' Another good save by Raya as he gets down quickly to keep out Savinho's strike
49' Haaland finds Marmoush inside box, but Saliba is there to deal with the danger
52' Trossard does well to dig out a cross from the left but Odegaard is a bit late
55' Haaland equalizes with a header from Savinho's cross! Arsenal 1-1 Man City
56' Immediate response! Partey's shot deflects off Stones! Arsenal 2-1 Man City
60' Highlight from Arsenal vs Man City
62' What a strike from Lewis-Skelly to double the lead! Arsenal 3-1 Man City
67' Highlight from Arsenal vs Man City
68' Ortega makes a good save to deny Gabriel Martinelli on the right
68' Bernardo Silva needlessly fouls Leandro Trossard by the corner flag
71' Odegaard has a free-kick given against him and the Arsenal captain is fuming
71' Kevin de Bruyne and James McAtee come on for Phil Foden and Omar Marmoush
76' Havertz with a finish that makes up for his earlier miss! Arsenal 4-1 Man City
81' Highlight from Arsenal vs Man City
82' Match Event for Arsenal vs Man City
83' Trossard and Odegaard head off. Ethan Nwaneri and Mikel Merino replace them
89' Match Event for Arsenal vs Man City
Line-ups
Arsenal XI: Trossard, Partey, David Raya, Ødegaard, Rice, Gabriel, Havertz, Martinelli, Saliba, Timber, Lewis-Skelly
Subs: Neto, Sterling, Jorginho, Zinchenko, Tierney, Merino, Kiwior, Calafiori, Nwaneri
Man City XI: Ortega, Kovacic, Stones, Bernardo Silva, Akanji, Haaland, Foden, Omar Marmoush, Matheus Nunes, Gvardiol, Savinho
Subs: Carson, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Grealish, McAtee, Lewis, Nico O'Reilly, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis