Premier League: Arsenal hammer Man City 5-1 to stay in title hunt

Arsenal dominate Manchester City with a 5-1 victory, closing the gap in the Premier League title race.

Arsenal delivered a statement of intent in the Premier League title race with a 5-1 hammering of champions Manchester City to close the gap at the top to six points on Sunday (February 2, 2025).

Captain Martin Odegaard fired Arsenal into a second-minute lead and City were finished off ruthlessly after the break with teenagers Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri both on target for the rampant Gunners.

Erling Haaland's equaliser, his 250th senior career goal, had briefly raised City's hopes, but they could have no complaints as any lingering hopes of winning a fifth successive title surely disappeared into the north London night.

Arsenal are now 14 games unbeaten in the league and have 50 points from 24 games with leaders Liverpool on 56 from 23.

Manchester City are a distant fourth with 41.

Arsenal have been accused of being over-reliant on set-piece goals this season but on Sunday they played with fluency and flare to rack up their biggest home win of the league season.

Sloppy City gifted Arsenal the lead when Manuel Akanji was put in trouble by teammate John Stones and was dispossessed before Kai Havertz calmly set up Odegaard to sweep home from close range despite an attempted block by Stones.