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SCORE : Arsenal 0-3 Manchester City
SCORERS : Bernardo Silva '15 David Silva '28 Leroy Sane '33
Manchester City put the game to bed in the first half, scoring 3 goals through Bernardo Silva, David Silva and Leroy Sane.
The second half turned into a formality with neither side really affecting proceedings, although Arsenal should've gotten themselves on the score sheet (from the spot), after Henrik Mkhitaryan was brought down inside the box by Nicolas Otamendi - who kicked out at the Armenian's calf.
However, their marquee signing in the winter, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang managed to find the keeper's gloves who judged it right and decided to go left.
Nothing much followed as the game petered out and the stands started getting emptier still. It finished 3-0 on a cold miserable Thursday night in London and dreadfully for Arsene Wenger, the worst is still very much to arrive.
#5 The fans had their say long before any kick of the football.
The freezing temperatures in and around the Emirates in London, was probably a reason why so many of the Arsenal faithful (how many ever survive) failed to turn up, but the numbers in the away stands told a different story.
Maybe the signal coming out of Arsenal Football Club is one of complete despair, but the decision makers - who were among the handful present - seem to fail to pick up on them, or worse, couldn't be bothered to.
Another hiding. that too at home, and the signs look pretty ominous for the longest-serving manager in the Premier League. Having had to cover both the League Cup final on Sunday and another repeat in the League, I've got to agree with the fans. The performances were unbearable and the 'Wenger's style of football' - nonexistent.
No wonder then, that most of the season ticket-holders gave the match a miss.
#4 The temperature inside the Emirates was below par, and so were Arsenal
The lines on the pitch were painted blue to assist the officials should it start to snow. The precaution was taken to avoid errors in officiating the game should the visibility be affected by the snowfall.
Luckily for the officials, the match wasn't interrupted by snow, although 18 minutes into the game, the Frenchman in-charge of the home side would've wanted nothing more.
Bernardo Silva opened the scoring after Leroy Sane glided past the Arsenal defence who flew into one failed challenge after another, none managing to hinder the German's progress who found the Portuguese. Silva, the lesser known in this City side, held off the Arsenal defence and curled the ball with his favorite left foot, up and beyond Cech in goal. The Czech's search for his 200th clean sheet in the Premier League goes on.
To be fair to Arsenal, they got off the blocks quicker and seemed to find the grit and determination that was shamefully lacking on Sunday. They managed to push City back and kept Ederson in goal busy right up until City managed to stitch together their first real move in the game.
And what a move it was to give Guardiola's side the lead!
Arsenal would've felt it came against the run of play, but by the time they could deal with it, City shred their defence to pieces a second, and then, a third time. Leroy Sane finding himself on the score-sheet, after the maestro David Silva had done the same.
Thirty-three minutes was all it took the commentators to vocalize their disgust. Commendable, considering it took me just ten.
#3 Evidence suggests David Silva might not be human
David Silva never has a bad game. We keep going through footage after footage - season after season - and you'd be unimaginably lucky to find him put a foot wrong. Trust us. We've tried.
The Spaniard, even at 32, is at the heart of all that is right with Manchester City this season. Like he has for the seasons preceding the one underway. No matter what is going on at the club - with managerial changes or otherwise - the former Valencia man seems to be completely unaffected and in a world of his own. And what a world it is!
The Spaniard got on the ball like always with such elegance ease, it's unbelievable. He is the kind of player that makes football look so ridiculously easy, that until you try it yourself again, you're not able to cherish the real genius of the man.
Despite the most exciting young talent in the League in his side to compete with, the City vice-captain, still is tvery much the real deal. Indispensable to Pep, the creative attacking midfielder pulls the strings for his side, despite the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Leroy Sane and Ilkay Gundogan in the side.
The move that he finished off to put his side two up in the 28th minute was something of sheer beauty, The link up with Aguero itself was delightful, but the touch to go past the last defender and the vision to lift the ball in at the near post to beat the keeper, was something else.
A 9/10 display yet again by the Spaniard for his side, something we should get used to by now, but it's impossible to not go gaga over David Silva. Don't you agree?
#2 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had a repeat of the Cup final, only worse
Aubameyang managed to dodge most of the criticism he was deservedly in for after the abysmal performance by the former Dortmund man in the League Cup final.
The striker put in a lackluster performance against City on Sunday but survived the wrath of the fans who focused their anger on the likes of Granit Xhaka and Hector Bellerin for the terrible result. However, his luck ran out tonight as he managed to repeat his terrible showing against the same side.
The man donning the legendary number 14 for the Gunners looked out of sorts right through the game as he seemed to keep finding a way to not get on the ball. Unfortunately for him though, there was no place to hide as he put the ball on the spot after Otamendi's foul on his teammate from Germany. He never looked like he was going to add to his debut goal against the Toffees.
Ederson has been a revelation for City in between the sticks this season and he kept his form going by guessing the right way and keeping out the African Footballer of the year for 2015.
The miss from 12 yards will only engrain his pathetic display in the minds of the few who managed to find their way to the stands, and in the minds of the millions watching world-wide.
#1 Aguero somehow failed to get on the score-sheet against Arsenal
Sergio Aguero has a very impressive record against the team from North London. He enjoys coming up against them for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the defensive frailties of Wenger's side.
The Argentine managed to get cult status when he scored the stoppage-time winner to hand City their first-ever League title - back in the Mancini days - and has moved from strength to strength since then. Aguero only furthered his cause with the fans as he helped his side win their first competition under Pep Guardiola on Sunday (like he needed it).
The former Atletico striker, on average, scores a goal in every other game against the cup finalists and since he'd already got one on Sunday, he decided to give them a breather - only to find his other teammates more than makeup for him.
Arsenal (and particularly their defence) will be sick of the sight of the man who was content with playing his other teammates in - like he did for David Silva's goal.
Although the most prolific striker in City's history failed to score, Arsenal were simply unable to keep him from affecting the game. Why even bother?
