Arsenal 5-1 Manchester City: Lewis-Skelly scores first senior goal in crushing win

Arsenal moved back to within six points of Premier League leaders Liverpool with a 5-1 rout of rivals Manchester City, helped by Myles Lewis-Skelly’s first senior goal.

Lewis-Skelly, who was sent off in last week’s victory at Wolves but saw his ban rescinded on appeal, curled home just after the hour as the Gunners earned a statement win.

Fellow teenager Ethan Nwaneri was also among the scorers as Mikel Arteta’s Gunners swept the champions aside with a devastating second-half performance.

Things started poorly for City, who fell behind within just 103 seconds of kick-off. Manuel Akanji was put in trouble by John Stones’ pass and lost possession on the edge of his area, allowing Kai Havertz to square for a Martin Odegaard tap-in.

Havertz missed a glorious chance to double Arsenal’s lead midway through the first half and City drew level 10 minutes after the interval, Erling Haaland heading Savinho’s cross back across goal and in.

However, that parity was short-lived as Arsenal retook the lead 38 seconds after the restart. Phil Foden’s pass was picked off by Thomas Partey, whose long-range effort deflected off Stones and sailed in.

5 – Mikel Arteta is now unbeaten in five games against Manchester City (W2 D3); the joint-longest run by a manager against Pep Guardiola, after Thomas Tuchel (2016-2021) and Jürgen Klopp (2021-2022). Equals. pic.twitter.com/tUVbtRs3jH

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 2, 2025

Lewis-Skelly had his first Premier League goal five minutes later as he bent a finish beyond Stefan Ortega, and he celebrated by mimicking Haaland’s iconic meditation pose.

But Arsenal were not done there as Havertz finished a lightning break to make it 4-1, then substitute Nwaneri completed the rout with a spectacular left-footed finish at the death.

While Arsenal maintain the pressure on Liverpool, who face Everton in their game in hand in nine days, City stay fourth and could drop lower when Chelsea host West Ham on Monday.

4 – Manchester City have conceded 4+ goals in a game for the fourth time this season, which is now the most in a single campaign in Pep Guardiola’s managerial career. Uncharacteristic. pic.twitter.com/0kI3uFWokl

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 2, 2025

Data Debrief: The kids are alright

Arsenal had their youngsters to thank for putting some shine on a magnificent performance, with both Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri on target.

It was only the fourth time that two players aged 18 or younger had scored for the same team in a Premier League match, and the first since Everton against Fulham in April 2007 (James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe).

Nwaneri (at the age of 17 years and 318 days) and Lewis-Skelly (18 years, 129 days) also became the youngest players to score against the reigning champions in the Premier League since March 2003, when a 17-year-old Wayne Rooney netted for Everton against Arsenal.

Nwaneri has seven Premier League goals following his sensational stoppage-time curler. Only Michael Owen and Rooney (nine apiece, for Liverpool and Everton respectively) have scored more for one club while aged 17 or younger.

City, meanwhile, were left counting the cost of mistakes in the build-up to Arsenal’s first and second goals. Their eight errors leading to goals in the Premier League this term are their most in a single campaign under Pep Guardiola.