Gabriel was at fault for the second goal and could have conceded a penalty
(Picture: Getty Images)Arsenal suffered a potentially devastating defeat in the title race as they were beaten 3-1 by Manchester City, who leapfrogged them at the top of the table.
Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring with a magnificent first-time lob over Aaron Ramsdale after Takehiro Tomiyasu sold the goalkeeper short with a back-pass.
Arsenal responded well and equalised through Bukayo Saka’s cool penalty after Eddie Nketiah was clattered by Ederson.
But City turned the screw in the second half and Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland finished slick moves to leave Mikel Arteta’s side without a win in four matches.
Dan Kilpatrick was at the Emirates Stadium to rate the Arsenal players...
Aaron Ramsdale 6
Made a brave stop to deny Haaland at 1-1 and was unlucky for Grealish’s goal, which took a nick off Tomiyasu on the way past him. Powerless for the other two.
Takehiro Tomiyasu 4
Made the mistake for the City’s opening goal, under-hitting a back pass to Ramsdale and struggled against Grealish all game. Missed a fine chance to make amends minutes by volleying over in the first half.
Gabriel 4
Conceded a blatant penalty for dragging down Haaland but lucky the decision was overruled for a fractional offside. Gave away the ball in the build up to City’s second goal and static for their third.
William Saliba 6
Dealt well Haaland’s pace and strength in an engaging physical battle. The least jittery of Arsenal’s back line.
Oleksandr Zinchenko 6
Nearly guilty of a costly error when he lost possession to Bernardo Silva on the edge of the box. Created Arsenal’s first chance of note with a cross for Nketiah.
Jorginho 6
Recycled the ball well and kept Arsenal ticking over in possession but Thomas Partey was missed.
Granit Xhaka 6
Moved the ball confidently in the first half but his decision making was off in the final third.
Martin Odegaard 5
Quiet by his standards and outshone by City’s goalscorers De Bruyne and Grealish in the battle of the creatives.
Bukayo Saka 7
Kept his cool from the penalty spot and had makeshift left-back Bernardo Silva on toast until Pep Guardiola changed systems in the second half.
Gabriel Martinelli 5
Struggled to make an impression in the final third and no surprise when he was hooked for Trossard.
Eddie Nketiah 5
Twice headed well wide from good positions in either half. Won the penalty with a bright dart into the box.
Subs
Leandro Trossard (Martinelli 76’) 5
Had a penalty appeal waved away but otherwise struggled to make inroads.
Ben White (Tomiyasu 83’) 5
In hindsight, should have started ahead of Tomiyasu.
Fabio Vieira (Xhaka 83’) 5
No time to make an impression as City saw out the game.
Not used: Tierney, Kiwior, Holding, Nelson, Turner, Cozier-Duberry.
