Manchester City 5-0 Arsenal: Gunners suffer third league defeat in a row

Ten-man Arsenal were completely outplayed by Manchester City as they slumped to the bottom of the Premier League.

It is the first time since 1954 that the Gunners have lost their three opening games of the league season and this match was effectively over by half-time.

City captain Ilkay Gundogan and striker Ferran Torres scored in the first 12 minutes and any hope Arsenal had of an unlikely comeback was ended when midfielder Granit Xhaka was sent off for lunging into a challenge on Joao Cancelo.

A trademark teasing run from £100m man Jack Grealish set up Gabriel Jesus for an easy third just before the break, then Rodri guided home a fourth from 20 yards just after it.

Such was his side's total control that City manager Pep Guardiola had used all three substitutes within 16 minutes of the second half starting. It turned into an extended keep-ball session for the hosts, who finished off the rout with Torres' second six minutes from time.

Guardiola's counterpart and former assistant Mikel Arteta looked shell-shocked in the other technical area as Raheem Sterling - twice - Aymeric Laporte and Riyad Mahrez wasted opportunities to increase the margin of victory still further.

By the end, Arsenal had managed a single shot - off target - and 19% possession. They are still to score in the Premier League this season and immediately after the international break play Norwich, the team they replaced at the foot of the table.

No Kane, no Ronaldo, no problem

After being forced to abandon their hopes of prising Harry Kane out of Tottenham and opting not to pursue a deal for Manchester United-bound Cristiano Ronaldo, it appears Guardiola will attack the new season without an orthodox number nine.

If his side continue to meet opponents as accommodating as Arsenal, there will be no problem.

The Gunners defence was so flimsy, it scarcely did justice to their status as a Premier League outfit.

City's opener looked good on the eye. But there was no challenge on Bernardo Silva as he strode through the visitors' midfield, no effective closing down of Jesus as he lined up his cross and barely a challenge on Gundogan - hardly the greatest physical threat - as he rose at the far post. Add in Bernd Leno's weak attempt to keep the ball out of his goal and it summed up everything that is wrong about the visitors.

At one point, Ederson stood for fully 10 seconds, not moving, as he decided where to aim his clearance. Eventually Emile Smith-Rowe closed the Brazilian down and forced him to do something.

Perhaps he was a little bored. Earlier, he had delayed for so long an intended pass from his own goal-line that Smith-Rowe almost nicked the ball but could only watch as it ricocheted off him and narrowly wide of the far post. That was as close as Arsenal came to scoring.

In his programme notes Guardiola proclaimed this would be a 'tough game' for his team. By the end, it was City's biggest ever win against the Gunners and their third successive 5-0 home win in the league.

More to follow.

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Line-ups

Man City

Formation 4-3-3

31Ederson

2Walker3Rúben Dias14Laporte27Cancelo

20Bernardo Silva16Rodri8Gündogan

9Gabriel Jesus21Torres10Grealish

Substitutes

Arsenal

Formation 5-4-1

1Leno

17Cédric Soares21Chambers16Holding31Kolasinac3Tierney

7Saka8Ødegaard34Xhaka10Smith Rowe

14Aubameyang

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Manchester City 5, Arsenal 0.

Second Half ends, Manchester City 5, Arsenal 0.

Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Bernd Leno.

Attempt saved. João Cancelo (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ilkay Gündogan with a through ball.

Offside, Arsenal. Kieran Tierney tries a through ball, but Alexandre Lacazette is caught offside.

Attempt saved. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Raheem Sterling.

Jack Grealish (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal).

Foul by Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City).

Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt blocked. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jack Grealish.

Attempt blocked. Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jack Grealish.

Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Calum Chambers.

Attempt blocked. Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.

Attempt blocked. Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Rodri.

Goal! Manchester City 5, Arsenal 0. Ferran Torres (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez with a cross.

Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Kieran Tierney.

Offside, Manchester City. Raheem Sterling tries a through ball, but Riyad Mahrez is caught offside.

Attempt saved. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez with a through ball.

Attempt missed. Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Rúben Dias with a cross following a corner.

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