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Pep Guardiola laments the performance of his team against Arsenal. Glyn Kirk (Afp)
City Humiliated Nine Days Before Facing Real Madrid

City Humiliated Nine Days Before Facing Real Madrid

Arsenal Hands Pep Guardiola's Side a 'Manita', Exposing Defensive Frailties in the Premier League

Daniel Panero

Madrid

Domingo, 2 de febrero 2025, 19:52

Manchester City experienced a true nightmare on Sunday. Pep Guardiola's side was thrashed by Arsenal 5-1 in a match that exposed all the weaknesses of the reigning Premier League champions. Goals from Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Lewis Skelly, Havertz, and Nwaneri humiliated a team that continues to falter in the Premier League, raising doubts just nine days before their Champions League tie against Real Madrid.

The match couldn't have started worse for Manchester City. The Emirates atmosphere and the poor form of the 'Cityzens' weighed heavily on Akanji, who gifted the first goal of the afternoon before the 'Gunners' fans had even settled. His hesitant pass fell to Rice, who quickly set up Havertz and Odegaard. The Norwegian completed a dreadful start for Guardiola's men in the second minute. Despite the coach from Santpedor fielding a more recognizable team with Kovacic and Bernardo Silva in midfield and Marmoush, the new signing, joining the trio of Foden, Savinho, and Haaland.

Guardiola's designed mix looked promising, but reality was different. Arteta had more muscle in midfield with Thomas Partey, Rice, and Odegaard, and that's where the story began to unravel for a Manchester City that has lost strength in that area with Rodrigo's absence and Kevin De Bruyne's step back. The 'Sky Blues' had possession at various intervals in the first half but couldn't find the depth to break lines, only troubling Arteta's side with two crosses that met an inspired David Raya. The first after a Gvardiol header and the second following a venomous shot from Savinho on the brink of halftime.

Arsenal

Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly (Calafiori, min. 90), Rice, Partey, Odegaard (Mikel Merino, min. 84), Martinelli, Trossard (Nwaneri, min. 83) and Havertz (Sterling, min. 90).

5

-

1

Manchester City

Ortega, Nunes, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Bernardo Silva, Savinho, Marmoush (De Bruyne, min. 72), Foden (McAtee, min. 72), Haaland.

  • Goals: 1-0: min. 2, Odegaard. 1-1: min. 55, Haaland. 2-1: min. 56, Partey. 3-1: min. 62, Lewis Skelly. 4-1: min. 76, Havertz. 5-1: min. 93, Nwaneri.

  • Referee: Peter Bankes. Booked Timber and Odegaard.

  • Incidents: Match corresponding to the 24th round of the Premier League, played at the Emirates Stadium in front of 60,704 spectators.

It was an oasis in a first half where City once again walked a tightrope. Guardiola's side is going through a rough patch, but their DNA persists, which can sometimes be a blessing but other times a deadly trap. Stones, Akanji, and Kovacic took risks with every play from the back, which, against a team like Arteta's, is a double-edged sword. That's how Odegaard's goal came about, and how the second could have followed after another loss of possession where Havertz lacked the precision to beat Stefen Ortega.

After the restart, the match heated up. City won the battle for possession and gradually cornered an Arsenal that conceded ground and found the equaliser as if by chance. A cross from Savinho met Haaland, who rose to level the score and silence an Emirates preparing for a spectacle. It happened because Guardiola's team is fragile this year. The 'Cityzens' improvement was short-lived. Foden made a horizontal pass, the kind you should never make according to the manual, and Thomas Partey capitalised on the gift to fire from the edge of the box, finding the net after the ball deflected off Stones.

The match was a snapshot of the entire crisis Manchester City has faced this season. Blunders, slow ball circulation, Haaland isolated up front, and the fear of making mistakes regularly. It's no wonder Guardiola's side collapsed. Lewis Skelly received the ball, turned, and had plenty of time to beat Stefan Ortega at the far post and start the demolition. A poor City retreat allowed Havertz to score the fourth, and Nwaneri, from outside the box, completed the rout for an Arsenal that had been preparing for revenge for years, leaving City even more depressed just nine days before facing Real Madrid.

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todoalicante City Humiliated Nine Days Before Facing Real Madrid