A Kevin De Bruyne masterclass helps Manchester City beat Arsenal 3-0

A Kevin De Bruyne masterclass helped Manchester City comfortably beat Arsenal at the Emirates, as the Belgian scored two goals and assisted one in a 3-0 win.

De Bruyne opened the scoring after just two minutes with a thunderous strike into the top of the net. Raheem Sterling scored a second from a De Bruyne assist with 15 minutes played, before the 28-year-old scored his second of the game from the edge of the penalty area.

In the second half City comfortably defended their lead, to walk away with a 3-0 victory and all three points.

Manchester City started the game 17 points behind leaders Liverpool, a win for Arsenal would move the Gunners up a place to 8th in the Premier League.

Arsenal almost got off to the perfect start. Gabriel Martinelli showed his pace and power to get through the City defence and fire a shot towards goal, a shot that Ederson had to save.

But just a minute later, and just two minutes into the game, the away side were ahead. Gabriel Jesus was allowed to turn in the Arsenal penalty area, his low ball found De Bruyne who fired a first time strike from just inside the area into the top corner of the net. 1-0 to Pep Guardiola’s side.

It was a lively start to the game that showed no sign of calming down. Mesut Ozil’s effort from a tight angel was palmed away by Ederson and Nicolas Pepe’s follow up was well blocked.

Manchester City doubled their lead with 15 minutes on the clock. The away side were quick on the break as Arsenal looked to press the City defence. De Bruyne’s low cross was tapped into an empty net from five yards out.

For the remained of the half City seemed content with allowing Arsenal to have possession without really troubling their backline.

But with just over five minutes to go in the half the Cityzens scored their third goal of the game. Phil Foden’s neat pass into De Bruyne gave the Belgian space to fire into the bottom corner with his left foot from the edge of the area.

The 28-year-old almost secured his hat-trick with three minutes to go in the half. Foden’s footwork allowed De Bruyne space again, and his first time strike pulled out a stunning save from Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno, who tipped the shot onto his post.

3-0 the score at half-time.

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Arsenal started the second-half brightly with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang heading narrowly wide under pressure from Nicolas Otamendi.

As Freddie Ljungberg’s side pushed forward, aiming to get themselves back in the game, Manchester City were catching their opponents on the break. Jesus fired over when well placed following a Sterling through ball.

Arsenal fans’ frustration almost boiled over when the substituted Ozil refused to run off the pitch, instead deciding to walk. In a similar situation to that Granit Xhaka faced earlier in the season, the German was booed and kicked his gloves in anger ones off the pitch.

City almost increased their lead after Calum Chambers gave away the ball in a dangerous position, but Leno saved the unlucky Jesus’ effort one on one.

Manchester City seemed content with their advantage heading into the final 15 minutes. Aubameyang managed to sneak through the City backline, but his effort was wide and didn’t test Ederson in goal.

City’s final chances fell to substitute Riyad Mahrez and Sterling. Mahrez’s low strike from a tight angle was saved by the legs of Leno, Sterling hit wide after another pin point through ball from De Bruyne.

3-0 is how it finished, City closing the gap at the top of the division to 14 points. Arsenal remain 9th. Next up for Man City is League One side Oxford United in their Carabao Cup quarter-final on Wednesday night.

Arsenal play Everton at Goodison Park on the 21st December.

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