Manchester City were the league’s most free scoring outfit before kick off today and 90 minutes and 6 goals later you’d find it hard to argue that there is any of their competitors can pose an attacking threat like this. That the team picked apart was Arsenal, the until now best defence in the league, underscored just how daunting a trip to the Eithad Stadium has become.
While 6-3 might suggest this was a titanic back and forth struggle for long periods the reality is that Arsenal were bullied and outplayed by a far better Manchester City side and as a tired looking Arsenal were embarrassed in the closing stages there was reason to re-examine their title credentials.
With 31 goals in their last 6 home games, and a home goal difference of +30 in the Premier League, already there hasn’t been a Premier League ground this unforgiving since the heady days at Stamford Bridge when Jose Mourinho, in his first spell as manager, and his Chelsea side seemed a guaranteed win on their own turf.
Sergio Aguero opened the scoring on 13 minutes when he volleyed home a Demichelis flick on from a Samir Nasri corner.
Arsenal were level, although they can hardly claim to have deserved a goal, on 31 minutes. Theo Walcott ran onto a pass across the edge of the area from Mesut Ozil and the England international finished into the corner, past the unmoving Costel Pantilimon in the City goal.
City got back in front thanks to a superb Yaya Toure pass across the City defence, finding Pablo Zabaleta who then squared it across the six yard box for Alvaro Negredo who slid in to get the vital touch.
City returned to the second half with the same intent and it only took 5 mintues to increase the lead after the break. Fernandinho picked up the ball after Mesut Ozil lost possession and the Brazilian moved toward the City goal before, from 25 yards, curling the ball past Wojciech Szczesny
Fior all of City’s dominance they still couldn’t kill Arsenal off and on 63 minutes Walcott got his second of the game with a fine finish as he curled the ball around and over a stranded Pantilimon and into the top corner.
City responded immediately, when David Silva buried the ball past Szczesny from the edge of the 6 yard box after getting on the end of a Jesus Navas cross.
City then extended their lead on 88 minutes when Fernandinho scored his second with a delicate chip over the approaching Szczesny.
That goal commenced something of a late flurry that saw 3 goals from the 88th minute until the end of stoppage time.
Per Mertesacker pulled back a consolation goal for Arsenal in stoppage time before Yaya Toure converted a penalty in the dying moments of added time.
