For now, Arsenal remain in the top spot of the Premier League, but there might be a consensus pick for the best team: Manchester City. Another dominant home display in what has probably been the most entertaining match this season so far and a 6-3 win over the Gunners, as Fernandinho and Theo Walcott both finish with braces.
Both teams had bad news aside from the horde of goals we saw at the Etihad stadium, as both Sergio Aguero and Laurent Koscielny had to leave the match with injuries, although Arsenal probably left the stadium with a lot more dark thoughts in mind regarding where the next set of matches will leave them, now only three points above Manchester City.
Except for a short stretch in the second half with Manchester City giving up control of the midfield, Arsenal were second best throughout the match. Sergio Aguero scored the opening goal after 14 minutes, but Theo Walcott enjoyed a terrible mistake from Yaya Toure to make it 1-1 after 31 minutes. However, Toure made good on his mistake, using the outside of his foot to free up Zabaleta on the wing, delivering a fine cross to the middle for Alvaro Negredo to finish.
Manchester City opened in the same way in the second half, and a wonderful finish from Fernandinho gave them a very comforting two-goal lead. Theo Walcott scored a wonderful lob over Pantilimon after an Aaron Romsey chip and assist, but that was the last of the good plays Arsenal made. David Silva enjoyed a great pass from Jesus Navas and Fernandinho again scored after an assist from Samir Nasri, who couldn’t score but might have been the best player on the pitch.
Goal Fernandinho – Manchester City 5-2 Arsenal… by video4all
Per Mertesacker scored for Arsenal in a goal that meant nothing before injury time began, but Yaya Toure scoring from the penalty spot made it clear that this wasn’t even close, and Manchester City are very much in the title race, and maybe favorites to win it if they stop dropping points away from home.