Martin Ødegaard, Thomas Partey, Miles Lewis-Skelly, Kai Havertz, and Ethan Nwaneri made sure Liverpool couldn't relax at all. On the other hand, reigning champion Manchester City can practically be written off in the title fight.
Arsenal's thrashing – a 5–1 home win at Emirates – means the club is six points behind Liverpool, which can increase to nine if they win the postponed derby against in-form Everton on February 12.
Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola shared a warm coach's hug just before kickoff. Minutes later, Arteta was celebrating while Guardiola's gestures and facial expressions showed he was wondering what his City defenders were doing.
John Stones' pass wasn't the smartest, but Manuel Akanji could have done something other than losing the ball to Kai Havertz.
The German released it to Martin Ødegaard – and the Norwegian captain celebrated his first goal against City, already within two minutes of play.
Gabriel gets back
Arsenal's center-back Gabriel took the opportunity to give Erling Braut Haaland a verbal pass. Highly likely a revenge for Haaland's actions in the 2–2 match in Manchester last autumn. Then, the Norwegian threw the ball into the Brazilian's back of the head after the equalizer deep into stoppage time.
City's defense continued to play shakily. Havertz was offered a giant opportunity but shot wide.
Just before that, City were close to equalizing, but David Raya tipped Gvardiol's header onto the crossbar and out.
The teenager's first
Raya had more to do when City pushed hard for 1–1 towards the end of the first half. Nine minutes into the second, it came, Haaland got past William Saliba and headed in the crucial equalizer.
The reply didn't take long, less than a minute later Thomas Partey, via Stones' back, scored 2–1 – and in his 150th match for Arsenal.
18-year-old Miles Lewis-Skelly can now say he has scored a goal in the Premier League. The giant talent scored 3–1, Havertz increased it, and in stoppage time, 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri scored 5–1.
