Granit Xhaka sent off as Arsenal go down without a fight in Man City thrashing
Telegraph Sport
·24 min read
Granit Xhaka sent off as Arsenal go down without a fight in Man City thrashing - live reaction - PA
Arsenal bottom of the table with no points and no goals after three games
Man City score two in first 15 minutes to punish slack defending
Xhaka sent off for lunging challenge before half time
Ten years to the day since Arsenal were beaten 8-2 down the road at Old Trafford, Mikel Arteta’s team returned to Manchester to mark the anniversary with a tribute performance of quite staggering ineptitude. Clueless, hapless, spineless: this was not so much an embarrassment as a wholesale bespoiling of tradition. Because those with longer memories will recall that Arsenal was once a byword for defensive excellence. Now, sitting at the bottom of the Premier League following three defeats on the bounce, they resemble a sieve.
Before kick off, two new statues had been unveiled outside the Etihad. David Silva and Vincent Kompany have been immortalised in galvanised steel by the artist Andy Scott to recognise their magnificent service for City. The gag doing the rounds in the home stands was that Arsenal had put in a bid for the Kompany statue on the basis that it would be a lot more mobile than their current defenders.
What was meant to be a joke turned out to be more a piece of prescient punditry. Mikel Arteta had picked three of his sizeable selection of centre backs in the attempt to provide some cover. But Callum Chambers, Rob Holding and Sead Kolasinac? Let’s put it this way, it is not a backline in the tradition of Tony Adams, Martin Keown and Steve Bould. And if the idea was to go one-on-one against City’s front three to stop them from fizzing and firing as they had here against Norwich a week earlier, it was effective for all of seven minutes.
That was when a long ball was played out to once again magnificent Gabriel Jesus (who needs Ronaldo?), lurking on the right wing. He chased it, took possession and passed inside to Bernando Silva, who passed it straight back. Jesus beat Kierney Tierney to the ball with an ease verging on the contemptuous, before putting in a delightful cross to the back post. While Chambers appeared to go down rather than rise up to meet it, Ilkay Gundogan took advantage to head home unimpeded.
lkay Gundogan of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his team's first goal - Getty Images
Last week, as Norwich were defeated here 5-0, Daniel Farke complained his team had let in the same goal four times. Arsenal were picking up where Norwich left off, conceding the same goal yet again, as they watched on, more statuesque than the steel Kompany, to see Jesus, as he had so frequently seven days earlier, spear in a cross from the right. It made you wonder what exactly it is their scouting department does all week.
At least it was a different kind of goal they let in five minutes later. Demonstrating a pitiful lack of defensive nous, Cedric Soares allowed Silva’s left foot forward ball to drift beyond him into the path of Ferran Torres who scored. VAR checked for a foul on Chambers in the build-up, but decided he had just fallen over.
On the touchline Arteta appeared emptied. He sank on to his seat in the dug out looking hollow eyed, bemused, finished. No wonder. Sure his younger talents like Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe tried. But the trouble was they were up against something they do not encounter at Arsenal training sessions: a coherent defence. Everything they tried was quickly snuffed out. Smith Rowe’s most effective intervention was when Ederson miskicked a clearance into his ankles, the pair of them watching the ball roll agonisingly along the goal line.
But what made things worse for the Arsenal manager was the telling lack of commitment from his seniors players. Granit Xhaka abdicated all sense of responsibility by getting himself sent off for a childishly reckless challenge on Joao Cancelo. Although little apparent contact was made, Martin Atkinson wasted no time in flourishing his red card. As for his captain Pierre-Emerick Aubamayang, his trot to the touchline when he was substituted for Alexandre Lacazette midway through the second half was the fastest he had run all afternoon.
By the time the third City goal arrived - Jack Grealish, enjoying himself enormously as he teased and tricked his way through the melting Arsenal backline before passing to Jesus to poke home - the visiting section of the Etihad was emptying rapidly. Clearly the hardcore Gooners had seen enough. And no wonder. Never mind a man advantage, City appeared to have about six more players on the pitch.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta - Reuters
Arteta had a quarter of an hour in the interval not so much to change tactics as to alter the entire mindset of his club. The effectiveness of his talk was evident six minutes into the second half when Rodri scored the fourth from distance after another smart layoff from Torres. Torres then got his second to make it 5-0 for the second week on the bounce at the Etihad. And Pep Guardiola could add further woe to his former pupil Arteta when he brought on from the bench Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez, who showed up the chasm between the sides by skipping past defenders at will. Arteta, despite spending more than any other Premier League manager in the summer, was restricted to sending on Mohamed Elneny.
Guardiola, though, was sympathetic to his former student.
“We have a week to prepare for this game, they have two days, they have six or seven players injured, and at two zero they have player sent off, is big advantage for us,” he said.
But the problems are obvious. After the international break, Arteta’s Arsenal play Burnley and Norwich. Already they look like six pointers.
Really painful. We started the game really well and in the first situation they create we defend the cross really poorly.
Also believes the second goal should have been ruled out for a 'punch on Chambers.
01:43 PM
Arsenal's players did go and applaud the away fans who left
Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal applauds the fans after the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal - Getty Images
01:39 PM
Guardiola defending Arteta
Says 'he is above and beyond a good manager' and notes that Arsenal are missing key players like Ben White and Thomas Partey.
01:37 PM
Martin Keown on Arsenal
“I feel numb. I wouldn’t say it’s embarrassing, but it is becoming embarrassing. I don’t think at any point it was a game today.”
01:37 PM
Guardiola speaking
We found the goals without deserving it. We had problems in the first half, problems in the build up - man to man is not easy. After the Xhaka sending off, the game is completely different.
01:32 PM
A historical low for Arsenal
📊 Arsenal ✖️Lost in PL by a 5+ goal margin for the 1st time since Mar 2014 (6-0 defeat at Chelsea) ✖️Lost opening 3 League games for the 1st time since 1954-55 ✖️Failed to score in opening 3 League games for the 1st time since 1953-54 pic.twitter.com/EMjlMawNFA
Expectations were low for Arsenal going into the game, but they managed to fall short of them. The defending of their own penalty area was dreadful and they conceded two poor goals in the opening 15 minutes before Xhaka's red card finished the game as a contest before half time. It could have been worse.
01:23 PM
92 minutes
Goods save from Leno to deny Cancelo after yet another inswinging ball from the right.
01:22 PM
Three minutes of added time
Enough for another City attack. Mahrez's shot is partially blocked and Leno gathers. Lacazette flagged for offside. Just the one shot on goal for Arsenal today, albeit they have played largely with 10 men.
01:20 PM
90 minutes
Lacazette concedes a foul.Ilkay Gundogan is named as the man of the match. Another inswinging cross is not met by an Arsenal head and skips through for a goal kick.
01:17 PM
87 minutes
Just a question of how hard City want to push for the sixth. Laporte's shot is blocked by Chambers. Another good run from Smith Rowe who is then wrestled to the ground by Dias.
01:15 PM
GOOOOOAAALLL! City finally have their fifth
It's another goal from a cross, Arsenal just have not dealt with balls into the box. Mahrez cuts in and swings it in and Torres has ghosted in behind Holding who was ball-watching.
01:13 PM
83 minutes
Solid defending from Tierney to block Mahrez's cross and City have a corner. Taken short, but the cross has too much weight for Rodri. Arsenal get into the City half for the first time since half time, but Smith Rowe's pull-back was cut out.
01:11 PM
80 minutes
Play is back under way, and Tierney is battling on. Arsenal have made all of their changes, so an injury would put them down to nine men. Sterling stretches and almost gets a toe to Gundogan's chipped pass over the top.
01:08 PM
78 minutes
Kolasinac all at sea as City find Sterling's run off him, but Leno does well to come out and make the save with the old starfish dive. Good goalkeeping. Worry for Arsenal here with Tierney down injured, clutching his ankle.
01:06 PM
76 minutes
Decent defending from Holding again to track the run of Sterling and usher him wide of the goal at the expense of a corner. Dias fizzes a cross in, and Laporte flicks it over the bar.
01:03 PM
73 minutes
City have taken their foot off the gas, but this is just about as organised as Arsenal have been all day. Defending deep and as a unite, just trying to keep the score game. In the two days against City their attempts to press high and have been undone easily.
01:01 PM
71 minutes
Another substitute on the way from Arsenal: Martin Odegaard is replaced by Ainsley-Maitland Niles.
12:58 PM
68 minutes
Excellent save from Leno to tip Sterling's header over the bar. Then the winger cuts inside from the short corner after Smith Rowe sold himself but he bends his shot from 25 yards or so wide of the post.
12:56 PM
66 minutes
Sterling sends Chambers for a hot dog but Holding did well to come across and get a block in. It bounces off the City man for an Arsenal goal kick.
It results in an uncontested kick long and City build yet another attack. Tierney caught and Arsenal have a free-kick.
12:53 PM
63 minutes
Man City win another header in the Arsenal box as Laporte glances wide. Arsenal have at least made it almost 10 minutes without conceding a goal, but not they have Mahrez and Sterling to contend with.
12:51 PM
62 minutes
Another City sub: Riyad Mahrez replaces Gabriel Jesus. This has the feel of a pre-season friendly now. Play is stopped for a while after Kolasinac's boot comes off.
12:50 PM
60 minutes
Lacazette has replaced Aubameyang for Arsenal, who is still building up his match fitness. City working the ball from side to side again but Tierney hammers Cancelo's cross away.
12:47 PM
57 minutes
Alexandre Lacazette is about to come on for Arsenal. Questions will be asked of Arteta's selections, defenders like Chambers, Cedric and Kolasinac are just not up to it. Good run from Tierney and he wins a foul.
City change: Bernardo Silva coming off to be replaced by Sterling.
12:45 PM
54 minutes
It is 10 years to the day since Arsenal lost 8-2 at Old Trafford, would you believe it. Another deflected cross runs through the Arsenal box and City have a corner. Raheem Sterling is about to come on.
12:43 PM
GOOOOAAALLL! Rodri picks out the bottom corner from long range
That's a cracking strike. City we toying with Arsenalm Cedric played Torres onside by being two yards deeper than his back line and then Rodri passes the ball into the bottom corner first time from 25 yards.
12:41 PM
50 minutes
Surviving this half without conceding another goal would be success story for Arsenal. They are not expected to take a point or three from this fixture, but they should be capable of giving City a much better game than this.
Pin ball in the area after Leno saves from Bernardo but Arsenal just about survive. Good defending from Cancelo to thwart Aubameyang on the break.
12:38 PM
47 minutes
Brilliant ball whipped across the box with the outside of his right foot. Arsenal were marking more closely and the ball skips through for a goal kick. Moments later, he fizzes another on in with his in-step but no City player is on the end of it.
12:36 PM
The players are back out
Arsenal sub: Elneny on for Saka. Manchester City have made a change and brought Zinchenko on for Walker. Cancelo to right back.
12:29 PM
A bad memory for Arsenal fans
2 - This is only the second time that Arsenal have both had a man sent off and been 3+ goals behind at half-time in a Premier League game; the other was a 6-0 defeat at Chelsea in March 2014 (4-0 at half-time). Ugly.
Arsenal really had to go some to craft a 3-0, red card half out of that. City have barely got out of first gear but scored two of the softest goals you will see all season before Xhaka was shown a straight red for a tackle of excessive force.
12:17 PM
Three added minutes
Can Arsenal survive them without conceding a fourth?
12:16 PM
44 minutes
Kolasinac with a soft header behind for a corner. Taken short but Holding heads away before Aubameyang wins a throw in. Half of this ordeal is almost complete for Arsenal.
12:15 PM
GOOOOOAAALLL! Man City have their third
That's their first bit of football of the match. Arsenal's press was torn to tissue paper, Torres had so much space to receive in the middle of the pitch. He spread play to Grealish who squared up Chambers in the box who teed up Jesus for a tap-in. Game over, it it wasn't already.
12:13 PM
42 minutes
Good movement from Gabriel Jesus in behind the Arsenal defence, but the ball skips through to Leno. City have not been anywhere close to their top level today yet they have the game in the palm of their hands.
12:11 PM
40 minutes
Laporte was still in the Arsenal penalty area and Rob Holding has to head the cross behind. This is now a damage limitation exercise for Arsenal.
12:09 PM
38 minutes
That is Xhaka's 11th red card in club football. From the resulting free-kick, Cedric does well to head behind for Dias lurking in the penalty area. Tierney then deflects a long-range shot behind for a corner.
12:08 PM
RED CARD! Xhaka shown a straight red
Was a loose ball in the Arsenal half, and the midfielder has lunged in slightly on Cancelo. It was not the worst tackle you have ever seen but he was out of control and went in with two feet. This could be ugly for Arsenal now.
12:05 PM
33 minutes
Good defensive work in midfield from Odegaard but then he is rushed off the ball from Gundogan. The City midfielder then finds far too much place between the lines, but after a great piece of skill from Cancelo he mis-cues the cross.
12:03 PM
31 minutes
Leno claimed the corner, then Arsenal win a throw in higher up the pitch. They are struggling to get any passes through central midfield, not feeding Odegaard enough. Walker defends well against Aubameyang.
Tierney burst into the area after knocking the ball past Walker..,and goes down looking for a penalty. Atkinson unmoved.
12:00 PM
28 minutes
Good challenge from Saka on Cancelo. The Kolasinac catches Jesus in the face with a stray arm, and picks up a booking for his trouble. Don't think it warranted any more serious punishment. City free-kick wide right, another ball about to come in the Arsenal area.
Gundogan to take the out-swinger, and this time Tierney glances behind for a corner at the back post.
11:58 AM
26 minutes
City causing their own problems again with another stray pass from Ederson in his own defensive third. Passed it straight to Chambers who feed Aubameyang but Xhaka, who was in the box after pressing, was offside.
11:56 AM
24 minutes
Nice football from City starting with a good pass from Ederson into a midfield, and Cedric is booked for a foul on Grealish. Then Ederson kicks the ball straight out for a throw and Arsenal have some respite.
11:54 AM
22 minutes
Sounds a strange thing to say, but I'm not sure City have really got going yet which is a frightening prospect for Arsenal. Saka goes well to get back and defend, winning a foul from Grealish. Leno then kicks long and Aubameyang is eased out.
11:52 AM
20 minutes
Ederson very nearly left with egg on his face! Tries a drag back and to take the extra touch just a few yards from the goal and it deflects off Smith Rowe and inches wide. Been some comical moments in both boxes so far. Arsenal almost pulled one back.
11:49 AM
18 minutes
Arsenal's marking in the box is woeful. This time Jesus delivers the low cross from the right and Torres was free around the penalty spot. Could not sort his feet out in time for the shot.
11:47 AM
16 minutes
What can Arsenal muster from here? They look alright with the ball but had faced two deliveries into the penalty area and conceded two goals. Too many players just not up to snuff back there.
11:46 AM
GOAL GIVEN!
The worst possible start for Arsenal. This was Gundogan's goal.
İlkay Gündoğan is off and running for the 2021/22 campaign! 💥
It's more terrible Arsenal defending. City took the free-kick shot and threw an innocuous low ball into the box, it took a nick off Cedric who dangled his leg out and it came for Torres who was free to tap home. Arsenal want a foul on Chambers by Laporte.
11:43 AM
11 minutes
Gundogan pops up between the lines and Xhaka is forced into a foul. Free kick for City around 40 to 45 yards from goal.
11:41 AM
9 minutes
Arsenal had enjoyed a decent start but that was dreadful defending, and I'm not sure the goalkeeping was great. Exactly the type of goal you should not concede with a back five on the pitch.
Gundogan pops up unmarked in the box again! This time Leno saves the header.
11:40 AM
GOOOAAAALL! Too easy for City - Gundogan scores a header
That was City's first meaningful attack. They went long early for Jesus who held the ball up and laid it ff for Bernardo. The Brazilian gets it back and stands a ball up to the back post and Gundogan has a free header at the back post to nod home. Chambers caught under the ball and Leno rooted to his line.
11:37 AM
6 minutes
Arsenal knocking the ball around well, and progress upfield after a good turn by Smith Rowe. Cedric neglects to put the cross in but moments later Tierney delivers and it almost found Saka for a volley at the back post.
11:35 AM
4 minutes
Laporte in strongly with a good challenge on Saka. Most of City's possession has been in their own half so far. Walker looks to release Torres early over the top but it skips through for Leno to claim.
11:34 AM
2 minutes
City enjoying some early possession but Grealish lets the ball run under his foot. Leno forced to kick long and Dias wins the header against Aubameyang. Looks like Arsenal are dropping into a defensive shape rather than trying to press as they did against Chelsea. Gabriel Jesus is playing wide right.
Saka slips a good ball through for Aubameyang but City clear the cross.
11:31 AM
KICK OFF!
After one last rendition of Blue Moon, Arsenal get us started. Looks like it is indeed a back three of Chambers, Holding and Kolasinac.
11:28 AM
The players are on their way out
No needless kit changes today: City in sky blue and Arsenal in red and white with hooped socks. Pleasing.
11:26 AM
Some stats
Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 11 league games against Arsenal (W9 D2) since a 2-1 defeat at the Emirates in December 2015. They’ve taken 28 of a possible 30 points against the Gunners under Pep Guardiola (W9 D1).
Arsenal have lost each of their last eight Premier League meetings with Manchester City, their joint-longest run of consecutive defeats against a specific opponent in their league history (also 8 vs Leeds between 1973-1976).
Man City have kept a clean sheet in six of their last seven league meetings with Arsenal, including the last four in a row since a 3-1 home win in February 2019.
Arsenal have lost their last six games against reigning Premier League champions, conceding exactly three goals in each of the last five. The Gunners have won just one of their last 17 away league games against reigning champions (D6 L10), with that victory coming at Manchester City in January 2015 (2-0).
11:21 AM
Warm-ups
Manchester City's players warm up before the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal - AP
11:19 AM
How will City line up in attack?
BT Sport have Ferran Torres through the middle and Gabriel Jesus wide right.
11:15 AM
Guardiola on Ronaldo
It's good that a player like Cristiano is back in the Premier League.
10:58 AM
Welcome to Manchester
"Chelsea brought in a striker for £96m... Cristiano outscored him in Serie A last season."
"Who better equipped to show the Man Utd players how to WIN?"@rioferdy5 on the version of Ronaldo we'll see at Old Trafford 💪 pic.twitter.com/mymanXP1WZ
A general view of the stadium ahead of the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal - Getty Images
10:39 AM
Nicolas Pepe out with illness
He does not have Covid though.
10:38 AM
Interesting team news
Manchester City are unchanged and are pretty settled in their system. Looks like it will be Grealish and Bernardo either side of Gabriel Jesus.
In a surprise selection, Arteta has picked Sead Kolasinac to play as a left-centre back with a three. The defence looks short of pace and quality but Odegaard, Saka, Smith Rowe and Aubameyang looks promising going forward for the away side.
10:36 AM
Arsenal arrived at the ground slightly late
Traffic problems, which is not unusual in Manchester. Kick off will remain at 12.30, they are here in time for the a warm up.
10:32 AM
Arsenal team and subs: Looks like a back three with Kolasinac, Tierney and Cedric included
"I cannot have more energy, more determination and more desire to turn things around," Arteta replied when asked if exterior criticism fuels him.
"I I think nobody has that more than myself at the moment.
"It is not to do with that, it is because I know I am looking in the opposite way and when we are doing well, when people are enjoying, when people feel part of what we are doing, you get people happy - and when we have that power I just focus on that.
"There is always going to be people that are unhappy. I haven't see any single fan with a manager, with players, that are happy when we are losing football matches. It just doesn't happen and it is not realistic."
10:13 AM
David Silva and Vincent Kompany statues unveiled today
A general external view of Etihad Stadium, home stadium of Manchester City - Getty Images Vincent Kompany - Getty Images
09:54 AM
Another tough afternoon in store for Arsenal
To drop points against one north London club may be classed as misfortune, to do so twice would be carelessness. After losing to Tottenham on the opening weekend, Manchester City do not look like making the same mistake against an Arsenal side without a league point.
They have won nine and drawn one of 10 league meetings against Arsenal under Pep Guardiola, and not even the arrival of his former assistant Mikel Arteta has arrested this grim run. Arsenal did beat City 2-0 at Wembley in their 2020 FA Cup semi-final, but in the Premier League they have not laid a glove on the champions.
Depending on your perspective, Arsenal arrive in Manchester as either a team under heaps of pressure or none at all. City away is seen by most visiting teams as a free swing, and there is an argument Arsenal should just be looking to tick this fixture off before their season starts proper at home to Norwich after the international break.
On the other hand, that may be a little defeatist. Despite their excellence, City did lose four league matches at the Etihad last season, including to Leicester City and 10-man Leeds United. They are also without Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne and have failed to land their desired big money striker signing.
City are favourites for good reason. Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish ganging up on an Arsenal right side without a convincing right-back and summer signing Ben White looks a likey avenue to goal, and Gabriel Jesus was sharp in the thumping win over Norwich. Arsenal are also without key central midfielder Thomas Partey.
Arteta does have Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Martin Odegaard and Alexandre Lacazette available again after they missed the defeat against Chelsea, so Arsenal should carry more threat. Kieran Tierney and Bukayo Saka are also fit, while defender Gabriel returned to training this week.
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