Gossip: Gunners wait to make deadline day bid for Telpublished at 06:33 3 February
06:33 3 February
Arsenal are waiting in the background after Manchester United had two bids for Bayern Munich and France Under-21 forward Mathys Tel, 19, rejected on Sunday. (Mail, external)
Meanwhile, Gunners midfielder Jorginho is close to reaching an agreement with Brazilian club Flamengo to join them in the summer. (Sky Italy, via Sky Sports, external)
Analysis: Arsenal 5-1 Man Citypublished at 21:59 2 February
21:59 2 February
Phil McNulty Chief football writer
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Arsenal are playing the role of hunters rather than hunted in this Premier League title race as they try to keep pace with Liverpool's relentless form at the top.
If there such a thing as a "must-win" game in early February, this was arguably it as Arsenal knew they could not afford to drop points.
Defeat by Manchester City would have left Arsenal nine points behind Liverpool having playing a game more. When they needed someone to step up, it was teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly who settled any lingering nerves.
Having excelled with some powerful surges from defence in the first half, he allowed Arsenal to establish a two-goal cushion with his goal.
Erling Haaland demanded to know "who are you?" when he clashed with the youngster at the end of a fractious 2-2 draw at Etihad Stadium in September, when Lewis-Skelly was booked while warming up before coming on as a late substitute.
If Haaland did not know who Lewis-Skelly was then, the Norwegian marksman certainly knows now.
The manner and margin of Arsenal's win will surely fuel their self-belief.
And the second-half goal rush allowed Kai Havertz to feel both relief and elation after a first-half miss, shooting wide with the goal at his mercy, that started to feel like a defining moment when Haaland levelled matters.
Instead, Emirates Stadium was a scene of raucous celebration at the final whistle as Arsenal's title bid received a real turbo charge.
Sam: A superb performance from Arsenal. It just shows how far a little bit of confidence can go. Once the second goal flew in, they were unstoppable. There was great creativity and heavy pressure. I think I speak for all Gunners in saying we are chuffed that Kai Havertz was able to redeem himself after his performance in the first half. Thomas Partey, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri were another level. We are snapping at Liverpool's heels!
Jack: Brilliant. There was domination all over. Conceding a goal wasn't ideal but the instant response was exactly right and, from then on, it was total dominance. We have been waiting for this!
Ashwinkumar: It's not a race - it's a marathon. Patience, endurance, faith and skill were all displayed in this game. Well done Arsenal and the youngsters Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri. Keep up the hard work.
Dave: There is no disputing it was an excellent Arsenal performance, but it will give Mikel Arteta the ammunition to say: 'We don't need to sign a striker'. The only thing about that is that we will probably be unable to hit the net in a fortnight against Leicester! It's the same head in the sand problem that we had with Arsene Wenger in his latter years with the club. One good solid game doesn't win the league, especially if you end up losing to the bottom clubs because you lack a striker who can close the game out.
Steve: Imagine the score if Arsenal had a striker! Manchester City can't handle a team that plays with a fast tempo.
'We need to continue doing the things that we can control'published at 19:33 2 February
19:33 2 February
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day following the win: "It's a great day. Considering the opposition that we played, the result we got and the manner in which we did it - it makes it a special day. A lot of things have to go your way.
"They are so good. They force you to be deeper and be in a situation that you don't want to be. Sometimes you need a bit of luck and, after that, you have to be efficient. We had to be brave and it paid off - things have to go your way and the line is so thin.
"I liked that the team showed a lot of personality and competitiveness."
On youngsters Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly getting on the scoresheet: "They play with a lot of personality. They are really brave, they have the courage, and they understand what we want. They play to make things happen.
"The players believe in them and that is a big thing."
On the title race: "We need to continue doing the things that we can control. Today was a difficult game for us, and we still managed to do it."
'Our energy was good'published at 19:04 2 February
19:04 2 February
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Arsenal striker Kai Havertz has been speaking to Sky Sports following the game: "I think we managed to press them quite well. We didn't give them much time. Manchester City are a top team and sometimes they beat the press, but I think our energy was good. We used our chances and, at the end, I think it was a good game."
On their scoring ability: "I think it is the timing. We train it a lot of times so it is not only us two, it is everyone. When we push and go through the defensive players, everyone needs to push through and the energy there is very important.
"We [the strikers] are the first to press, but the rest of the team are doing it excellently as well.
"I think I was a bit frustrated from the chance in the first half, so I thought to myself: 'I need to score one'. When I saw it go in, I was very happy."
'It can't be better'published at 18:51 2 February
18:51 2 February
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Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has been speaking to Sky Sports following the win: "It was a top game and a top performance. With the fans, the atmosphere and the scoresheet like that, it can't be better."
On Kai Havertz: "He had a massive impact again today. You see everything he does - he scored and assisted. He is always there with and without the ball. He is a top player and it is good to have him in the team.
"We have a good connection and we understand each other. He is an intelligent player and it is good to play with him. We have a great connection with everyone and we know each other so well."
On scoring the opening goal: "It was about time - and it was good after because we didn't stop. We kept on going and we got what we deserved. It was a good one."
Arsenal 5-1 Man City: Key statspublished at 18:43 2 February
18:43 2 February
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Arsenal have gone unbeaten in 14 consecutive Premier League games (W9 D5) for the first time since December 2018 under Unai Emery, which was also a run of 14 games.
Mikel Arteta lost nine of his first 10 managerial meetings with Pep Guardiola (W1) but he has now become only the third manager to go five games unbeaten in all competitions against the Spaniard (W2 D3), after Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp.
Ethan Nwaneri (17 years and 318 days) and Myles Lewis-Skelly (18 years and 129 days) became the youngest players to score in the Premier League against the reigning champions since Wayne Rooney netted for Everton against Arsenal in March 2003 (17 years 150 days).
Only Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney (9 each) have scored more goals for a Premier League side, while aged 17 or younger, than Ethan Nwaneri (7).
Arsenal 5-1 Man City - send us your thoughtspublished at 18:21 2 February
Sutton's predictions: Arsenal v Man Citypublished at 10:56 2 February
10:56 2 February
It's a little odd how Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been adamant for so long that he does not need another striker. Then, all of a sudden, we get to the end of January and they put in an offer for Ollie Watkins at Villa.
It all feels a little bit late to me. Why not do it at the start of January? I know they have had a couple of injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus but I don't understand the delay and it feels a little bit like they are making it up as they go along.
This is a huge game for the Gunners - in the past couple of seasons it has been a title decider when they've played Manchester City but this time only Arsenal's title hopes are on the line.
City have improved of late but I still look at them and think they are going to concede a goal, as Club Brugge showed on Wednesday.
It was a great game when these two met earlier in the season and Leandro Trossard was sent off in a 2-2 draw. The readers will probably go for a 1-1 draw this time, I reckon, but I am going to pick a winner.
It is the Gunners who I see taking this, and I wouldn't be surprised if a set-piece proves crucial. Let's hope City striker Erling Haaland can 'stay humble' if his team do end up being beaten.
Arsenal v Man City: Did you know?published at 16:23 31 January
16:23 31 January
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Arsenal are unbeaten in 13 Premier League matches and have won the most points of any side from their 11th match of the season. It is their longest unbeaten run under Mikel Arteta, last going 14 without defeat between August and December 2018 under Unai Emery.
Meanwhile, Manchester City are unbeaten in six Premier League games and only Newcastle (15) have won more points since Christmas than City. The Blues have also scored the most goals in that time (18).
Finally, Manchester City have lost just one of their past 40 Premier League matches played from January until the end of the campaign, a 1-0 defeat by Brentford on the final day of 2022-23.
They are unbeaten in their past 23 of these games across the past two campaigns, scoring 66 goals at an average of 2.9 per game.