Holders Manchester City piled on the misery for Arsenal to reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a ruthless performance at Emirates Stadium.
There were barely two minutes on the clock when Gabriel Jesus nodded City ahead, the Brazil forward completely unmarked inside the six-yard area when he met Oleksandr Zinchenko’s cross.
The Gunners were desperate for the first 25 minutes, French defender Aymeric Laporte heading a great chance wide before the hosts levelled with their first serious attempt.
Nineteen-year-old Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli provided an excellent cross for Alexandre Lacazette to head home but City, unbeaten in the competition since October 2016, scored twice in five second-half minutes to seal victory.
Keeper Runar Alex Runarsson allowed Riyad Mahrez’s free-kick to squirm through his gloves and into the net before Phil Foden added the third with a dink over Arsenal’s Iceland stopper.
Foden looked offside after Fernandinho’s pass but with no video assistant referee system in operation, the goal was allowed to stand.
There was nothing controversial about City’s fourth goal, Laporte meeting Foden’s lovely curling cross to head home unmarked.
More misery for Gunners
With no wins in seven in the Premier League, Arsenal’s problems continue to mount after being turfed out of the EFL Cup following a catalogue of errors against a City side which had been misfiring in recent weeks.
They showed some character after falling behind in the third minute but were architects of their own downfall as City took complete control in the second half.
Arteta was seeking a big performance after a wretched run of form left them languishing 15th in the table, just four points above the relegation zone.
Instead poor marking was to blame for the first and fourth goals, while a glaring goalkeeping error gifted City their second.
If there was any positive for Arteta, who now trails Pep Guardiola 3-1 in the battle between the City boss and his former assistant, it came in the shape of Martinelli.
Having recently returned from a serious injury, the teenager looked sharp and hungry, while his assist was one of the best moments of the game for the hosts.
However Martinelli, who had earlier been caught by keeper Zack Steffen, was forced off early in the second half after picking up another knock.
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Arsenal
Starting XI
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Squad number13Player nameRúnarssonAverage rating2.99
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Squad number20Player nameMustafiAverage rating2.90
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Squad number6Player nameGabriel MagalhãesAverage rating
3.64
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Squad number31Player nameKolasinacAverage rating3.07
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Squad number17Player nameCédric SoaresAverage rating
3.16
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Squad number25Player nameMohamed ElnenyAverage rating3.04
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Squad number8Player nameDani CeballosAverage rating
3.40
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Squad number15Player nameMaitland-NilesAverage rating3.69
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Squad number28Player nameWillockAverage rating
3.55
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Squad number9Player nameLacazetteAverage rating4.19
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Squad number35Player nameGabriel MartinelliAverage rating
5.44
Substitutes
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Squad number19Player namePépéAverage rating
3.27
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Squad number32Player nameSmith RoweAverage rating
4.02
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Squad number38Player nameBalogunAverage rating
3.92
Manchester City
Starting XI
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Squad number13Player nameSteffenAverage rating
6.30
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Squad number27Player nameJoão CanceloAverage rating
6.66
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Squad number3Player nameRúben DiasAverage rating
6.77
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Squad number14Player nameLaporteAverage rating6.99
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Squad number11Player nameZinchenkoAverage rating6.65
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Squad number16Player nameRodriAverage rating
6.58
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Squad number25Player nameFernandinhoAverage rating6.86
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Squad number26Player nameMahrezAverage rating7.25
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Squad number20Player nameBernardo SilvaAverage rating6.41
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Squad number47Player nameFodenAverage rating6.79
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Squad number9Player nameGabriel JesusAverage rating7.07
Substitutes
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Squad number2Player nameWalkerAverage rating6.09
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Squad number10Player nameAgüeroAverage rating6.52
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Squad number21Player nameTorresAverage rating
6.40
Line-ups
Arsenal
- 13Rúnarsson
- 20MustafiBooked at 25mins
- 6Gabriel
- 31Kolasinac
- 17Cédric Soares
- 25ElnenyBooked at 23minsSubstituted forSmith Roweat 66′minutes
- 8Ceballos
- 15Maitland-Niles
- 28Willock
- 9LacazetteSubstituted forBalogunat 77′minutes
- 35MartinelliSubstituted forPépéat 49′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Leno
- 3Tierney
- 19Pépé
- 22Marí
- 30Nketiah
- 32Smith Rowe
- 38Balogun
Man City
- 13Steffen
- 27Cancelo
- 3Rúben Dias
- 14Laporte
- 11Zinchenko
- 16RodriSubstituted forWalkerat 77′minutes
- 25Fernandinho
- 26Mahrez
- 20Bernardo SilvaBooked at 65minsSubstituted forTorresat 70′minutes
- 47Foden
- 9Gabriel JesusSubstituted forAgüeroat 74′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Walker
- 5Stones
- 7Sterling
- 8Gündogan
- 10Agüero
- 21Torres
- 31Ederson
- Referee:
- Stuart Attwell
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Arsenal 1, Manchester City 4.
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Second Half ends, Arsenal 1, Manchester City 4.
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Attempt saved. Nicolas Pépé (Arsenal) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Cédric Soares.
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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 Phil Foden.
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Attempt missed. Oleksandr Zinchenko (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Sergio Agüero.
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Attempt missed. Nicolas Pépé (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Folarin Balogun.
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Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal).
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Substitution, Arsenal. Folarin Balogun replaces Alexandre Lacazette.
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Substitution, Manchester City. Kyle Walker replaces Rodrigo.
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Substitution, Manchester City. Sergio Agüero replaces Gabriel Jesus.
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Goal! Arsenal 1, Manchester City 4. Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City) header from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Phil Foden with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Gabriel Magalhães.
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Offside, Arsenal. Dani Ceballos tries a through ball, but Sead Kolasinac is caught offside.
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Substitution, Manchester City. Ferran Torres replaces Bernardo Silva.
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Foul by Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City).
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Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Emile Smith Rowe.
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Substitution, Arsenal. Emile Smith Rowe replaces Mohamed Elneny.
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Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).
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