LONDON — Manchester City knocked Arsenal off their Premier League perch as second-half goals by Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland earned the champions a 3-1 victory in a feisty top-of-the-table clash at The Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
Arsenal had come from a goal down and looked capable of ending a 10-game losing streak in the league against City but they ultimately came up short as their hopes of a first league title since 2004 suffered a big setback.
City were gifted the lead in the 24th minute when an underhit back pass by Takehiro Tomiyasu was ruthlessly punished by Kevin de Bruyne's composed lobbed finish.
MANCHESTER CITY STRIKE FIRST!
Kevin De Bruyne takes advantage of the bad pass by Tomiyasu and puts it home.
: @peacock #MyPLMorning | #ARSMCI pic.twitter.com/bV5C9naSWW— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 15, 2023
Arsenal deservedly got back on level terms in the 40th minute, though, when City keeper Ederson was punished for a coming together with Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka slotted home the penalty.
After the goal line save by Ake, Arsenal are awarded a penalty.
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 15, 2023
Bukayo Saka is clinical from the spot and we are level in London!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 15, 2023
City were much better after the break and Grealish fired in his third league goal of the season in the 72nd minute before Haaland, an injury doubt ahead of the game, netted his 26th league goal of the campaign to silence the home crowd.
JACK GREALISH PUTS THE CHAMPIONS ON TOP!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 15, 2023
Erling Haaland is BACK on the scoresheet and doubles Manchester City's lead!
Peep the celebration.: @peacock #MyPLMorning | #ARSMCI pic.twitter.com/DjPc1rNifU
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 15, 2023
Pep Guardiola's City have 51 points, the same as Arsenal but with a far superior goal difference, although Arsenal have played one game fewer.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Ed Osmond)
