In a Premier League fixture that was highly anticipated, Manchester City outclassed Arsenal in every department, cruising to a 5-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium.

The match started off as a cagey affair, with both teams feeling each other out in the opening exchanges. However, it was Manchester City who drew first blood, with Riyad Mahrez scoring a beautiful goal in the 17th minute. From that point on, it was all City.

Arsenal seemed to be struggling to cope with City’s relentless pressing and quick passing game. They failed to create any meaningful chances, with their attacking play looking pedestrian at best. On the other hand, City were creating chances at will, with Mahrez, Ilkay Gundogan, and Gabriel Jesus all having opportunities to score.

City’s second goal came in the 43rd minute, with Gabriel Jesus heading in from close range. The goal seemed to deflate Arsenal, who looked completely out of sorts in the second half. City continued to dominate, with Ferran Torres scoring in the 54th minute and Mahrez adding another in the 65th minute.

Arsenal’s misery was compounded when Granit Xhaka was sent off in the 35th minute for a reckless challenge on Joao Cancelo. The Gunners were already struggling before Xhaka’s dismissal, and the red card effectively ended any hopes of a comeback.

To their credit, Arsenal did keep fighting, with Bukayo Saka and Nicolas Pepe both having shots on goal. However, they were unable to find the back of the net, with City goalkeeper Ederson making a couple of crucial saves.

City’s fifth and final goal came in the 90th minute, with Torres scoring his second of the match. It was a fitting end to a dominant performance from Pep Guardiola’s side.

The victory takes City to the top of the Premier League table, with 13 points from five matches. Arsenal, on the other hand, are struggling in 13th place, with just six points from their first five matches.

The result will undoubtedly raise questions about Arsenal’s ability to compete with the best teams in the league. While they have shown flashes of brilliance this season, they were completely outplayed by City and will need to regroup quickly if they are to salvage anything from this campaign.

As for City, this result will give them a huge boost of confidence. After a slow start to the season, they are now firing on all cylinders and look like serious title contenders. With a squad full of world-class players and a manager who knows how to get the best out of them, City will be a force to be reckoned with this season.