Man City 4-1 Arsenal: Player ratings as Gunners succumb to City exhibition

Manchester City took full control of the title race as they put on a show against a hapless Arsenal on Wednesday night, running out – victors. 

The Gunners were absolutely schooled by the magnificent hosts in the first half and, in truth, they were fortunate to just be behind 2-0 at the break. City asserted complete control on the contest both with and without the ball as Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones got on the scoresheet.

Mikel Arteta looked like a man with no solution on the sidelines after Stones’ header was awarded following VAR intervention on the stroke of half-time.

Ramsdale denied Haaland again at the start of the second half, but there was nothing he could do to prevent De Bruyne from scoring City’s third soon after.

The hosts took their foot off the pedal after tripling their lead which gave the Gunners some respite. Arteta made all five changes, and they eventually got on the scoresheet through Rob Holding (!) who thumped home from inside the box in the closing stages.

That would prove to be a mere consolation, however, as Haaland eventually got his goal in stoppage time to put the finishing touches on a superb City performance.

Man City 4-1 Arsenal player ratings

Here are the Arsenal player ratings from their defeat at the Etihad.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 6/10 – Kept the score down in the first half as he made a string of impressive saves to deny Haaland. Less busy after the break.

Ben White (RB) – 5/10 – Made an excellent block to deny De Bruyne after he’d given City the lead. Rarely ventured forward and by the end of the night his aim was seemingly to rack up as many fouls as possible on Jack Grealish.

Rob Holding (CB) – 5/10 – Look, we know that Holding’s presence inhibits the Gunners, but was he the reason they were battered tonight? Absolutely not. HE EVEN SCORED!

Gabriel (CB) – 3/10 – Arguably his worst performance of the season. Completely overwhelmed by Haaland at times, and made a couple of stupid errors with the ball.

Oleksandr Zinchenko (LB) – 4/10 – City’s early squeeze all but nullified Zinchenko’s influence in possession. Wasn’t targeted much defensively, but this certainly wasn’t the Ukrainian’s best work.

Continued on the next slide…

Midfielders

Thomas Partey (DM) – 3/10 – Lost at sea. While Arteta has to take some blame for Arsenal’s structural woes, Partey had no idea where De Bruyne was for much of the night. Had little influence with the ball.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – 4/10 – Couldn’t get near City’s pivot as the Citizens built up at will and looked cumbersome when he did receive possession. Hooked before the hour.

Martin Odegaard (CM) – 3.5/10 – We didn’t see much of the skipper tonight, and his giveaway directly led to City’s third.

Continued on the next slide…

Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) – 5/10 – Guardiola threw a spanner in the works by deploying Manuel Akanji at left-back, and the decision was certainly vindicated. The Swiss international was excellent and Arsenal struggled to get Saka into the contest for the most part. Offered glimpses towards the end of the contest.

Gabriel Jesus (ST) – 4.5/10 – Saw plenty of former teammate Stones, who didn’t give him a sniff. Not a pleasant homecoming.

Gabriel Martinelli (LW) – 4.5/10 – Had a brightish moment early on, but that was about it. Withdrawn on the hour.

Substitutes

Leandro Trossard – 5.5/10

Jorginho – 5/10

Emile Smith Rowe – 5.5/10

Reiss Nelson – 5.5/10 

Eddie Nketiah – 5/10