It is just like they tell you in school.
'Don't play to the whistle,' the sports teacher says. 'Just stand in the
middle with your hand in the air, as the game goes on around you. It's
bound to work out in your favour.' And so it was that Arsenal lost to Manchester City.
At
the time of the third goal, the game was – somehow – in the balance.
City had been the better side, but Arsenal had stuck in there and
benefitted from the introduction of a £50m striker in Alexandre Lacazette.
One might have thought, for that money, he was exactly the sort of player Arsenal would need against the Premier League's
best team – but he started on the substitutes bench. Introduced, he
provided the cutting edge Arsenal had been missing, albeit now 2-0
down.
Kevin de Bruyne continued his excellent recent form when he put Manchester City ahead with a well directed effort
City's new record scorer Sergio Aguero added another to his tally when he converted a second half penalty
Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez looks dejected as the City players celebrate scoring the second in the background
Alexandre Lacazette came off the bench to bring Arsenal back into the game, finishing through City keeper Ederson's legs
City were ensured of all three points when they dialled up Gabriel Jesus from the bench to score the third
Eric Brook's daughter, Betty Cowgill, hugs City's new all time record goalscorer Aguero on the pitch before kick-off
The home fans unveiled a banner in the Etihad stands to honour Aguero, who broke the club's goal record in midweek
Almost instantly Aguero nearly added to his tally when City broke from an Arsenal corner, but the striker missed the target
Mesut Ozil had a chance for Arsenal early on but he could not quite put a boot on Alexis Sanchez's ball across goal
Leroy Sane was causing problems Arsenal problems with his pace and skill on the left, here he takes the attack to the visitors
John Stones was caught out by the quick-thinking Sanchez and was forced to foul the Arsenal forward 30 yards from goal
City were knocking on the door and nearly scored when Leroy Sane squared the ball across goal but Sterling couldn't connect
However, the home fans did not have to wait much longer for a goal as De Bruyne broke the deadlock with a fine strike
Through a crowd of players De Bruyne managed to thread a powerful effort past Petr Cech in the Arsenal goal
The Belgian celebrates with City team-mates Stones, Sane and Sterling after giving his side the lead against the Gunners
Sane toys with Laurent Koscielny as City look to press home their advantage and extend their lead over Arsenal
De Bruyne was in impressive form, pulling the strings in midfield, here he keeps a close eye on the ball as he brings it down
City were looking likely to add to their lead as they relentlessly attacked Arsenal, here Koscielny denies Aguero
Sane hurdles over Francis Coquelin as City continue to pour forward against their visitors from north London
Fabian Delph has enjoyed an extended run in the side, filling in ably at left wing-back, here he looks to get City going forward
City got a chance to double their lead after the break when Nacho Monreal was adjudged to have fouled Sterling in the box
Aguero stepped up and sent Cech the wrong way with his spot kick, which went in after hitting the inside of the post
City's players huddle around goalscorer Aguero after the striker converted his penalty to double their advantage
There was a hairy moment for City keeper Ederson when he fumbled a routine catch and got barged into his own foul
Second half subsitute Lacazette gave Arsenal some hope when he made it 2-1 with just under half an hour left to play
The Arsenal striker punches the air after his goal briefly gave the visitors some hope of getting a result at the Etihad
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